Warbird Information Exchange

I am all for this, anytime that this generation recognizes the sacrifices made for them some 60 years ago it's a good thing. Although they could pick from todays crop of "heroes" like the last winner of survivor, perhaps a hip-hop artist that pulled themselves from the gutter, perhaps other important "icons" should be considered, Michael Jackson, Brittany or Paris? If you sense a little sarcasim here you would be right. Boyington is a famous "name" from that period but his selection represents the sacrifice made by all that fought for you and I.
Rant over.
Gary

Your killing me Gary
My cousin was a Marine F4F/F4U pilot in WWII. He scored hisa first kills over Guadalcanal and made ace over Japan in 1945 shortly before he was KIA. His courage and that of all the KIA/MIAs (and of course all who served) are the true sacrifices that we should give thanks for everyday we live in the freedom they provided us. I'm admittidly completely anal about this subject for obivious reason. I don't find Pappy Boyington a proper representative of really anything I hold dear or respect.

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Don't touch my junk!!

I agree with you on that one Jack. I can think of 20 names that no one knows about that are just as deserving...maybe even more so.


I feel so mean today.

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Jack,The point I am trying to make is that I am in favor of any airfield being named for any WWII aviator. I am not on a Boyington bandwagon and feel there are many who served that deserve such an honor. I am just pleased that someone today would recognize the accomplishments of an aviator (any aviator) that flew in WWII.
Gary

From what I have read ans seen, Boyington just liked to fight. He would get drunk and want to wrestle his squadron mates, and he would get angry at the Japanese if they didn't come up and fight. Isn't there a story about him talking on the radio to the Japanese at an airbase, and then going down and shooting up the place? I like Boyington because the military didn't like him, stuck him out on a rock where they thought he would be out of everyone's hair, only to have him become a hero.
jack, I know what you mean about him not being a good "perfect" hero with a clean cut image. But I think a true hero has faults. A hero is a normal guy like you and me, but at times of dispare has the courage to stand up and fight . The guy is one of America's top scoring aces. I would rather see an airport named after him, then some politician.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Don't take this personally, but you are being FAR too harsh on Boyington.
Yes, he was a drunk (and probably a few other things one wouldn't admit to in church. And Boyington did admit to a lot in his book... you've got to give him credit for that).

But unless you're:

-A combat vet.
-Shot down more anemy aircraft
-Have a Medal of Honor
or
-Were a POW longer than Boyington.
I think your judgements are out of line.

Yes, your cousin deserves an airport named after him...as do thousands of anonymous guys.
As a guy who had to write letters to parents and wives after someone was lost, I'm sure Boyington would have been the first to agree with that.

So, instead of channeling your anger at Boyington, get your cousin's home town to name somthing after him.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

I have no anger at Boyington. I fact has a youngster, any airshow I was at and he was there, I was always in line to get a sig, buy a book or just say hello or shake his hand. Has a older and hopefully wiser person my ire is more directed at the folks who's worship Pappy like a god and who's sole knowledge of him comes from watching Black Sheep Squadron. That fiasco at UW is the perfect example. I noted in the article the resolution passed by 2-0 vote with the lone disenter bowing out. I'm amazed that 2 people can have the power to change the name of a structure or facility just like that. It took years of struggle to name the Wisonsin State Aviation Facility after Fritz Wolf AVG/Navy Ace who did so much to develope GA in WI afdter WWII. I honestly don't think my cousin Don would have liked anything named after him. From what I've learned it would more likely have embarassed him.
I find it intersting that Marine Aviation legends Marion Carl and Bob Galer campaigned for years without success to get the Marines to rightfully proclaim Joe Foss has their #1 ace. Their reasoning was that it would embarassed the Corps. I think Pappy did that enough so that once more wouldn't have hurt.

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Don't touch my junk!!

How did it go? "Just name me a hero and I'll prove his a bum"
I always liked that one.

Phil

Well, I guess we in Idaho just can't win. We've got Barrett Tillman mad at us for not renaming it soon enough, and Jack's mad because now we've gone and done it. Somehow I think Pappy would enjoy all of this.

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http://www.disrudstudios.com

Well good job! You just made me snort Coke out my nose all over my moniter

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Don't touch my junk!!

Gee, how are you going to be a celeb if you get the basics wrong? It's in the nose, and the other coke...

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

I've always heard about all the west coast Coke snorters!!!

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Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

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Trae

Even in space today

Lynn

I was in a war and I can tell you drinking is something that you use to deal with all the things in your head that can't come out.

Maybe Pappy just used the booze to washout the bad things, anyone ever think of that?

Many men fight and die in wars, some are placed as icons to remember ALL that died, they have those hero's to boost the moral of the other soldiers. I don't think it make the others less fighters, it just gives us a point to remember.

All I wanna know is will the Airport have a "Boyington Bar" where the Pilots can get drunk, shoot guns, hit on Babes & throw chairs through windows before thier flight?? That would be cool!! Just like the old days...
Digger