Kevin Gonzalez, publisher of Boyington – Black Sheep Leader, recently published a rare audio of the famed Gregory ‘Pappy’ Boyington during WWII. The interview takes place at Barakoma Airfield on Vella Lavella, with Sergeant Jim Hardin as the correspondent. The complete interview with Pappy Boyington lasts about ten minutes, during which Boyington recounts four of his victories from the mission. For the magazine excerpt, Gonzalez chose to feature just the first enemy engagement, which spans four pages of artwork in the publication. Click the Facebook video player below to listen to the audio.
During his research for the documentary film, Gonzalez visited the Marine Corps History Division and national archives to gather material. These recorded interviews add a valuable dimension to the storytelling, as they capture Boyington’s experiences in his own words. “The exciting part for me was working with artists to bring the audio to life, so to speak, in full color, imagining what it might have looked like that day,” Gonzalez said. The scenes are artistic interpretations of how the events could have appeared. Often, producers only have black-and-white photos from the period, so creating visual scenes based on Boyington’s audio interview was a particularly meaningful experience for Gonzalez.
Gregory “Pappy” Boyington was a Marine Corps fighter pilot and the commanding officer of the VMF-214 Black Sheep Squadron in the Pacific during World War II. Boyington earned recognition as a leading flying ace, a Prisoner of War, and a recipient of both the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor.
VMF-214, known as the Black Sheep, was reformed under Boyington’s leadership in 1943, marking the 80th anniversary being celebrated today. Before Boyington took command, the squadron number belonged to the VMF-214 Swashbucklers, who had recently lost their commanding officer while engaged in combat operations. During their R&R, higher command recognized the need for more squadrons in the fight, coinciding with Boyington’s efforts to secure a squadron of his own. On paper, Boyington was assigned command of VMF-214, where he gathered a core group of pilots from the replacement pool and added new members to form the Black Sheep, giving the squadron its new moniker.
The U.S. Marine Corps’ Black Sheep squadron has served the nation continuously for 80 years, and a special edition magazine now commemorates this milestone and their enduring legacy.
“The WWII Black Sheep were among the most effective combat units, and their achievements made them legendary,” said Kevin Gonzalez, the magazine’s creator. “An ace is a military aviator credited with downing five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat, and there were nine Black Sheep pilots who became aces.”
Boyington – Black Sheep Leader is a special edition magazine that features historical articles, archival photographs, and original graphic novel art. A special art section includes a depiction of Pappy’s last dogfight, where he and his wingman, Captain George Ashmun, were both shot down during a strike mission over Rabaul. Boyington survived the dogfight but was captured at sea by a Japanese submarine crew. He was never officially reported as a prisoner by the Japanese and was secretly held captive for 30 months.
Boyington’s journey into military aviation began with an aviation cadet program, which led him to the Marine Corps Reserve in 1937 and flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola. He temporarily left the Marines to join the American Volunteer Group, known as the Flying Tigers, where he gained combat experience against the Japanese. After the U.S. entered WWII, he rejoined the USMC. Boyington later recounted his experiences in his best-selling book, BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP, published in 1958,, which later became the basis for a popular NBC television series for two seasons in the 1970s.
Colonel Gregory “Pappy” Boyington passed away on January 11, 1988, in Fresno, California, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. In 2007, the local airport was renamed Coeur d’Alene Airport/Pappy Boyington Field in his honor. In 2019, Boyington was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. The modern-day Black Sheep squadron continues Boyington’s legacy. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 (VMFA-214) is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and flies the F-35B Lightning II, the Marine Corps variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
“Many of the graphic artists who contributed to this project are military veterans,” said Gonzalez. “It’s exciting to see their artwork featured in the pages of this magazine.”
Boyington – Black Sheep Leader is a special edition magazine from the creator of the Pappy Boyington Field documentary film. More information about Boyington at the website: PappyBoyingtonField.com. To purchase the special edition magazine, click HERE.
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
Be the first to comment
Graphic Design, Branding and Aviation Art