US Navy

Papa Boyington

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On January 3, 1944 Maj. Greg 'Pappy' Boyington was shot down near Rabaul. No one could definitively confirm that he was killed but his plane was seen hitting the water in flames. His wing man, George Ashmun was confirmed as killed on that day. Officially, Boyington was listed as missing in action. But, for all his men and the world, it was assumed that he was also killed. The Japanese never reported Boyington as a POW and it wasn't until August, 1945 that the world learned the famous and beloved pilot had survived the war. This photo is of a press conference upon Lt. Col. Boyington's return. Since the time he had been shot down, Boyington had received a promotion and a posthumous award of the Medal of Honor. taken from fb/We the People Restauration & Colorisation We the People Restoration & Colorization