How we met Greg "Pappy" BOYINGTON.

Most of our articles are devoted to our work on Concorde and the Delta museum.

But because of the confinement, by searching for documents in our archives and also because of reprogramming of “Baa Baa Black Sheep” on TV, we found photos and this old text and take the opportunity here, to share some memories with our visitors ...

It was in 1979 during our first trip to HARLINGEN in Texas, during the annual CAF gathering (at the time this organization was still called CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE) that we met for the first time, '' Pappy Boyington ''.

A fun encounter ... parked in the huge parking lot at Harlingen Airport right next to Pappy's car.

He was unloading boxes of his BAA-BAA BLACK SHEEP book, but at that moment we had absolutely no idea who he was…

We were still quite far from the hangar where all the stands were, and we offered Alex and me to help him carry one or two boxes.

His first reaction was to dryly stare at us and to ask us why we were proposing this by saying;

"Do you think I'm too old"?

We answered him,

"NO ... we were simply proposing you because we are going in the same direction".

He accepted with a big smile and we accompanied him to his stand, and it was only there that we found out who he was ... it really amused him.

Harlingen CAF 1979

During our stay we passed several times in front of Pappy and his wife who accompanied him on all his trips.

During one of our visits Pappy asked me if we had his book… a little embarrassed I told him that I didn’t, but I was planning to buy one, of course he immediately signed us one, we keep it in our library preciously.

New meeting the following year in Harlingen.

Harlingen CAF 1980

At the end of the air show we went to say goodbye, and we asked him if he would agree to come to Paris during the Paris Air Show in 1981?

A little surprised ... he gave us his agreement in principle.

Back in Paris the race for sponsors started with a lot of success…

Pierre DEVAUBLANC regional director France of the all-cargo airline "Flying-Tigers" immediately accepted our request to transport for free there and back all the material, books posters etc. from Los Angeles to Paris because the company still honoured the former "Flying Tigers".

A first worry less, a big thank you to Pierre.

Claude KOGAN who ran a large freight assistance company in Orly would assume the trip between Los Angeles / Paris of Pappy and his wife.

Another worry less, and again a big thank to him too.

At the end we only had the accommodation and food to organize.

The big day arrived, Alex left in the Citroën DS of Jean Michel DANIEL president of “Ailes Anciennes” to Brussels, with our faithful "Bibiche" a little yorkie who never left him, neither at work nor during air show.

First visit to our friends of the Brussels Air Museum, first meeting of Pappy with European fans. Despite the tiredness of the trip he was kind to everyone, our Belgian friends have also kept some great memories with him.

On the way to Paris, “Bibiche” was installed on Pappy's lap and chews his thumb amicably, that greatly amused our two passengers.

What to say about this air show…

One of the most beautiful of our life…

Here are some pictures of the visit with our friend Raymond PIZZINI.

Reception by the authorities of the Paris Air Show and GIFAS. (French aviation and space industry group).

Then follow several extraordinary meetings :

Just back from space, John YOUNG and Robert CRIPPEN were present at the airshow.

Pappy with Bob HOOVER in front of the wreckage of a P-51 Mustang found on the beach at Lege Cap Ferret.

The wreckage of the plane was recovered a few weeks before by the team of the association Ailes Anciennes with the effective help of the municipal employees and the firefighters of Lege thanks to the help of the mayor.

The Mustang will remain on display during the show in front of the Air Museum.

Bob Hoover signs the guest book of the association Ailes Anciennes.

On the RSA (French association of aircraft builder and vintage aviation) stand, Pappy admired the airplanes on display.

One of Pappy's great regrets will remain to have been unable to fly on the smallest twin-engine aircraft in the world, the "Cricri" by the engineer Colomban. He spoke to us about this aircraft several times afterwards during our meetings.

And of course the most wonderful for all of us was the presence of Pappy on the stand of the Ailes Anciennes where he signed his book, his posters and his photos.

On the stand of Ailes Anciennes Pappy and Sébastien the son of Alex

Most of the aeronautical magazines absolutely wanted to have Pappy and Jo on their stand.

Here are some press extracts :

After the long days spent at the airshow, the evenings often ended visiting Paris and more intimate family dinners. A little anecdote : A real tour de force to make an American eat a fondue Bourguinionne !!! But Pappy really enjoyed it. During our next trip, we brang him several ingredients for fondue…

Some photos taken during our visits to Montmartre.

A little chilly in the evening, but the visit of Paris keeps going.

The Louvre and we are always with "Bibiche"

At the end of the airshow Madame Boyington and Pappy travelled together around Europe before flying back to California from Amsterdam

September 1981 we planned a new trip to CAF in Harlingen, we informed Pappy who asked us to come imperatively with "Bibiche" ...

We accepted with pleasure and flew to the adventure at the end of September, Paris, Montreal, Memphis for a short visit to the King Elvis, Dallas by plane and then by car to Brownsville.

Arriving at the CAF airshow an unpleasant surprise was waiting for us, Pappy’s stand was empty and in addition, it was impossible to contact him, our anxiety was rising.

The next morning the airshow commentator announced that Pappy Boyington had a car accident and that he will not be participating in the show this year.

When we get back to Brownsville's cottage in the evening, we finally managed to reach Madame Boyington, who asked us to come to Fresno because Pappy had a serious accident with his pick-up truck while picking up the books from the publisher and taking them to Harlingen.

She asked us to promise her that we visited them after the airshow because Pappy really wanted to see us.

How could we refuse such an invitation, and the Monday morning we left for Houston by car and in the evening for Los Angeles only destination immediately available at this time. The next day we drove to Fresno and reached Pappy's home at the end of the evening.

Madame Boyington was waiting for us in front of the house with Pappy in a wheelchair ...

At this moment, we witnessed an incredible spectacle, "Bibiche" rushed towards Pappy, jumped on his knees and started to nibble Pappy’s thumb, just like she did at their first meeting between Brussels and Paris few months earlier.

An unforgettable image: seeing the eyes of this great man shine in front of this furry ball, who has not forgotten him and there some other hugs and furious attacks to Pappy’s thumb started again.

He had the greatest difficulty getting up from his chair, but he insisted that we took a souvenir photo of our reunion.

We stayed at the Boyington family home in Fresno for a few unforgettable days. One evening Pappy invited us to a dinner in town with Joe, and a couple of actors from the "Baa Baa Black Sheep” series. Not having planned this incredible meeting, we did not bring our cameras but the images of this dinner will remain engraved in our hearts.

The next day excursion to Sequoia Park with the red jackets embroidered with golden letters "Greg Pappy Boyington" and "Jo Boyington" on the back, what a pleasure.

We left them with regret, but we knew they will forever be remembered. Before leaving Pappy offered to Alex a bottle of red wine from his personal cellar with the mention "specially bottled for Pappy Boyington".

On the occasion of Alex's 40th birthday, we gathered some friends at home and we drank it thinking very hard of him… and even empty today this bottle is still on the buffet in our dining room.

We have continued to send us little letters and wishes every year, and I believe I received one of the last wishes from Pappy just a few days before the big departure for his last flight...

As I write this article, I realize that we rubbed shoulders with this great gentleman, that he welcomed us into his house with such simplicity and friendship, and that we certainly had an extraordinary chance at that time, and that it will remain for us an extraordinary memory.

Today it's been thirty-nine years since we lived this extraordinary adventure and it's time to share it ...

Marie France ‘’ Mifa ’’ Pozder

All photos private collection, (DR)