The two aces both end up on the same deserted island after blowing each other out of the air. One of the most memorable scenes from the series with some funny dialogue.
Masajiro Kawato was 19 when he shot down Boyington near York Island near Rabaul. He had shot down 17 Americans at the end of his career. He crashed into the sea while trying to dive into a destroyer later and was afraid of the US sailors capturing him so he tried to shoot himself, but the gun misfired the first time, then shot himself in the head with the 2nd try and knocked himself out. He drifted for 4 days mostly unconcious and ended up on a small island. He was found later buy then Navy and sent to an Aussie hospital where it took a long time get better. He reunited with family but had been officially declared dead by the Japanese government. He flew after the war as a test pilot and airline pilot. He flew solo a Piper Comanche from Tokyo to Cresent City, CA in 35 hours one large tank of gas in 1976 to honor pilots from both sides of the war and the US Bicentennial. He moved to the US and was the only Japanese ace to do so. He became friends with Boyington. He wrote his autobiogrphy "Bye Bye Black Sheep". He passed away in December 2001 at 76 up in Washington State.
I read Kawato’s book as well. There are those who say that Kawato fabricated his accounts of his book Bye Bye Black Sheep that he really didn’t shoot down Boyington. However, Boyington stated “well somebody did.” Veteran accounts and also military records can be inaccurate as to what actually happened during a battle. During air battles Od WW2, double counting was common. To give an example, an American news reel released to American theaters stated that 50 Japanese aircraft were shot down during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Actually 26 Japanese aircraft were shot down and 3 more due to carrier accidents.
He did not shoot down Boyington. As another writer said about Kawato: "His courage in combat is not in question, but in so far as the battle of January 3, 1944 is concerned, his claim for credit is groundless and without a basis in fact." "He evidently was a natural-born fabricator."
Again, records and veteran accounts are often inaccurate. One thing for sure is that both Kawato and Boyington were in the air on 3Jan 44 in and around the area of Rabaul.
I remember it myself. It doesn’t matter what episode. The underlying fact will always remain. It is a government that creates a problem or war. The people? They are expendable. What you see here is true human nature. We don’t want war. We want friends we can commiserate with, against the Control Freaks in our own governments!
Years ago I had lunch with a Marine ace who told me that they did taunt each other over the radio like. After the war, he and his adversaries would get together to talk about flying, kids, marriage, and whatever.
I loved this show growing up . I Always got a kick out of the banter between these two . It also impressed on me the fact that it is possible to show respect for a soldier from another country even while you are trying to kill each other . I don't know if this exchange actually took place but I like to think it did . Just because someone is your "enemy" does not mean they are not human or do not warrant civility when the bullets are done flying .
It's easy to demonise people who are different in race, language or religion until you know them in person, just like Hirachi. Hawkish politicians will demonise other countries so as to distract their people from the failures or issues of the country. There is a lot of good in this episode. From Singapore.
@@petesibley-km9gg Not true. Early in the war it might have been more true, especially at Pearl harbor, but this is from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum: 'Accounts of fighter operations during the Pacific war vary on how often Zeros carried radios. All the Zeros flying during the Midway operation in June 1942 had them, but whether a Zero had a radio or not varied depending on the operational needs of a particular mission.' Of course that doesn't mean that an exchange like this actually happened, but Many zeroes and other planes did, in fact, have radios.
Thank you Robert Conrad . You helped me make up my mind . Because of Baa Baa Black Sheep ...enlisted in the navy air wing . Do not regret it .. rest in peace .
I loved the show as a youngster and would spend school time drawing scenarios of the corsair vs the zero. I'm lucky I graduated grade school. Me and my bud James Taylor would talk about the show during school hours. Great actor, great show.
A good series, a lot of fun, and the Corsair is one of the coolest looking fighters! Historically accurate? Hardly, but no one watched this show for historical significance. And Boyington's ongoing battle with 'Tommy' Hirachi - classic!
yeah... but now we know that the Corsair could easily pull away from a zero and then strike from above over and over. The zero was quick but one shot and it explodes into flames.
By age 8, I could identify a corsair, p-38, I knew about "the slot", and knew about Pappy and the Blacksheep. Was a great way to get a kid curious about history, my fave show of all time!
