3 Review(s)

* Hero, villain, or a little of each? An exciting biography on the top Marine ace of the PacificGregory`Pappy' Boyington, who became the top Marine ace of the Pacific, led a colourful and controversial life. This biography details his turbulent childhood, including abusive parents and frequent moves, his early military career, his service with the Flying Tigers in Burma and China, his feats as a Corsair fighter pilot in the South Pacific, his time in Japanese prison camps, and his postwar career. Wukovits attempts to show that the complex Boyington excelled when others looked to him for advice, but performed miserably when shunted to the sidelines. He thus amassed a spotty record with the Flying Tigers, who treated him as an outsider, but triumphed when in command of the Black Sheep Squadron, where the men considered him a teacher and leader. Many veterans either consider Boyington a hero or a villain, whereas in actuality he was a little of each.About the AuthorJohn F. Wukovits is a military expert specialising in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. He is the author of many books, including Eisenhower: A Biography; Pacific Alamo: The Battle for Wake Island; and One Square Mile of Hell: The Battle for Tarawa. He has also written numerous articles for such publications such as WWII History, Naval History, and World War II. He is a resident of Trenton, Michigan and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.