Once They Were Eagles (36 page)

2) The number 214 has gone back to the United States with the ground echelon, so that the flight echelon of VMF 214 is without a number and therefore is attached at present to Headquarters Squadron, Marine Aircraft Group Eleven.

3) The flight echelon referred to is concerned about the possible division of its personnel among other squadrons.

4) The flight echelon referred to, known as the “Black Sheep,” wishes to urge strongly that it be maintained as a unit in order not to destroy its high morale and its smooth operation as an aggressive squadron of the type which we believe of the most value to the Marine Corps. We wish to present the following reasons for preserving the “Black Sheep” as a unit:
(a) It is generally realized that a combat team should be kept together. About 1 October 1943, the flight echelon of the original VMF 214 was broken up after two successful tours. We believe that it is recognized that the effects of that breakup were unfortunate.
(b) Under the aggressive leadership of Major Boyington, the Black Sheep put into successful practice his ideas of combat operations. The record speaks for itself. Now Major Boyington is missing in action and we believe that his ideas of strategy and tactics should be perpetuated. We know them, we believe in them and feel that we as a unit are in the best position to carry them on.
(c) Our unit is practically intact at the present time. Our Intelligence Officer had made the two tours with us and is available for a third. We would be seriously handicapped without him. We need only a Flight
Surgeon and thirteen first-tour pilots to make up a full squadron divided equally among first-tour pilots, second-tour pilots, and third-tour pilots. This combination will permit the perpetuation and development of Major Boyington's ideas through the three different levels of pilot experience included.
(d) We have trained together and fought together for a long period of time. Twelve of our thirteen pilots who have had two tours have been together for these two tours. The thirteen pilots who have had one tour not only trained together here for seven weeks before making that tour but trained together in the United States and came overseas together.
(e) Finally, under Major Boyington, the Black Sheep developed an esprit de corps we believe unparalleled in this area. This spirit will be lost if the unit is broken up.

(5) For these reasons it is urged that this unit be kept intact.

Henry S. Miller

*
Upon Boyington's release from Japanese prison, he reported that he had shot down three Zeros instead of the one we had reported and that Ashmun (who was lost) had also shot down one. These raised the Black Sheep total from 94 to 97.

Successfully intercepted enemy aerial formation attempting to attack U.S. Task Force reinforcing Barokoma.

Relieved Bougainville ground Marines in an untenable position by strafing enemy mortar positions.

Participated in 1,776 individual combat missions and flew a total of 4,195 combat hours.

Black Sheep aces and their scores:

The Squadron Presidential Unit Citation reads, in part:

In some of the most bitterly contested Air Combats on record, contributed substantially to the establishment of an aerial beachhead over Rabaul … frequently outnumbered but never outfought, Marine Fighting Squadron 214 achieved an outstanding combat record.

accomplishment record, Black Sheep,
206

aerial combat,
40
,
43
,
51
,
55
,
88
,
91
,
92
; Boyington, five Zeros,
23
; Magee shoots down two dive bombers,
34
-
35
; five more Zeros for Black-Sheep,
49
; twelve more for Black Sheep,
53
; last Black Sheep score,
97

“Air Battle Notes From the South Pacific,”
10

Air Command, Northern Solomons,
107
,
133

Air Command Headquarters, Munda,
84

Air Intelligence duties,
10

air raid, Munda,
32

Alexander, Robert,
3
,
17
,
23
,
24
,
40
,
79
,
140
; shot down,
46
; search for crash site,
81
-
83

Altadena, California,
120

Amarillo, Texas,
17

American Volunteer Group,
7

Amherst,
14

ANZAC,
69

Arizona State University,
137

Army Air Corps,
144

Army B-24s,
22
,
49
,
51
,
88
,
140

Army Liberators,
44

Ashmun, George,
13
,
52
,
58
; MIA,
95

Austin, Texas,
126

Australia Hotel,
69

Avey, Fred,
71
,
91
; interview with,
125
-
26

Baa, Baa Black Sheep
(TV show),
xi
,
111
,
127
,
149
,
163
,
184
,
189

Bailey, Stan,
xi
,
11
,
23
,
24
,
30
,
32
,
40
,
41
,
70
,
111
; competition equestrian,
14
; in shower during air raid,
37
; sees Alexander shot down,
46