I love the part in the unedited version where Hirachi couldn't shoot pappy down so much respect and honor, always loved that aspect, war is unpredictable sometimes.
Aaah, the good old times when my brother and I were so little that our favorite place to watch TV was under the living room table, elbows on the carpet and eyes wide open.
All of the Corsairs, Robert Conrad, and Pappy, were at the Fresno, Ca airport at an air show, to promote the show before it went on the air. It was very impressive to a 14 year old at the time. On a side note, Fresno used to be the home of a B-17D, with the orginal skinny tail section. And the ANG was still flying the F106. The late 70s was a cool time to be in Fresno.
Sad to hear Red West @ 5:57 "The Corsair Mechanic" on the tv series Baa Baa Black Sheep and Elvis Presley's long time friend and bodyguard passed away last month and was buried July 18, 2017 in Memphis, TN. He was last seen at Sonny West's "Elvis' other bodyguard" funeral six weeks earlier around 1st of June in Memphis. RIP Bro's !!
It is inaccurate not all imperial Japanese pilots were this kind to other. The Japanese zero had no armor and the American plan the corsair had alot of armour and was faster. But it's not supposed to be accurate it's for entertainment so I love it for that
The crew of the German cruiser Admiral Hipper congratulated survivors of HMS Glowworm on a good fight even as the Germans pulled the British survivors from the water after Glowworm sunk...and Glowworm's captain for a posthumous Victoria Cross largely on the recommendation of Hipper's CO. It was more likely to happen in Europe, but such respect WAS occasionally paid. Another time was the Germans granted the Honours of War to the defeated French after the Siege of Lille in 1940.
I was 11 and it was by far my favorite show! Did love a little Happy Days, Welcome Back Kotter, 6 Million Dollar Man, et al. All the way around a damn fine year for classic TV!
If only... Id been born a the right time. I don't know if these pilots knew it at the time, but this was the pinnacle of dog fighting. With planes fast and maneuverable enough to get close, and before missiles. This was it, right here. If I could live anytime and do anything, this is it y'all. Thank you guys for your service. We only have what we because of you, and those like you. Greatest generation and for some, the greatest time.
@@cleekmaker00 I didn't think they where actually trying to shoot each other down in the show either. Obviously we where talking about the historical event that the show was trying to depict. In this case, dogfights in the pacific theater during WW2 and the differences in the planes being used by the US and Japanese during that time. But thankyou for the trivia tip, I didn't know what type of plane they where using for the Japanese in the show.
watched this show as a kid, when i hear the air raid horn it still gets me just something about that horn, also love the plane footage just great looking machines
I was new to Hollywood and sitting in on a session at The Record Plant when Mike Post came in and played us his 1st mix of the Black Sheep theme song. New immediately it was another of his hits.
This TV show was one of many created by Stephen J. Cannell. Other TV shows were: • 21 Jump Street • The A-Team • Baa Baa Black Sheep (TV series) • Baretta • Booker (TV series) • Chase (1973 TV series) • City of Angels (1976 TV series) • Cobra (American TV series) • The Commish • The Greatest American Hero • Hardcastle and McCormick • The Hat Squad • J.J. Starbuck • The Last Precinct • Renegade (TV series) • Riptide (American TV series) • The Rockford Files • Scene of the Crime (TV series) • Silk Stalkings • Stingray (1985 TV series) • Tenspeed and Brown Shoe • Wiseguy (TV series) My top five were: Rockford Files, Baretta, Baa Baa Black Sheep, The Greatest American Hero, and The A-Team.
I am currently playing Crew Motorfest and my preferred mode of transport around Hawaii is the Corsair. Beautiful looking plane and it always reminds me of watching this show as a young teen.
I was 8 years old in 1976 when this show came on television . I loved this show , read the book and watched it in syndication into my late teens . I do not know if it is just me but I do not think that they make television shows as good as they used to. I live in southern California and the little airstrip where they filmed the show is just about an hour from my house, but I think that they tore it up a few years back .
