|
MENU
|
|
|
|
| Boyington with Medal Of Honor |
 The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR to
MAJOR GREGORY BOYINGTON
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of Marine Fighting Squadron TWO FOURTEEN in action against enemy Japanese forces in Central Solomons Area from 12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944. Consistently outnumbered throughout successive hazardous flights over heavily defended hostile territory, Major Boyington struck at the enemy with daring and courageous persistence, leading his squadron into combat with devastating results to Japanese shipping, shore installations and aerial forces. Resolute in his efforts to inflict crippling damage on the enemy, Major Boyington led a formation of twenty-four fighters over Kahili on 17 October and, persistently circling the airdrome where sixty hostile aircraft were grounded, boldly challenged the Japanese to send up planes. Under his brilliant command, our fighters shot down twenty enemy craft in the ensuing action without the loss of a single ship. A superb airman and determined fighter against overwhelming odds, Major Boyington personally destroyed 26 of the many Japanese planes shot down by his squadron and by his forceful leadership developed the combat readiness in his command which was a distinctive factor in the Allied aerial achievements in this vitally strategic area.
/S/FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT |
| Boyington breafing his Blacksheep for a mission 1943 Vella-La-Vella |
 |
| The entire Blacksheep Squadron poses with a Corsair Vella-La-Vella 1943. (Seems they had been playing base-ball or where going to play some ) Boyington is third from the right in the front row. |
 |
| Some other pictures of Greg... |
 |
| SCRAMBLE ... RUN LIKE HELL !!!!! |
 |
| Pappy ... |
 Smoking a cigarette as usual... Pappy was a very heavy smoker and had a serious drinking problem but he managed to pass the very difficult flight-physical after having stayed in a Japanese POW camp for months. Years later though he would loose a lung , have serious breathing problems needing extra oxygen and at the end loose the battle against cancer..
But keeping in mind his way of living he grew to become quite old and was allways has strong as an ox.... |
|
|
; |