Bainbridge Island, Washington,
185

Ballale,
5
,
23
,
55

Barakoma,
34

Bartl, Harry,
72
; MIA,
92

Battle of Midway,
19

Beaufort, South Carolina,
180

Beaumont, Texas,
72

Begert, John,
15
,
23
,
26
,
70
; knocked down by bomb blast,
36
; interview with,
111
-
14

Bellefonte, Pennsylvania,
72

Bellevue, Nebraska,
71

Birmingham, Alabama,
73
,
159

Bismarck Archipelago,
85

Black Sheep: Hawaii reunion,
xii
; singing tradition,
13
,
47
-
48
,
114
,
163
; name,
21
-
22
,
99
; patch,
22
; first combat action,
23
; combat scores,
51
,
56
,
88
,
91
,
94
,
96
; end of first combat tour,
60
; depart for second combat tour,
78
; back to Espiritu Santo,
97
; ask to stay together,
98
; west coast reunion,
101
; spirit,
115
,
129
,
137
,
141
,
153
,
163
-
64
; innovative approach,
128
; sense of purpose,
129
; pride,
155
,
157
,
160
; experience,
183
; assessment,
168
,
170
,
173
; a team effort,
174
; camaraderie,
183
; origins of members,
191

Bolt, Dottie,
109

Bolt, John,
16
,
41
,
53
,
74
,
121
,
128
; strafes Tonelei Harbor,
51
; receives DFC,
52
; becomes ace,
97
; interview with,
108
-
10

Bomber's Moon,
30

Bougainville,
5
,
22
,
43
,
80
,
107
; Kahili strafed,
60

Bourgeois, Henry,
15
,
39
,
70
,
113
,
114
; interview with,
141
-
44

Bowers, Glenn,
72
; interview with,
164
-
67

Boyington, Gregory,
xi
,
1
,
2
,
10
,
11
,
13
,
18
; background,
7
-
8
; instructs on tactics,
20
-
21
; as fighter pilot,
27
-
29
,
36
,
44
,
48
-
49
,
51
-
53
,
55
-
57
,
58
-
60
,
78
,
84
-
88
,
91
-
95
; and trouble at home base,
75
-
77
; letters to mother,
89
; rumors about,
99
,
100
; released from prison camp,
100
; makes War Bond tour,
101
; receives Medal of Honor,
100
,
101
; character of,
109
,
127
; recollections of,
121
,
125
,
133
,
141
,
162
,
165
,
179
; saved by Tucker,
174
; postwar career,
188
-
90

Boyington Park,
99

“Boyington's Bastards,”
22

Bragdon, Robert,
xii
,
16
,
35
,
70
,
74
,
90
,
111
,
121

Brown, John,
xii
,
72
,
196

Brubaker, James,
72
; MIA,
88

Bryant, Bear,
160

Buka,
121

Camp Elliott,
9

Camp Lejeune,
9

Camp Miramar,
188

Cape St. George,
85

Carnagey, Mary Jeanette,
71

Carnagey, Pierre,
71
; MIA,
88

Case, Ellen,
16

Case, William,
15
,
16
,
22
,
25
,
34
,
44
,
49
,
51
,
52
,
70
,
113
; becomes ace,
50
; wounded,
57
; interview with,
185
-
87

Cedarville Ridge, New York,
135

Chance-Vought Aircraft Corporation,
6

Chatham, R. Mack,
72
,
95
; interview with,
126
-
27

Chennault, General Claire,
7

Cherry Point, North Carolina,
125

Chicago, Illinois,
14
,
17

Chicago Daily News,
45

China,
113
,
181

Choiseul,
60

Christmas 1943,
89
-
91

CIA,
169

Civilian Pilot Training,
128
,
181
,
185

Clearwater, Florida,
72

Coast Watchers,
86
,
105
,
204

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho,
7

Colonial Air,
146

Coral Sea,
66

Corman, J. Ned,
72
,
91
; interview with
128
-
31

Corpus Christi, Texas,
71

Corsair,
xii
,
6
,
21
,
109
,
158
,
185