About this item

Black Sheep One is the first biography of legendary warrior and World War II hero Gregory Boyington. In 1936, Boyington became an aviation cadet and earned the "wings of gold" of a naval aviator. After only a short period on active duty, however, he was "encouraged" to resign from the Marine Corps due to his unconventional behavior. Remarkably, this inauspicious beginning was just the prologue to a heroic career as an American fighter pilot and innovative combat leader. With the onset of World War II, when skilled pilots were in demand, he became the commander of an ad hoc squadron of flying leathernecks. Led by Medal of Honor winner Boyington, the legendary Black Sheep set a blistering pace of aerial victories against the enemy.Though many have observed that when the shooting stops, combat heroes typically just fade away, nothing could be further from the truth for Boyington.



About the Author

Bruce Gamble

A disabled veteran and cancer survivor, Bruce Gamble has used an ultra-light wheelchair for much of his adult life, but it hasn't slowed him down. He's also an award-winning author and historian who travels widely, whether conducting research and interviews for his nonfiction books, giving public presentations, or sitting in front of the camera for a documentary.

Raised in Pennsylvania, Bruce served as a Naval Flight Officer from 1980 to 1988, deploying aboard aircraft carriers in the Pacific and Indian Oceans during the closing years of the Cold War. Diagnosed with a malignant spinal cord tumor, Bruce underwent a complicated surgery and was medically retired in 1989. Soon thereafter he began volunteering at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida, and later worked part-time for the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. After several years as the staff historian, Bruce made the leap to freelance writing and published his first book, The Black Sheep (Presidio Press) , in 1998.

With six titles now in print, Bruce is rapidly gaining recognition as one of the most respected authorities on World War II in the Pacific. His narrative style and depth of research have earned critical acclaim in numerous publications. Bruce also does a substantial amount of public speaking and is listed among the distinguished historians in the American History Forum. In addition, he is featured in documentaries produced by the History Channel, Fox News Channel, PBS, and the Pritzker Military Library.

The winner of two literary awards in 2010 and a Florida Book Award in 2013, Bruce is a member of the Authors Guild and holds life memberships in the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation and Paralyzed Veterans of America. Cancer-free for more than 25 years, he lives near Madison, Georgia



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