BOYINGTON, GREGORY
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Marine
Corps Reserve, Marine Squadron 214. Place and date: Central Solomons area, from
12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944. Entered service at: Washington. Born: 4
December 1912, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. Other Navy award: Navy Cross.
Citation:
For extraordinary heroism and valiant devotion to duty as commanding officer of Marine
Fighting Squadron 214 in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Central Solomons area
from 12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944. Consistently outnumbered throughout successive
hazardous flights over heavily defended hostile territory, Maj. Boyington struck at the
enemy with daring and courageous persistence, leading his squadron into combat with
devastating results to Japanese shipping, shore installations, and aerial forces. Resolute
in his efforts to inflict crippling damage on the enemy, Maj. Boyington led a formation of
24 fighters over Kahili on 17 October and, persistently circling the airdrome where 60
hostile aircraft were grounded, boldly challenged the Japanese to send up planes. Under
his brilliant command, our fighters shot down 20 enemy craft in the ensuing action without
the loss of a single ship. A superb airman and determined fighter against overwhelming
odds, Maj. Boyington personally destroyed 26 of the many Japanese planes shot down by his
squadron and, by his forceful leadership, developed the combat readiness in his command
which was a distinctive factor in the Allied aerial achievements in this vitally strategic
area.
