‘Black Sheep’ aviator, 88, dies - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

‘Black Sheep’ aviator, 88, dies

COVINGTON, La. — One of the last surviving aviators from World War II’s famed Black Sheep Squadron has died.

Henry Mayor “Hank” Bourgeois was 88.

Bourgeois joined the Marine Corps in 1940, served during both World War II and the Korean War, and retired from the military after 20 years. But the duty for which he was best remembered was with the Marine Fighting Squadron 214.

Serving under Lt. Col. Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, the unit became known as the Black Sheep Squadron in the South Pacific. The squadron shot down 94 Japanese planes over the Northern Solomon Islands and Rabaul.

The unit was the subject of a television series titled “Baa Baa Black Sheep” starring Robert Conrad as Boyington from 1976-78.