The Aviation Medals of Honor The Aviation Medals of Honor

I started this episode as an extra to the first season on B-17s in the 8th AF, but put it away halfway done. With the release of Apple TV’s Masters of the Air I decided to revive it. This is the story of The Bloody 100th, the 100th Heavy Bomb Group, who operated over Europe from June 1943 until the end of the war. Probably the most famous of the 8th Air Force bomb groups, what set the 100th apart was the losses it suffered, in particular the huge losses it seemed to suffer over and over again. While other groups may have suffered the same fate on a mission or two, the 100th had eight separate missions in which it was almost wiped out. Rumor was among the men of the 8th that the Luftwaffe had targeted the 100th for destruction. Several topics hit on in this episode are covered more in-depth in my earlier season one podcasts on B-17s and the 8th. I recommend listening to those episodes prior to this one.

I can be reached at aviationmoh@gmail.com Feedback and reviews are appreciated. Semper Fi, Kelly "Beavis" Ramshur

VF-17 is likely the most famous of all the US Navy squadrons. Their history started back with their deployment to the Solomon Islands in 1943 and participation in the campaigns around Bouganville and Rabul and continues to this day. This episode covers their time in the South Pacific as well as the trials involved in the use of the F4U Corsair as a carrier aircraft.

Continuing the series of episodes on the Corsair and the fight for aerial supremacy in the Solomon Islands. In January 1944, the Japanese defenders at Rabul still had some fight in them. Robert Hanson, a 23 year old Marine Corsair pilot, would rack up an impressive string of victories in January, ending with 25 kills at the time of his death. This episode wraps up the Solomon Islands Campaign with the neutralization of Rabul and a brief summary of the Corsair.



Selected references:

The Fighting Corsairs, the Men of Marine Fighting Squadron 215 by Jeff Dacus

History of Marine Corps Aviation in WW2 by Robert Sherrod

Time of Aces, MarinePilots in the Solomons 1942-1944 by Cdr Peter Mersky

This episode covers Pappy’s time in the South Pacific, his command of VMF-214, The Blacksheep, and their run through the Solomons in late 1943 and early 1944, and finally his time as a prisoner of war. Initially two parts, I condensed it down cutting much of Pappy’s postwar life. If you’re interested in that, there are many books that cover that, including Pappy’s own autobiography which ends with “Just name a hero and I’ll prove he’s a bum.”
A difficult episode to do. A lot has been written about Pappy and trying to do him justice while not ignoring his faults was not easy, especially when you’re dealing with your childhood hero. Had to learn a new editing software as well which involved a long process of which I’m still learning. I hope you enjoy the result and hopefully the next episode one won’t take so long. Let me know at AviationMoH@gmail.

Selected readings:
Baa Baa Black Sheep by Greg Boyington
Black Sheep One, the Life of Gregory “Pappy” Boyington by Bruce Gamble
The Black Sheep, the Definitive Account of Marine Fighting Squadron 214 in WW2 by Bruce Gamble
Black Sheep, the Life of Pappy Boyington by John Wukovitz
Once They Were Eagles by Frank Walton

Part 1 on Greg "Pappy" Boyington. Before he led the world famous VMF-214 Blacksheep over the Solomons, Pappy Boyington was a broke, sometimes violent, drunk, about to get kicked out of the Marine Corps. He’s given a second chance when he joins the American Volunteer Group, the Flying Tigers. This episode covers Pappy’s early life and time before his time with VMF-214, the Blacksheep squadron, as well as the history of the AVG.



Selected readings:

Black Sheep: The Life of Pappy Boyington by John Wukovitz

Baa Baa Black Sheep by Greg Boyington

The Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and the American Volunteer Group by Daniel Ford

I can be reached at aviationmoh@gmail.com Feedback and reviews are appreciated. Semper Fi, Kelly "Beavis" Ramshur

1st Lt Kenneth Walsh was the first F4U Corsair ace and a pilot in VMF-124 during the Solomon Islands campaign. He would earn his Medal of Honor over the course of two missions in August of 1943 and finish the war with 21 victories. In addition to Ken Walsh and VMF-124, this episode covers the development of the F4U Corsair and the initial moves of Admiral Halsey up the Solomon Island chain.  

Selected readings: 

Harnessing the Sky: Frederick "Trap" Trapnell, the US Navy's Aviation Pioneer, 1923-1952 by Frederick Trapnell Jr and Dana Tibbitts 

Corsair, the F4U in World War II and Korea by Barrett Tillman 

History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II by Robert Sherrod 

Time of Aces: Marine Pilots in the Solomons, 1942-1944 by Cdr Peter Mersky 

I can be reached at aviationmoh@gmail.com Feedback and reviews are appreciated. Semper Fi, Kelly "Beavis" Ramshur