Heritage Books | On Boyington’s Wing

Reviewed by Brad Hagen

Heritage Books, Inc.
On Boyington’s Wing
By Lt. Col.Robert W. McClurg; with Leon Marketos
Hardcover
5” X 9”
232 pages
ISBN 0-7884-2476-9

Robert McClurg had almost no fighter experience before joining the Black Sheep and becoming Pappy Boyington's wing man. He served three combat tours and ended up scoring seven kills and two probables and received the Distinguished Flying Cross with four stars, the Air Medal with seven stars, and two Presidential Unit Citations. There have been numerous books written on the Black Sheep or specific members to varying degrees of accuracy but only two have been written by Black Sheep members themselves, Boyington's Baa Baa Black Sheep and Frank Waltons Once They Were Eagles, until now. Roberts book adds a welcome addition to the stories straight from the veterans themselves.

The book starts out with his childhood, covers the three combat tours, covers his time after the war and his thoughts and reactions to the TV show Black Sheep Squadron. There are also numerous appendixes including excerpts from a tribute to Robert Alexander who was shot down and killed on a mission, Boyington's fighter tactics, excerpts from the Black Sheep war diary, and the script from a radio show he was interviewed for during the war. He also gives you his thoughts on Pappy himself.

The book is well written and a very interesting read. My interest lies in the Pacific war and I learned a number of new tidbits. A few times he got very simplistic (at least it would be to us) in describing flight characteristics of airplanes. That’s not a bad thing as it would be good for children to help them understand and also for people who like history but really know nothing of aviation.

The photographs are printed on the book paper instead of a glossy section in the middle, some of them seem somewhat faded but I had seen very few of them before. One really nice shot was him in the cockpit of the famed #86 for a photo op, here is photographic evidence that can end the Lucybelle/Lulubelle controversy, hopefully.

I got to meet Robert at an autograph session and he and some other Black Sheep autographed my book. He was quite the gentleman and full of energy and after we were done he invited my friends children behind the table to get a photo taken with him, unfortunately the photo didn’t come out. I also picked up a autographed color print of his Corsair with its history.

The book is available both un-autographed and autographed for a little more and the color print is also available although it didn’t say whether it would be autographed, that’s something you will have to ask. The prices for the book, the print, and the ordering information is below, there was no e-mail address.

The veterans are leaving us at a rapid rate, it’s really great to get their story and experiences in their own words. Whether you are a fan of the Black Sheep, the Pacific war, aviation, or history, I would recommend this book and the chance to get it autographed is icing on the cake.

Book un-autographed $27.00
Book autographed per request $32.00

Also available:8.5” X 11” glossy color print w/Lt. Col. R. W. McClurg bio and war history printed on right side $14.00

Prices include shipping

Send check or money order to:
On Boyington’s Wing
P.O. Box 668
Skaneateles, NY, 13152

Heritage Books | On Boyington’s Wing

Reviewed by Brad Hagen

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