Marine Fighter Squadron 214 was originally commissioned on 1 July 1942, at Ewa, on the Island of Oahu, in the Hawaiian group. Initially called the "Swashbucklers, "they were disbanded following their combat tour and the Squadron 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 (who was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor) were joined together to form the original "Blacksheep" 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 the 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.

Information on this page was last updated 5/12/2009 11:06:44 AM GMT. For additional information about VMA-214, please visit the official unit web page or the official USMC web site www.usmc.mil. The unit web address is noted below.

Marine Attack Squadron 214 
Marine Aircraft Group 13
Box 99240
Yuma, AZ 85369-9240 

Information on VMA-214 last updated 5/12/2009 11:06:44 AM GMT.