Boyington's Bastards
F4U-1A Corsair from the famed “Blacksheep” Squadron, VMFA 214, led by Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, MOH. Signed by the artist.
The F4U Corsair was the first American Fighter of WWII able to exceed 400 Knots. Originally built for the U.S. Navy, the aviators found it difficult to land on aircraft carriers, and the aircraft was restricted to land-based operations in the Pacific. This was great news for the United States Marine Corps who gladly accepted them. After the British Navy developed a circular-type approach keeping the carrier viewable to the pilot and not obscured by the large engine except on short final, the U.S. Navy reintroduced them with tremendous success against the Japanese.
This aircraft was made famous by the “Jolly Rogers”, or perhaps they were made famous by the aircraft? The aircraft’s most notable association however is with the quickly formed squadron without a name in 1943 led by the very aggressive and unorthodox Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington in Bougaineville, Solomon Islands, who later had the unit eponymously named “Boyington’s Bastards”. This did not stick with sensibilities of the time for publication purposes, and the squadron later coined themselves the famous “Blacksheep Squadron”.
F4U-1A Corsair from the famed “Blacksheep” Squadron, VMFA 214, led by Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, MOH. Signed by the artist.
The F4U Corsair was the first American Fighter of WWII able to exceed 400 Knots. Originally built for the U.S. Navy, the aviators found it difficult to land on aircraft carriers, and the aircraft was restricted to land-based operations in the Pacific. This was great news for the United States Marine Corps who gladly accepted them. After the British Navy developed a circular-type approach keeping the carrier viewable to the pilot and not obscured by the large engine except on short final, the U.S. Navy reintroduced them with tremendous success against the Japanese.
This aircraft was made famous by the “Jolly Rogers”, or perhaps they were made famous by the aircraft? The aircraft’s most notable association however is with the quickly formed squadron without a name in 1943 led by the very aggressive and unorthodox Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington in Bougaineville, Solomon Islands, who later had the unit eponymously named “Boyington’s Bastards”. This did not stick with sensibilities of the time for publication purposes, and the squadron later coined themselves the famous “Blacksheep Squadron”.
F4U-1A Corsair from the famed “Blacksheep” Squadron, VMFA 214, led by Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, MOH. Signed by the artist.
The F4U Corsair was the first American Fighter of WWII able to exceed 400 Knots. Originally built for the U.S. Navy, the aviators found it difficult to land on aircraft carriers, and the aircraft was restricted to land-based operations in the Pacific. This was great news for the United States Marine Corps who gladly accepted them. After the British Navy developed a circular-type approach keeping the carrier viewable to the pilot and not obscured by the large engine except on short final, the U.S. Navy reintroduced them with tremendous success against the Japanese.
This aircraft was made famous by the “Jolly Rogers”, or perhaps they were made famous by the aircraft? The aircraft’s most notable association however is with the quickly formed squadron without a name in 1943 led by the very aggressive and unorthodox Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington in Bougaineville, Solomon Islands, who later had the unit eponymously named “Boyington’s Bastards”. This did not stick with sensibilities of the time for publication purposes, and the squadron later coined themselves the famous “Blacksheep Squadron”.