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Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Johnny Bravo on November 16, 2009, 12:09:17 PM

Title: Aviator in famed World War II squadron
Post by: Johnny Bravo on November 16, 2009, 12:09:17 PM
The Associated Press

COVINGTON, La. — One of the last surviving aviators from World War II’s famed Black Sheep Squadron has died in Covington, La.

Henry Mayor "Hank" Bourgeois was 88.

Mr. Bourgeois flew with Marine Fighting Squadron 214.

Serving under Lt. Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, the unit became known as the Black Sheep Squadron in the South Pacific.

The squadron shot down 94 Japanese planes.
Title: Re: Aviator in famed World War II squadron
Post by: tt11758 on November 16, 2009, 12:10:22 PM
RIP, Marine. Semper Fi.
Title: Re: Aviator in famed World War II squadron
Post by: Johnny Bravo on November 16, 2009, 12:48:25 PM
The Associated Press

COVINGTON, La. — One of the last surviving aviators from World War II’s famed Black Sheep Squadron has died in Covington, La.

Henry Mayor "Hank" Bourgeois was 88.

Mr. Bourgeois flew with Marine Fighting Squadron 214.

Serving under Lt. Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, the unit became known as the Black Sheep Squadron in the South Pacific.

The squadron shot down 94 Japanese planes.


Henry Mayor “Hank” Bourgeois was 88.
Bourgeois joined the Marine Corps in 1940, served during both World War II and the Korean War and retired from the military after 20 years. But the duty for which he was best remembered was with the Marine Fighting Squadron 214.
Serving under Lt. Col. Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, the unit became known as the Black Sheep Squadron in the South Pacific. The squadron shot down 94 Japanese planes over the Northern Solomon Islands and Rabaul.
The unit was the subject of a television series titled “Baa Baa Black Sheep” from 1976 to 1978.
Title: Re: Aviator in famed World War II squadron
Post by: tombogan03884 on November 16, 2009, 01:07:44 PM
Since the squadron was formed from replacement Pilots they picked their own name that they felt was appropriate, Command  and reporters made them change Boynton's Bastards to Black Sheep.  ;D
Title: Re: Aviator in famed World War II squadron
Post by: PegLeg45 on November 16, 2009, 05:20:12 PM
That was my favorite show when I was a kid. Loved those Corsairs.

Requiescat in Pace.
Title: Re: Aviator in famed World War II squadron
Post by: alfsauve on November 16, 2009, 06:30:30 PM
The Black Sheep Squadron epitomized American "can do" attitude.   Git 'er done.

Fair winds and following seas, Hank.
Title: Re: Aviator in famed World War II squadron
Post by: twyacht on November 16, 2009, 08:18:37 PM
Read books about "Pappy" as a kid, and loved the F4U Corsair, man what a plane!!! Saw one up close at an air show. Real men flew a real ride. A complaint by pilots was the Corsair flew like a wet sack when flown slow. It never shined unless the throttle was wide open.

(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/Corsair.jpg)

That and also the P-51 Mustang and Spitfire.

Victory was achieved with superior firepower, better pilots, and sheer HORSEPOWER!!!
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/BSSpicture.gif)

Blue skies and a brisk tailwind to you Henry Mayor "Hank" Bourgeois.