by Frank Walton
(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
Appendix G
Accomplishment Record of Boyington’s Black Sheep Squadron
Combat tours:
12 September 1943–24 October 1943
27 November 1943–8 January 1944
97*
Enemy planes shot down in aerial combat: 95 of them fighter planes; 94 over enemy territory
35
Enemy planes probably shot down in aerial combat
50
Enemy planes damaged in aerial combat
21
Enemy planes destroyed on the ground
203
Total enemy planes destroyed, probably destroyed, or damaged
* 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.
1
100-foot transport vessel destroyed
1
50-foot transport vessel destroyed
1
70-foot Japanese-operated Chinese junk destroyed
1
70-foot steam launch destroyed
20
barges destroyed
3
barges loaded with enemy troops destroyed
1
raft loaded with enemy troops destroyed
15
other craft probably destroyed
125
Japanese bivouac and concentration areas and antiaircraft positions in New Ireland, New Britain, Buka, Bougainville, and the Shortlands strafed.
4
Japanese airfields strafed: Kahili, Kara, Ballale, Borpop.
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:
Major Gregory Boyington
28
Lieutenant Christopher Magee
9
Lieutenant William Case
8
Lieutenant Robert McClurg
7
Lieutenant Paul Mullen
6½
Lieutenant John Bolt
6
Lieutenant Don Fisher
6
Lieutenant Edwin L. Olander
5
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.
Index
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
Crocker, William, xi, 73, 94, 196
DeChant, Jack, 22
Decker, Dave, 10
Detroit, Michigan, 125
Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, 164
“Doctor Boo,” 15
Doswell, Elizabeth, 71
Doswell, Gelon, 71; interview with, 155-57
Dustin, J. Cameron, 71; MIA, 92
Elizabeth, New Jersey, 73
Emirau, 105, 168
Empress Augusta Bay, 80, 107
Emrich, Thomas, 16, 26, 50, 51, 63, 109; interview with, 147-49
Espiritu Santo, 6, 61, 128, 145, 161, 167, 174
Europe, 169
Ewing, Robert, 15, 26, 70; MIA, 29
FAA, 171
Far Hills, New Jersey, 13
F-86, 109
Ffoulkes, Bruce, 72; MIA, 88
First Marine Aircraft Wing, 10
fighter sweep, 51, 85, 91
Fisher, Bette, 181
Fisher, Don, 13, 27, 44, 47, 74, 111, 147; becomes ace, 91; interview with, 180-83
Flying Tigers, 7, 8
Foss, Joe, 53, 84, 95, 188
Glenn, John, 161
Green Island, 115, 136, 139, 140, 147, 158, 175, 181
Greenland, 151
Groover, Denmark, 16, 40-42, 60, 97; interview with, 183-84
Guadalcanal, 4, 5, 19, 80, 105, 146
Hallenbeck, E. J., 7
Hallsboro, North Carolina, 17
Halsey, Admiral William, 4, 5, 6, 60, 84
Hampson, Fred, 92, 95
Harper, Edwin, 3, 16, 34, 52, 53, 91, 109; interview with, 115-17
Harris, Maurine, 45
Harris, Walter, 17, 70; MIA, 44
Heier, William, 3, 6, 39, 52, 88, 121; interview with, 137-39
Henderson Field, 19
Hill, James, 17, 52, 57; interview with, 140-41
Hobart College, 13
Hobbs, Ann, 73
Hobbs, William, xi, 73
Holden, Herb, 73, 168; interview with, 167-68
Holt, Bus, 92
Houghton College, 15
“In a Rowboat at Rabaul,” 14, 48
Indianapolis, Indiana, 72
Intelligence Officer duties, 11, 12
intelligence reports, 3
interviews with pilots, 12
Iowa State, 17
Israeli Air Force, 150
Japanese campaign, 4
Japanese dive bombers, 34
Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, 71, 120
jet/prop ace, 108
Johnson, Alfred, 73; interview with, 144-46
Johnson, Dorothy, 73
Johnson, Harry, 73; gets last Black Sheep score, 97; interview with, 159-60
Johnson, Pen, 22
Kahili, 5, 22, 39, 51, 53, 55, 59, 80
Kailua, Hawaii, 160
Kamikazi pilots, 144
“Kill the Bastards,” 20
Knox, Frank, 8
Kolombangara, 46, 79, 81
Korea, 125, 129, 139, 149, 159, 161, 171, 185
Lakunai airdrome, 86, 91
Landauer, Captain, 11
Lane, Perry, 73; interview with, 171-73
Larryville, Pennsylvania, 73
Leckie, Robert, 29
Litton Industries, 157
Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, 9
Los Angeles Police Department, 9, 107
Losch, Fred, 94; interview with, 120-23
Louisiana State University, 15
Lunga River, 20
Lurline, 141
MacArthur, General Douglas, 84, 87
McCartney, Evelyn, 15
McCartney, Henry A., 15, 45, 70; interview with, 131-32
McClurg, Robert, 17, 26-27, 52, 55, 58, 82, 87; becomes ace, 88; interview with, 135-37
McDonnell Aircraft Company, 115
Macon, Georgia, 181
Magee, Christopher, 17, 18, 34, 52, 53, 58, 88, 121; earns Navy Cross, 35; becomes ace, 57; postwar career, 149-52
