My Dad told me once the Black Sheep mistook an incoming flight of B-29s as attacking Japs, and they were lining up to jump 'em. Of course, they would have recognized the bombers as friendlies and not fired on 'em, but it would have been embarrassing for the Sheep anyway. Fortunately, after repeated attempts, my Dad got a wing leader with the Sheep to reply and they broke off before they actually started their attacking run. About a week later, my Dad received a package in the mail...it was a bottle of whiskey with a note signed by Pappy Boyington himself thanking my Dad for keeping them out of a testy situation.
My Dad was a corporal in the Army Air Corps, and sent to the Pacific in late 1943 to set up and conduct radio operations. He was ordered to mainland China, near Singapore, but fear of Jap sub attacks caused his convoy to put into a base in the Solomon Islands. After a week or so, his Communication Company had their orders changed to operate there. That is how he ended up in the hottest spot in the Pacific.... the Slot!
I asked my Dad if he was ever in actual combat. Yeah, he said, but it was all one way....the Japs would shoot at them, and they would duck for cover. Sometimes Jap planes would make it thru and attack the base where my Dad was stationed. He just headed to the nearest bomb shelter. Did you ever shoot back, I asked him. Sure did, I would run to my radio and shout out on the Japs frequency, "You Gawd Damn Japs! Go to Hell!"
One of the Greatest Generation????