VMF-214 - Squadron Profile.

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VMF-214 - Squadron Profile.

VMF-214

Founded :
Country : US
Fate :

VMF-214

VMF-214 Artwork Collection
Click the images below to view the fantastic artwork we have available to purchase!

Clipped Signature - John F Bolt.

Gunfight Over Rabaul by Nicolas Trudgian

The Black Sheep by Nicolas Trudgian.

Rabaul - Fly For Your Life by Robert Taylor.

Black Sheep Sweep by Troy White.

Tribute to Pappy Boyington by Ivan Berryman.

Black Sheep Over Rabaul by Stan Stokes.

Aces for : VMF-214
A list of all Aces from our database who are known to have flown with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking the pilots name.
Name	Victories	Info
Robert Wesley McClurg	7.00	The signature of Robert Wesley McClurg features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
John F Bolt Jr	6.00	The signature of John F Bolt Jr features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.

Aircraft for : VMF-214

A list of all aircraft known to have been flown by VMF-214. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.

Squadron

Info

Corsair

Click the name above to see prints featuring Corsair aircraft.

Manufacturer : Chance-Vought
Production Began : 1940
Number Built : 12000

Corsair

The Chance-Vought F4U Corsair was arguably the finest naval aviation fighter of its era. Work on this design dates to 1938 and was headed-up by Voughts Chief Engineer, Rex Biesel. The initial prototype was powered by an 1800-HP Pratt & Whitney double Wasp radial engine. This was the third Vought aircraft to carry the Corsair name. The graceful and highly recognizable gull-wing design of the F4U permitted the aircraft to utilize a 13-foot, three-blade, Hamilton Standard propeller, while not having to lengthen the landing gear. Because of the rigors of carrier landings, this was a very important design consideration. Folding wings were also required for carrier operations. The F4U was thirty feet long, had a wingspan of 41 feet and an empty weight of approximately 7,500 pounds. Another interesting feature was the way the F4Us gear rotated 90 degrees, so it would lay flush within the wing when in the up position. In 1939 the Navy approved the design, and production commenced. The Corsair utilized a new spot welding process on its all aluminum fuselage, giving the aircraft very low drag. To reduce weight, fabric-covered outer wing sections and control surfaces were fitted. In May of 1940 the F4U made its maiden flight. Although a number of small bugs were discovered during early flight tests, the Corsair had exceptional performance characteristics. In October of 1940 the prototype F4U was clocked at 405-MPH in a speed test. The initial production Corsairs received an upgraded 2,000-HP radial giving the bird a top speed of about 425-MPH. The production models also differed from the prototype in having six, wing-mounted, 0.5 caliber machine guns. Another change was a shift of the cockpit about three feet further back in the fuselage. This latter change unfortunately made naval aviators wary of carrier landings with the F4U, due to its limited forward visibility during landings. Other concerns were expressed regarding a severe port wing drop at landing speeds and a tendency of the aircraft to bounce off a carrier deck. As a result, the F4U was initially limited to land-based USMC squadrons. Vought addressed several of these problems, and the Royal Navy deserves credit for perfecting an appropriate landing strategy for the F4U. They found that if the carrier pilot landed the F4U while making a sweeping left turn with the port wing down, that sufficient visibility was available to make a safe landing. With a kill ratio of 11 -to- 1 in WW 11 combat, the F4U proved superior in the air to almost every opposing aircraft it encountered. More than 12,000 F4Us were built and fortunately a few dozen remain in flyable condition to this date.

Signatures for : VMF-214

A list of all signatures from our database who are associated with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking their name.

Name

Info

Lieutenant Colonel John F Bolt
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel John F Bolt

Died : 8 / 12 / 2004

Ace : 6.00 Victories

Lieutenant Colonel John F Bolt

John Bolt is one of only seven American aces to shoot down 5 or more enemy aircraft in both WWII and Korea. He was also the only Marine Corps ace in Korea. Commissioned in 1942, he joined VMF-214 in 1943. Flying the F4U Corsair, John Bolt downed six Zekes in just 90 days from September to December 1943 to become and ace. He also saw action in the last few weeks of the war with VMF-472. Returning to combat duty in the Korean War he served a tour with the Marines before flying a tour with the Air Force where he shot down six Mig15s. John F Bolt passed away on 8th December 2004.

Citaion for the Navy Cross

The Navy Cross is presented to John F. Bolt.(0-13522) Lt Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed member of the united Nations while attached to the First Marine Aircraft Wing and serving as a pilot of a plane in the THIRTY NINTH Fighter-Inteceptor Squadron, Fifth Air Force, in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea on 11 July 1953. Sighting four hostile jet interceptors immediately after the second section of his four-plane flight was forced to retir from the area because of a low fuel supply during a reconnaissance mission deep in enemy territory. Major Bolt quickly maneuvered his aircraft and that of his wingman into attack position and deliberately engaged the numerically superior enemy in a head-on firing run, destroying one of the hostile planes with his initial burst of fire. Although his fuel supply was dangerously low, he initiated repeated attacks on the remaining enemy aircraft and severely damaging the engine section of the lead interceptor, routinely pressed his attack against the crippled plane until the enemy pilot was forced to bail out. By his exceptional courage and superb airmanship in destroying the two aircraft, Major Bolt raised his total of enemy jet planes destroyed during the Korean War to six, thereby becoming the first jet ace in Marine Corps aviation. His inspiring leadership and great personal valor reflect the highest credit upon himself and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States naval Service.

Lieutenant Colonel Henry M Bourgeois USMC
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel Henry M Bourgeois USMC

Died : 14 / 11 / 2009

Lieutenant Colonel Henry M Bourgeois USMC

Henry was the youngest ever Marine Officer when he joined VMF-214, and had flown two combat tours with VMF-122 prior to that, with 2 victories to his credit. On 21st September 1943 he led a division of Corsairs to strafe Kahili Airdrome, where he destroyed 2 aircraft on the ground; the division accounting for 12 aircraft and an AA position destroyed. Sadly, Henry Bourgeois passed away on 14th November 2009.

