AF039 “Maj. Gregory “Pappy” Boyington USMC”

To say that “Pappy” (1912-1988) had a chequered military career would be a slight exaggeration.

A hell-raiser and defiant of authority by nature he was also a fine pilot and a born-leader. His active flying services took him to China where he flew with the “Flying Tigers” and also to the Pacific where he led VMF-214 and shot down the majority of his Japanese “kills”.

Among his many awards were the “Medal of Honor” and the “Navy Cross”. He was eventually promoted to full colonel before retiring from the Marine Corps in 1947.