Of all the combat air squadrons the VMF214 BlackSheep were of all the best. As of yet the Military Channel has not done a bio program on this unit. I served with the squadron and feel bad that some how we have been forgotten. So Military channel, its time to do a show of the BlackSheep, and Greg(Pappy) Boyington
Not only do I think we need to hear and see the truth about Greg , but the rest of the 214. The said on a program of the Flying Tigers a short thing on Greg, but little else has been done. If they are going to do bits about legends of airpower the not only should but need to do something on Greg Boyington. As there are some of us like myself that really knew him.
Well, we have to remember that not everyone in the history of the military had a glowing service record, yet was still able to accomplish amazing things.
How many mistakes have been made in the past by uttering the phrase "I was only following orders"? Some of our most revered Generals and Admirals occasionaly went against the top brass, and our boys still made it home safe and sound.
First, I'm not Afro-American so this is not a biased statement.
Don't forget the Tuskegee Airmen. They were the ONLY U.S. Squadron that never lost a Bomber to an enemy fighter.
This, back in the days when it was believed that most black Americans couldn't even spell airplane, much less fly one.
These guys have my ultimate respect. Despite being put into a segregated where they were destined to fail, they beat the odds and the naysayers.
There are a lot of books written about "Pappy" Boyington and the Black Sheep Squadron. Read a good one before you decide whether you want a "complete and accurate" story on Pappy.
Granted, the Black Sheep were a true Fighter Squadron, while the Tuskegee Airmen were Bomber Escort, but there's enough film to be shot and enough paper to do a good story on each.
