Pappy Boyington
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* 4th December 1912 + 11th January 1988 Boyington started his military career in 1934. In 1936 he became an aviation cadet in the Marine Corps Reserver. In 1941 he joined American Volunteer Group (AVG), famous also as Flying Tigers and he became a flight leader. He is credited there with 3.5 Japanese aircraft. In spring 1942 he returned to the Marine Corps and became Commanding Officer of Squadron 214, better known by its nickname, the Black Sheep Squadron. During his first tour, he shot down 14 enemy fighter planes in 32 days. In Januray 1944 he was shot down, picked up by a Japanese submarine and became a prisoner of war. |
| The fourth most successful US fighter ace credited with 28 victories. He was a commander of famous VMF-214 (Black Sheep Squadron) and awarded by Medal of Honor. |