Thanks for uploading this clip! The most remarkable scene from this show IMHO. God i miss it. Wish one TV-station here in europe would show this series again
I read Boyington's book. Great read. Had to bail out at low altitude. Said he stood up in the cockpit and kicked the stick forward with his foot while jumping out. Rudder caught him on the head but the parachute opened. Spent rest of war in Japan as a POW. Became good friends with another POW Dick O'Kane, captain of the Tang. I read his book too. O'Kane made one of the gutsiest moves in submarine warfare. With a destroyer gunning for him in shallow water, he kept his periscope up after diving to make the destroyer come straight at him. Then he put 2 fish down his throat! That book would be a great movie, although some would say it was already made sort of in Run Silent, Run Deep.
This scene is very interesting to me because two enemies on friendly terms. Of course war is a racket. My great grandfather was a truck driver in Burma and India. Once in 1990 he was visiting and telling me his WWII stories when I was 14. That same week, several exchange students from Japan were visiting. One of the girls sat on porch next to him listening as well. I thought to myself If it were 50 years ago, these two people would have been killing each other. Beware of propaganda and exploitation.
I loved this show as a kid. When the show was still running, in 1977, my parents took the family out to California for a model-airplane contest (the SAM Champs, for anyone who knows what that is). We went to Universal Studios and heard the news of Elvis's death while waiting in line. We saw the new Jaws shark display too! This was during a long serious drought in the LA area. My family always had an ongoing joke that where ever we were, it would rain. We were camped in a KOA or something similar in a fold-up camper and it began raining like cats & dogs! Yep, we ended the California drought. Down the road was the airstrip for the Corsairs of the Baa Baa Black Sheep TV show. I remember as a kid, looking through a fence down the line of all those beautiful Corsairs that were flown in the show. Many different models of Corsairs that were not historically correct, but who cares?! Oh I wish I could go back in time sometimes...
This was a good episode. Everyone thought TJ shot Harachi down, Pappy & Micklin going at each other's throats trying trying to fix Pappy's F4U-4 so he can go 1 v 1 with Harachi that afternoon...
I helped Mr Conrad with His Brand New Piper Malibu PA 46 310P in Vero Beach, FL while he got his Instrument Rating in 1986... He was a true genuine REAL Person.! Nice to all of us at our FBO. Brought us a cooler full of beer at 5 pm every Friday! RIP Mr. Conrad!
@55 i loved this show thats why i became a pilot !!!! My grandpa knew Boyington they went to the UW together and then meet up again in Boganville My step grandpa was a philipino Captain there . John P Mendoza .
I saw this episode when it aired for the first time on TV. It was the last episode of the series I saw live. Wasn't sure why til I looked up the Fall lineup. It was competing with Charlies Angels. Guess I was about 14 or 15 at the time. I loved the series, but no contest. Not at that age.
I know, Greg was U.S.M.C. but A.V.G. too... long story, but I got to work for Grumman, ,Chennault, even helped restore a p-40... & even rubbed a few f4u's... I Respect History & Love Warbirds...
Awesome! I met Gregory "Pappy" Boyington in the late 70's, at an Airshow. I was in the Civil Air Patrol at the time. (Major Boyington was surprisingly patient with us!) I am lucky to have the Boeing Museum of Flight, the Paul Allen Collection (many are flown several times a year; and Tanks too!), and the Flying Heritage Collection all nearby! I am envious that you got to participate in the Restoration of a P40! I wanted to become a Fighter Pilot... Instead I became a Paratrooper!
Black sheep squadron was one of my favorite shows on the history Channel growing up and i really do like there airplanes and i am very happy to be remembering this show at anytime and the usmc have some of the best planes and really good pilots as well drunk and unruly as some best players in the war time needed
Even standing at attention in a dress uniform, John Larroquette still had that shit eating grin on his face. I was disappointed when he left the show after the first season, but better things awaited him, namely Night Court, and his own series in the 90's. One of our most under rated talents.
Thats NOT what I heard. Boyington was a drinker, scrapper and regularly flew regulation up his superiors rear! That was the Real " Pappy" Boyington, giving himself a medal. lol. My brother met him. A real talker but nice guy.
Got to meet Rob Conrad in the USN. He told me this was his favorite role (not WWWest). He and Red West (former Marine - who knew and served w/Gunny Lee Ermey) became very good friends.
The Japanese pilot that shot down Boyington was never on an island with him after the battle, but the read "Bye Bye Blacksheep" by Kawato, was a very good read.
I'll bet the radio guys slogging those enormous radio backpack sets across the Pacific wish they had some of those cool, portable, mini radio sets these guys have.
