G-1 Ww2 Korean War Black Sheep Painted Flight Aviator Jacket F4u Corsair Usn 36

VMA-241, MARINE ATTACK SQUADRON 214. THE BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON REACHED FAME DURING WWII UNDER THE COMMAND OF COLONEL GREGORY'PAPPY' BOYNTON. ORIGINAL HAND PAINTED VOUGHT F4U CORSAIR ON BACK OF JACKET.

BELLE OF LA CAVA' , A REFERENCE TO VELLA LAVELLA OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN. MILITARY ISSUED, CONTRACT DATED 1951. BACK LENGTH: 26 (FROM CENTER NECK TO BOTTOM HEM).

CHEST: 20 (MEASURED FLAT FROM ARMPIT SEAM TO ARMPIT SEAM). SLEEVE LENGTH: 24 (SHOULDER SEAM TO END OF CUFF). AGE RELATED PATINA TO LEATHER, PATCH AND PAINTED PLANE GRAPHIC. WEAR TO MOUTON COLLAR (PICTURED). HISTORY OF VMA-214 SQUADRON (SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA).

Marine Fighter Squadron 214 was originally commissioned on July 1, 1942, at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa. On the Island of Oahu. Initially called the "Swashbucklers, " they participated in the Solomon Islands campaign.

Flying out of Henderson Field. 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 Medal of Honor. Were joined together to form the original "Blacksheep" of VMF-214. As a member of the 1st American Volunteer Group. (nicknamed the Flying Tigers), and had been credited with multiple kills of Japanese aircraft.

The squadron was not assigned any aircraft or ancillary personnel at first and flew to Guadalcanal and later the Russell Islands. In borrowed planes that were in less than satisfactory condition. On the evening of September 13, 1943, the men of VMF-214 gathered in their commanding officer's hootch. During which time it was suggested that they needed a nickname.

Originally the squadron called itself "Boyington's Bastards" after its new commander, the fact that all of the pilots had been orphans and not attached to a squadron when they got together, and the fact they possessed few reliable planes and no mechanics. The following day, this new label was presented to the Marine Corps public information officer on the island at the time, Captain Jack DeChant, and found to be unacceptable because civilian newspapers would never print it. DeChant then suggested the call sign "Black Sheep" because the expression meant essentially the same thing. 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. Although they dropped the moniker "Boyington's Bastards, " the squadron still retains the black bar of bastardy across its shield. They chose for their badge the black shield of illegitimacy, the bar sinister. A black sheep superimposed, surrounded by a circle of twelve stars, and crowned with the image of their aircraft, the F4U Corsair. F4U-1 Corsair of 1st Lt Rolland N.

The Black Sheep squadron fought for eighty-four days. They met the Japanese over their own fields and territory and piled up a record of 203 planes destroyed or damaged, produced nine fighter aces. Kills, sank several troop transports and supply ships, destroyed many installations, in addition to numerous other victories.

For their actions, the original Black Sheep were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. For extraordinary heroism in action. Following their first combat tour, 26 pilots from the squadron left the airfield. For a week of rest and relaxation in Sydney. Where they holed up in the Australia Hotel. The Black Sheep ended their second combat tour on January 8, 1944, five days after Major Boyington was shot down and captured by the Japanese. The original Black Sheep were disbanded and the pilots were placed in the pilot pool in Marine Aircraft Group 11. Exploits of this incarnation of the unit were loosely fictionalized in the 1970s television series.

Later renamed Black Sheep Squadron, starring Robert Conrad. VMF-214 was reformed on January 29, 1944 at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara. They deployed aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13). On February 4, 1945 to join on-going operations on Okinawa.

On March 19, a Japanese bomber hit the USS Franklin. The explosion and resulting fire caused 772 deaths aboard the Franklin including 32 Black Sheep members. 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 the Franklin. This ended VMF-214 involvement in World War II.

During the course of the war, the squadron suffered 23 pilots killed in action or missing and lost 48 aircraft to accidents or enemy contact. In April 1945, the Black Sheep were relocated to Marine Corps Air Station El Centro. And then to MCAS El Toro. In the next few years, the Black Sheep deployed for operations on board the USS Rendova (CVE-114). The USS Badoeng Strait (CVE-116). And the USS Boxer (CV-21). On board the USS Badoeng Strait (CVE-116). Hosting midshipmen from the Naval Academy. The squadron's commanding officer, Major Robert P.

Krulak bluntly asked, Major, are you ready to go to war? VMF-214 F4U-4Bs on the USS Sicily in late 1950. On August 3, 1950, VMF-214 became the first Marine squadron to see action in Korea. When they launched from the USS Sicily (CVE-118).

And executed a raid against enemy installations near Inchon. After the F4Us delivered their incendiary bombs and rockets, they followed up with a series of strafing runs. Flying from the USS Badoeng Strait (CVE-116) and the USS Boxer (CV-21), the Black Sheep completed two combat tours in Korea. They participated in key battles, including the Inchon landing. And the UN's defeat and withdrawal from Chosin Reservoir.

In these and others battles, they provided nearly continual air cover, interdicting supply and communication lines, and inflicting heavy damage on numerous ground emplacements, and enemy armor. The item "G-1 WW2 KOREAN WAR BLACK SHEEP PAINTED FLIGHT AVIATOR JACKET F4U CORSAIR USN 36" is in sale since Thursday, October 12, 2017.

This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\Korea (1950-53)\Original Period Items". The seller is "rainy_day_vintage" and is located in San Francisco, California. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Russian federation, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica.

• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States