The Black Sheep Squadron - NOT a group of misfits and screwballs! | Military Aviation Museum

Join us as we delve into the history of Marine Corps aviation in the South Pacific during World War II. Bruce Gamble, renowned aviation historian will lead us in an exploration of VMF-214, known as the Blacksheep Squadron. Led by the larger-than-life fighter ace and Medal of Honor recipient Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, the squadron was NOT made up of misfits and screwballs, as the 1970's TV show would have you believe.
Raised in Pennsylvania, Gamble served as a Naval Flight Officer from 1980 to 1988, deploying aboard aircraft carriers in the Pacific and Indian Oceans during the closing years of the Cold War. Soon thereafter he began volunteering at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida, and later worked part-time for the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. After several years as the staff historian, Gamble made the leap to freelance writing and published his first book, The Black Sheep (Presidio Press), in 1998. Gamble also does a substantial amount of public speaking and is listed among the distinguished historians in the American History Forum. In addition, he has been featured in documentaries produced by the History Channel, Fox News Channel, PBS, and the Pritzker Military Library.
The Black Sheep Squadron
Guest Speaker: Bruce Gamble
Author, Navy (Retired)
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[@greenbeenie2]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for this "podcast". I kind of followed the black sheep history as much as I could. Thank you to you, James Oberg 7662 for your time. God Bless you.......I spent 25 yrs in Special Forces....

[@jamesoberg7662]

I am a former VMA 214 squadron mechanic (aframes & hydraulics). I worked on A4 C’s & D’s Skyhawks! We even had a real black sheep in a pen out side of the squadron office. I received orders for West PAC & was sent overseas for 13 months. I came back & was again assigned to VMA 214 at ElToro MCAS now we had A4 M’s.. Then I mustered out in 1972!! Semper Fi...

[@briancooper2112]

Thank you for your service.

[@davekemo9683]

The last of the greatest generation God Bless

[@chadap6665]

Loved the series while I was growing up!

[@babyboomer9560]

Was taking flying lessons at an airport where they were restoring a Corsair. Walked under the cockpit and knocked on the metal to see how tough it was as protection for pilot. Bruised my knuckles. Cast iron i think .

[@matthewlink3483]

TY

[@sgcanesillegals6440]

Surprised that Boyington survived the POW. In Malaysia, Japanese was so brutal to the POW's, very few survived.

[@briancooper2112]

I thought he went from Rabaul to Japan.

[@oldcremona]

He was a tough SOB. Plus his Japanese captors had a certain respect for him, I think.

[@oldcremona]

This is a fantastic interview. VMF-214 is so fascinating. If you want to read about the pilot they called Wild Man, check out Lost Black Sheep by Robert Reed.

[@PatrickMontgomeryAyreWolf]

It's too bad that they left out the latter squadron VMA-214, As for myself I flew with that squadron. Transferring to the HmH 466 WolfPack

[@SuperRonnie44]

I liked Capt. Jim Gutterman played by James Whitmore Jr. I thought the cameo appearances by the real Pappy Boyington as a visiting general were cool too.