Desperate for new pilots in the South Pacific, in August 1943
the First Marine Wing appointed the
unconventional fighter ace Major Greg Boyington to pull together
a newly formed squadron from a mix of
experienced combat veterans and untested novice pilots. The Marine
Corps gave him just four weeks to turn this motley group into
a fighting force ready for combat - Boyington succeeded beyond
all expectations and the rest is history.
Equipped with the Chance Vought F4U Corsair, they called themselves
'The Black Sheep', and under
Boyington's leadership, saw action at Guadalcanal, Munda, the
northern Solomons,Vella Lavella, Bourganville, and Tokokina;Kahili,
and were the first to lead fighter sweeps over the major Japanese
base of Rabaul.
In a period of just eighty-four days Boyington's pilots recorded
273 Japanese aircraft destroyed or
damaged, 97 confirmed air victories producing eight fighter Aces,
sank several ships, destroyed many ground
installations and numerous other victories. With typical mastery,
Robert Taylor has brought to life an
encounter over Rabaul in late December 1943, paying tribute to
one of the US Marine Corps'most famous
fighter squadrons, and its outstanding leader. With the Japanese
airbase at Rabaul visible in the distance, 'Pappy' Boyington
and his fellow pilots of VMF-214 tear into a large formation
of Japanese Zekes and a series of deadly dogfights have started,
one Zeke already fallen victim to their guns.
Set of two prints, signed by a total of seven Black Sheep pilots.
The main print is conservation matted to also include the original
signature of Maj. Greg 'Pappy' Boyington.
Bruce Matheson - Harry Johnson - Fred Losch - Tom Emrich - Jim
Hill - (main print)
Henry Bourgeois - Ed Harper - (companion print) |
The signatories
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Col. Gregory 'Pappy' Boyington
Born in Idaho in 1914, Boyington was an ROTC cadet while in college
and entered the Coastal Artillery as a second lieutenant soon
after graduation. He transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve
in 1935 and was released to inactive duty until 1936 when he
accepted an appointment as an aviation cadet.
Boyington completed flight training the following year and flew
with the Marine Corps until August 1941 when he resigned his
commission to join the American Volunteer Group (AVG) in China.
While with the famed "Flying Tigers," he became a squadron
commander, flew over 300
combat hours, and shot down six Japanese aircraft. The AVG disbanded
in July 1942, and Boyington was soon reinstated as a major in
the Marine Corps.
In August 1943, he formed Fighter Squadron VMF-214 to fly Corsairs
in the Pacific Theater. He manned his unit with misfits, leftouts,
replacements, and "green" pilots, all of which contributed
to the now famous name "Black Sheep Squadron." Called
"Pappy" by his younger subordinates, Boyington quickly
proved his skills as a commander and whipped his Black Sheep
into a tough combat unit that destroyed 18 enemy aircraft on
their first combat mission, which was over the Japanese-held
island of Bougainville. On that mission, "Pappy" scored
five aerial victories and, within just 32 days, shot down a total
of 14 enemy planes.
In January 1944, he was reported missing in action after leading
his unit on a fighter sweep over heavily defended Rabaul. Although
it was not known until the end of the war, Boyington had been
shot down and taken prisoner. He remained a POW for 20 months
until his release on 29 August 1945.
After Boyington’s return home, President Truman awarded
him the Medal of Honor for heroic actions as commander of the
Black Sheep Squadron. Colonel Boyington retired from the Marine
Corps in 1947. |
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Brigadier General Bruce J. Matheson
Born in Chicago in 1921, Bruce Matheson enlisted in the Marine
Corps in 1942 and joined the 'Black Sheep' on 7 August 1943.
On 17 October 1943 he
shot down a Zero over Kahili but was wounded during the aerial
combat. He safely landed his badly damaged Corsair at Munda.
On 3 January 1944
Bruce got his last aerial victory, and also confirmed Major Boyington's
final aerial victory before 'Pappy' was shot down near Rabual.
By the end of the second 'Black Sheep'tour, Bruce would have
3 confirmed victories and 1.5 probables. For his third combat
tour he was transferred along with 14 other 'Black Sheep'pilots
to VMF-211 on Green Island. |
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Major Harry Johnson
Harry Johnson went to the Pacific in Nov 1943, joining VMF-214
as a replacement pilot. He destroyed a Zero in combat on 6 Jan
1944.
Serving later with VMF-218 and VMF-253, he flew a total of 84
missions on Corsairs during WWII, and another 69 missions in
Korea. |
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Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. Bourgeois
Henry was the youngest ever Marine Officer when he joined VMF-214,
and had flown two combat tours with VMF-122 prior to that, with
2 victories to his credit. On 21 Sept 1943 he led a division
of Corsairs to strafe Kahili Airdrome, where he destroyed 2 aircraft
on the ground; the division accounting for 12 aircraft and an
AA position destroyed. |
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Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Emrich
Thomas Emrich joined VMF-214 on 7 Aug 1943, flying two combat
tours with them. On 15 Oct 1943 he shot down two Zeros in aerial
combat over Kahili, but the next day, on a fighter sweep, had
to ditch off Vella Lavella, and was rescued by a PT boat. He
flew 68 missions with the 'Black Sheep', and then a third tour
with VMF-211 with other former 'Black Sheep' pilots. |
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Colonel Edwin A. Harper
Born in Canada, Ed Harper joined VMF-214 on 7 Aug 1943 and flew
both tours until Jan 1944, scoring a victory and 2 probables
on sweeps over Kahili and Rabaul. Wounded on 17 Oct, the next
day he flew a mission and scored a probable over a Zero. Ed was
reassigned to VMF-211 for a third tour after VMF-214 were disbanded
in Jan 1944. |
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Lieutenant Colonel James J. Hill
James Hill was born in Chicago in 1920. He arrived in the South
Pacific on 5 June 1943 after completing flight school in Pensacola,
and joined VMF-214 on 7 August 1943. He flew both combat tours
with the 'Black Sheep'. On 18 October 1943 on a fighter sweep
over Kahili Airdrome he shot down a Zero in aerial combat. During
his two tours with the 'Black Sheep' he flew a total of 70 combat
missions, and also flew a third combat tour with VMF-211. |
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Captain Fred S. Losch
Hailing from Pennsylvania, Fred Losch joined
the 'Black Sheep' as a replacement pilot on 10 Nov 1943. On 2
Jan 1944 he downed a Zero and damaged another over Rabaul. With
VMF-214 he flew 28 combat missions, and then served a second
tour with VMF-211 |
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