Black Sheep

Starred review from May 1, 2011
The leading popular historian of the Pacific War adds to his laurels with this fine biography of famous and notorious WWII marine ace Gregory Boyington. Growing up in a fantastically dysfunctional family, he was an alcoholic for most of his adult life. But he had the wits to get a degree in aeronautical engineering and become a marine fighter pilot. As WWII drew close, money troubles and a desire to fight drew him to the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) in China. His undisciplined ways did not endear him to Claire Chennault, so he returned to the marines, who found better use for him at the head of the Black Sheep Squadron (not a bunch of misfits, just a lot of pilots awaiting assignment). Boyington led them with formidable skill until he was shot down and spent the rest of the war as a Japanese POW. The Medal of Honor was his last hurrah. His postwar career consisted mainly of boozing and marital failures. Wukovits has done something extraordinary in this book. Besides his usual thorough research and clear writing, he has produced a balanced portrait of a not entirely sympathetic protagonist that is certain to engage, at least, the readers interest.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)