VMFA 214 USMC AV8B II “BlackSheep” CAG BuNo.165580
Marine Fighter Squadron (VMF) 214 was originally commissioned on 1 July 1942 at Ewa, on the island of Oahu, in the Hawaiian group. Initially called the "Swashbucklers," they successfully completed two combat tours before the designation was given to the Marine command on Espiritu Santo. In August 1943, a group of twenty-seven young men under the leadership of Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington joined together to form the original "Black Sheep" of VMF-214. Major Boyington had just returned from a year's tour in China as a member of the American Volunteer Group, "The Flying Tigers." In China, he had downed six enemy planes and became, through actual experience, one of the originators of American fighter tactics against the Japanese.
The call sign "Black Sheep" was chosen by the squadron to commemorate the unusual way in which the Squadron had been formed. The pilots ranged from experienced combat veterans, with several air-to-air victories to their credit, to new replacement pilots from the United States. Major Boyington and Major Stan Bailey were given permission to form these unassigned pilots into a squadron, with the understanding that they would have less than four weeks to have them fully trained and ready for combat. They were very successful and Major Boyington was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his efforts.
They chose for their badge to carry into battle the black shield of illegitimacy, the bend sinister, a black sheep superimposed above a circle of twelve stars, and crowned with the image of their aircraft, the F4U-1 Corsair. What these men accomplished has become Marine Corps history. The Black Sheep squadron fought their way to everlasting fame in just eighty-four days. They met the Japanese over their own fields and territories and piled up the smashing record of 203 planes destroyed or damaged, produced eight aces with 97 confirmed air-to-air kills, sunk several troop transports and supply ships, and destroyed many installations. For their actions, the original Black Sheep were the first Marine fighter squadron specifically awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action.
Ty!
1 years ago
YW
1 years ago
WhiskyTangoFoxtrot
Ginete
Great work
1 years ago
maxheat
Nice work!
1 years ago
TulioPetrin
Update inbound ...decided to do the custom intake covers
1 years ago
WhiskyTangoFoxtrot