Here, in his own words, is the true story of America’s wildest flying hero, of his extraordinary heroism, and of his greatest battle of all—the fight to survive.The World War II air war in the Pacific needed tough men like Colonel Pappy Boyington and his Black Sheep Squadron. The legendary Marine Corps officer and his bunch of misfits, outcasts, and daredevils gave new definition to … definition to “hell-raising”—on the ground and in the skies.
Pappy himself was a living legend—he personally shot down twenty-eight Japanese planes, and won the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. He broke every rule in the book doing so, but when he fell into the hands of the vengeful Japanese his real ordeal began.
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This book was a surprise. I thought I knew this story. I was wrong. I discovered so much more to this man’s live. Incredibly interesting. Fascinating the insights into political issues affecting the USA, China and Japan during the war. For any history buff this is an essential read!
Interesting book. It was nice to have a real character, flaws and all to counter the Hollywood garbage. Not written by a professional writer??
Not nearly as exciting as I had hoped. I thought there would be more about the individual missions, not just a rote recitation of his wartime service.
Very good. Not what I expected. Very personal and revealing on the part of the author.
An interesting auto-biography of a troubled man who was a great warrior. It also provides a good inside view of how some men lived and worked in the Pacific Theater in WWII.
I watched Black Sheep Squadron the series on TV and loved it. It was great to read what really happened.
True story of Col. Pappy Boyington from his early days wishing to fly through his time flying with the Flying Tigers through World War II. Interesting biographical story while weaving it with his service during the war.
Pappy Boyington, an American hero in WWII. Flew with the Flying Tigers and then with his his own squad and setting the American record for downed enemy planes. Then spent well over a year as a prisoner of the Japanese. He certainly had his own issues but what a story.
A very brave pilot who had a problem with drinking that really hurt his career and reputation. A good man who could be called a rebel or self centered. Didn’t receive all the praise he should have due to his demons.
Not an extremely well written book, but what can you expect from a Marine aviator.
Interesting, but factually a bit unreliable. Don’t use it as your only source on Boyington’s life.
Great piece of WWII History
For years I enjoyed seeing the Baa Baa Black Sheep TV series. Like any TV series, the writers leave out a lot of intrinsic details, which this book certainly covered. Well worth the read.
Great historical book. Well told story of Pappy Bouginton.
Have me a sense of what it may have been like during WWIi. Informative and interesting.
Non-fiction by an amazing storyteller. It’s an amazing firsthand account of the life of a fighter pilot in WWII. Really worth reading.
I first read this book as a teenager after seeing the TV show Ba Ba Blacksheep. I was not disappointed and “Pappy” became one of the heroes that shaped my young life. I recommend this book to both teens and adults who have forgotten what it means to be American and the sacrifice that comes with that privilege.