Maine Township Jr. College, 74
Malabeta Hill, 48
malaria tests, 63
Manchuria, 143
March, Marion, 71; interview with, 133-35
Marine Aircraft Group 11, 10
Marine Aircraft Group 21, 20
Marine Aircraft Group 36, 163
Marine Corps, 99
Marker, Alan, 74; interview with, 175-78
Markey, Lou, 180
Marshall Islands, 177
Maryland, 141
Matheson, Bruce, 13, 45, 52, 53, 95, 121, 127; interview with, 160-64
MIA procedure, 93
MIG, 109
Miller, Henry, 71, 88, 96; interview with, 117-20
Moore, Don, 3, 17, 39, 44, 52, 53, 82, 87; MIA, 92
Moore, Major General James T., 6, 8, 76, 97
Mountbatten, Lord, 157
Munda, 5, 29, 30, 35, 36, 38, 58, 84, 136
Mullen, Paul, xi, 14, 26, 41, 43, 47, 52, 57, 74, 82, 90, 96, 97; becomes ace, 91
nanny goat, 60
Nashua, New Hampshire, 171
Nashville, Tennessee, 17, 173
NATO, 157
Navy flight training, 178
Navy Hellcats, 23, 25
Navy V-5 program, 132, 147, 167
New Britain, 5, 86
New Caledonia, 10
New Georgia, 30
New Hebrides, 6
New Ireland, 86
New Orleans, 15, 71
New Smyrna Beach, Florida, 108
New Year’s Day 1944, 165
New York University, 73
New Zealand War Hawks, 23
night flight, 147
Northhampton, Massachussetts, 157
Northwestern University, 17
Notre Dame, 14
Noumea, New Caledonia, 9
Ocean Springs, Mississippi, 155
Oerlikon, 169
Olander, Edwin, 14, 47, 49, 52, 53, 58, 111, 121; becomes ace, 93; interview with, 157-58
Omaha University, 71
Oregon State University, 16, 17
Paetznick, Chaplain, 131
Park Ridge, Illinois, 74
Parris Island, 17
Pearl Harbor, 161
Peking, 143
Penn State University, 72, 73, 164
Pennsylvania Game Commission, 164
Philadelphia, 14, 169
Pittsburg, 14
preflight training, 145
Preston, Idaho, 71
Princeton, 16
Purdue, 15, 72
Quonset hut, 58, 136
Quitman, Georgia, 16
Rabaul, 1, 5, 80, 84, 85-87, 88, 89, 105, 165
Ray, Virgil, 17, 70; MIA, 50
RCAF, 16, 17, 18, 71, 137
Reames, Dr. James, 1, 2, 3, 14, 22, 30, 32, 35, 44, 58, 79, 82, 87, 94, 96, 114; toasts birth of son, 47; bandages Harper and Matheson, 54; gives Boyington his shoes, 59; interview with, 178-80
Reames, Rosalita, 14, 47
Rendova, 5
Republic of China, 7, 8
Rickenbacker, Captain Eddie, 53, 84, 136
Rinabarger, Rolland, 17, 25, 43, 44, 62, 79; interview with, 153-55
Roosevelt, President Franklin D., 7
Russell Islands, 5, 20, 23, 46, 47, 60
Rutland, Vermont, 73, 171
Sacramento, California, 72
Sacramento Junior College, 72
St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, 188
San Jose, California, 133
San Mateo, California, 72
SCAT, 65, 78
Schiflett, Ed, 185
scramble alert, 20
Seattle, 71
Sherrod, Robert, 97
Sims, Sanders, 14, 39, 47, 74; interview with, 169-70
Sinatra, Frank, 160
Skokie, Illinois, 140
Solomons, 4
Solomon Sea, 2
Sonoma, California, 175
Springfield College, 73
Stanford University, 71, 72
Steine
r, Lt. Col. W. B., 198
Strother, Brigadier General D.C., 78
survival instructions, 86
Suwo, Major General, 143
Sydney, 63-67, 129
Syracuse, New York, 144
Tabar Island, 105
Tempe, Arizona, 137
Tenaru, 20
Thai Marines, 157
Tokyo Rose, 49
Toomey, K.O., 90
Tonolei Harbor, 51
Tontouta, 10, 66
Topeka, Kansas, 111
Torokina, 165
Treasuy Island, 44
Tucker, Burney, 17, 36, 46, 51, 52, 53; locates Alexander crash site, 82; interview with, 173-75
Tucker, Greg, xii
Tulelake, California, 153
TWA, 147
United States Information Service, 169
United States Olympic team, 107, 169
University of Chicago, 14, 18
University of Florida, 16, 72
University of Georgia, 16, 184
Univesirty of Idaho, 16
University of Illinois, 14, 161
University of Kansas, 16
University of Missouri, 73
University of Nebraska, 17
University of North Carolina, 145
University of Southern California, 71
University of Tennessee, 14
University of Texas, 17
University of Washington, 7
Utica, New York, 73
Vancouver, 16
Vella Lavella, 2, 41, 79, 80, 81
Vero Beach, Florida, 131
Vietnam war, 129, 163
VMF 122, 185
VMF 214, 6, 10
VMF 221, 52, 55
Waite, George, 11
Walton, Carol, 9, 181, 188
Walton, Frank, 1, 3, 9, 30, 37, 47, 82, 94, 96, 97; briefs first fighter sweep, 85; War Bond tour with Boyington, 101; postwar career, 105-08
“Washing Machine Charlie,” 5, 32
Washington, D.C., 10, 51, 89
Walker Township, Pennsylvania, 128
Weaver, Weavo, 54
Webster Groves, Missouri, 73
Weller, George, 45
Wentworth Military Academy, 16, 147
Westminster College, 17
White, Doug, 94