Lieutenant Colonel W Thomas Emrich
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel W Thomas Emrich

Lieutenant Colonel W Thomas Emrich

Born in Mt. Pulaski, Illinois in 1921, he joined VMF-214 on 7 August 1943 and flew two combat tours with the Black Sheep. On 15 October 1943 Tom shot down two Zeros in aerial combat during a bomber escort to Kahili Airfield. The next day on a fighter sweep to Kahili he had to ditch his Corsair off Vella Lavella, and was rescued by a PT boat. By the end of his Black Sheep combat tours he had flown 68 missions, and then flew a third combat tour with VMF-211 on Green Island - along with 14 other former Black Sheep pilots.

Colonel Edwin A Harper
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Colonel Edwin A Harper

Colonel Edwin A Harper

Ed Harper was born in Bassano, Alberta, Canada in 1920. He joined VMF-214, the Black Sheep on 7 August 1943 and flew both combat tours from September 1943 to January 1944. He shot down 1 enemy aircraft and two probables on fighter sweeps over Kahili and Rabaul. On 17 October 1943, Ed was wounded in aerial combat and brought back his damaged Corsair to Munda. The next day he flew a mission and scored a probable over a Zero. Ed was also one of the Black Sheep pilots that were reassigned to VMF-211 for a third combat tour after the Black Sheep were disbanded on 8 January 1944.

Lieutenant Colonel William D Heier
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel William D Heier

Lieutenant Colonel William D Heier

Born in Oklahoma City in 1920, Bill Heier joined the RCAF in 1941 and transferred to the US Navy in 1942. He flew both of the Black Sheep combat tours, having joined the squadron on 7 August 1943. During the 21 September 1943 strafing of Kahili, Bills Corsair was damaged and he had to make a water landing off Vella Lavella. He was picked up by a PT boat and returned to the squadron. By the end of his two combat tours he had shot down 4 confirmed enemy aircraft, and 3 probables, during aerial combat over Kahili and Rabaul. He would also fly a third combat tour on Green Island with VMF-211 along with other Black Sheep pilots.

Lieutenant Colonel James J Hill
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel James J Hill

Lieutenant Colonel James J Hill

James Hill was born in Chicago in 1920. His training involved flying Stearmans, Buffalo and Wildcats. He arrived in the South Pacific on 5 June 1943 after completing flight school in Pensacola, and joined VMF-214 on 7 August 1943, flying Corsairs. He flew both combat tours with the Black Sheep. On 18 October 1943 on a fighter sweep over Kahili Airfield he shot down a Zero in aerial combat. During his two tours with the Black Sheep he flew a total of 70 combat missions, and also flew a third combat tour with VMF-211 on Green Island. He then flew another combat tour with VMF-521 as a pilot instructor, later joining VMF-324 at Midway. In his career he was awarded 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 12 Air Medals.

Major Harry Johnson USMC
Click the name above to see prints signed by Major Harry Johnson USMC

Major Harry Johnson USMC

Harry Johnson went to the Pacific in November 1943, joining VMF-214 as a replacement pilot. He destroyed a Zero in combat on 6th January 1944, two days before VMF-214 were disbanded. Serving later with VMF-218 and VMF-253, he flew a total of 84 missions on Corsairs during WWII, and another 69 missions in Korea.

Captain Fred S Losch
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Captain Fred S Losch

Captain Fred S Losch

Fred Losch hails from Mifflin Township, Pennsylvania, and was born in 1921. He was posted to become another of the new replacement pilots that joined the Black Sheep on 10 November 1943 for their second combat tour at Vella Lavella. On 2 January 1944 Fred shot down a Zero and damaged another over Rabaul. With VMF-214 he flew 28 combat missions, and then went on to serve a second combat tour with VMF-211 after the Black Sheep were disbanded on 8 January 1944.

Brigadier General Bruce J Matheson
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Brigadier General Bruce J Matheson

Died : 29 / 1 / 2009

Brigadier General Bruce J Matheson

Born in Chicago in 1921, Bruce Matheson enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1942 and joined the Black Sheep on 7 August 1943. On 17 October 1943 he shot down a Zero over Kahili but was wounded during the aerial combat. He safely landed his badly damaged Corsair at Munda. On 3 January 1944 Bruce got his last aerial victory, and also confirmed Major Boyingtons final aerial victory before Pappy was shot down near Rabaul. By the end of the second Black Sheep tour, Bruce would have 3 confirmed victories and 1.5 probables. For his third combat tour he was transferred along with 14 other Black Sheep pilots to VMF-211 on Green Island. Sadly he died on 29th January 2009.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert W McClurg
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel Robert W McClurg

Died : 20 / 1 / 2007

Ace : 7.00 Victories

Lieutenant Colonel Robert W McClurg

Born in Cochocton, Ohio in 1919, Bob McClurg left for the South Pacific on 2 May 1943, joining VMF-214, the Black Sheep, on 7 August 1943. He flew both of the Black Sheep combat tours, and was then transferred to VMF-211 for his third combat tour after the Black Sheep were disbanded. During the Squadrons first aerial combat on 16 September 1943, an escort mission of torpedo and dive-bombers, Bob shot down a Zero over Ballale for one of the Black Sheeps early victories, and his first. By the end of both his combat tours with VMF-214, Bob would have a total of 7 confirmed aerial victories and 2 probables, and was one of the squadrons Aces. After the war he left duty in 1946, but remained active in the reserves, from which he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Sadly, he died on 20th January 2007.

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