Pappy Boyington Field 5th Anniversary Celebration Presented By Marine Corps League
Pappy Boyington Detachment #966
Hero Aircraft
Gregory "Pappy" Boyington was born in Coeur d'Alene December 4, 1912 He attended the University of Washington where he graduated with a B.S. in aeronautical engineering. He spent his summer vacations working with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Protection Association. After graduation he worked at Boeing as a draftsman and engineer on the X-15 project, that later became the B-17. Already serving in the Coast Artillery Reserve and the Volunteer Marine Corps Reserve, on February 18, 1936 he accepted an appointment as an aviation cadet and became a naval aviator on March 11, 1937. August 26, 1941 he joined Claire Chennault's famed Fying Tigers where he was officially credited with 3.5 (maybe 1 more) Japanese aircraft destroyed in the air and on the ground.
