25. An Ace Even Before WWII?
The rambunctious Gregory Boyington was in nearly constant trouble with his boss. However, that did not stop Claire Chennault from seeing his subordinate’s leadership potential, so he made him a flight leader. In his time with the Flying Tigers, Boyington shot down 2 Japanese airplanes, and was credited with destroying another 1.5 on the ground. He claimed to have actually shot down six or seven Japanese airplanes, which would have made him an ace even before America joined WWII. Boyington also survived a plane crash, from which he walked away with torn knees and a gashed head. He took a Japanese bullet to the shoulder on another occasion. A few months after America was thrust into WWII, Boyington broke his contract with Chennault. Despite the latter’s best efforts to keep him in the China-India-Burma Theater, Boyington returned home to rejoin the Marines.
Promoted to Major, Boyington was deployed to Guadalcanal in early 1943 as executive officer of Marine Fighter Squadron (VMF) 122. In July, 1943, he was made commander of VMF-112, and in September, he was put in charge of Marine Fighter Squadron 214. It was with VMF-214 that Boyington became “Pappy” and his legend took off. The men initially wanted to name their squadron “Boyington’s Bastards”, but officials refused on grounds that civilian papers would never print it. So they settled on “Black Sheep” instead. For their insignia, they chose a shield with a black sheep surrounded by twelve stars. It was crowned with their airplane, the F4U Corsair, with a heraldic bar sinister to denote illegitimacy, or bastardy.
