Aviator in famed World War II squadron

[Johnny Bravo]

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.

[tt11758]

RIP, Marine. Semper Fi.

[Johnny Bravo]

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.

[tombogan03884]

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.  

[PegLeg45]

That was my favorite show when I was a kid. Loved those Corsairs.

Requiescat in Pace.

[Sponsor]

[alfsauve]

The Black Sheep Squadron epitomized American "can do" attitude.   Git 'er done.

Fair winds and following seas, Hank.

[twyacht]

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.



That and also the P-51 Mustang and Spitfire.

Victory was achieved with superior firepower, better pilots, and sheer HORSEPOWER!!!


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