VMA-214 Black Sheep AV-8B Model
Fly with the VMA-214 Black Sheep squadron again in this AV-8B! Each model is carefully carved from wood and hand painted to provide a piece you’ll love!
- Length – 18 inches
- Made from Mahogany
- US Veteran Owned Business
- The product is not intended to be used by children 12 years and younger.
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.
The Black Sheep ended their second combat tour on 8 January 1944, five days after Major Boyington was shot down and captured by the Japanese. The ground echelon returned to the States and the pilots were placed in the pilot pool in Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 11.
VMF-214 was reorganized on 29 January 1944 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Goleta, near Santa Barbara, California. They deployed aboard USS Franklin (CV-13) on 4 February 1945. Their mission was to join in operations against Japan and Okinawa. On 19 March, a Japanese bomber hit USS Franklin. The explosion and resulting fire caused 772 deaths aboard Franklin including 32 Black Sheep. Many Black Sheep aircraft were launching for a strike on mainland Japan at the time. One, First Lieutenant Ken Linder, was given half credit for shooting down the Japanese bomber that struck Franklin. This ended VMF-214’s involvement in World War II. In April 1945, the Black Sheep were relocated to MCAS El Centro, California, and then to MCAS El Toro, California, in October. In the next few years, the Black Sheep deployed for operations onboard USS Rendova (CVE-114), USS Baroko (CVE-115), USS Badoeng Straight (CVE-116), and USS Boxer (CV-21).
Flying F4U-4B Corsairs on 3 August 1950, VMF-214 became the first Marine squadron to see action in Korea. Flying from USS Sicily (CVE-118) and USS
