Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214, abbreviated VMFA-214, is an active United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. It belongs to Marine Aircraft Group 13, itself part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron operates the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, the short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, and performs the Marine Corps mission set of locating, attacking, and destroying surface targets, intercepting hostile aircraft, and providing electronic-warfare support. The unit was commissioned as Marine Fighter Squadron 214 on 1 July 1942 at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii. Its most celebrated combat identity emerged during the Pacific campaign of the Second World War, when Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington took command of a group of pilots who had not previously been organized into a regular squadron. The unit initially used the informal name “Boyington’s Bastards,” but a Marine public-information officer suggested “Black Sheep” as a more publishable equivalent. The name endured, as did the squadron’s distinctive black-sheep insignia. Flying the F4U Corsair from bases including Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, the Russell Islands, Munda, and Vella Lavella, the wartime Black Sheep conducted an 84-day combat tour against Japanese forces. Squadron accounts credit the unit with destroying or damaging more than 200 aircraft, sinking or damaging shipping, and attacking installations. Its original personnel received the Presidential Unit Citation. The unit’s story was later popularized through Boyington’s memoirs and the 1970s television series Baa Baa Black Sheep, subsequently syndicated as Black Sheep Squadron. After being reformed in California in January 1944, VMF-214 returned to the Pacific aboard USS Franklin in 1945. The carrier was struck by a Japanese bomber on 19 March 1945, killing 772 people, including 32 members of the Black Sheep. The squadron subsequently served through the postwar period and deployed aboard several escort carriers. During the Korean War, VMF-214 became the first Marine squadron to conduct combat operations in that conflict, launching F4U-4B Corsairs from USS Sicily against targets near Inchon on 3 August 1950. It later supported the Inchon landing, operations around the Chosin Reservoir, and attacks on North Korean communications, supply routes, fortifications, and armor. After Korea, the unit transitioned from propeller aircraft to jets, including the F9F Panther, F2H-4 Banshee, FJ-4 and FJ-4B Fury, and eventually the A-4 Skyhawk. The squadron became an attack unit in 1957 and spent approximately 27 years associated with the Skyhawk family. It performed carrier, expeditionary, weapons, and night-attack training, and pioneered Marine Corps use of the AV-8B Harrier II Night Attack configuration in 1989. In the 1990s it supported deployments to Somalia, Southwest Asia, the Persian Gulf, and the western Pacific, including operations associated with Restore Hope, United Shield, Southern Watch, Desert Strike, and Desert Fox. It also deployed AV-8Bs in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and later Afghanistan operations. In the 2010s the unit transitioned from the Harrier to the F-35B, continuing the Black Sheep lineage as a modern Marine fighter attack squadron.

VMFA-214 was formed on 1 July 1942 as VMF-214 at MCAS Ewa, Hawaii. After moving to Espiritu Santo, the unit was organized under Major Gregory Boyington from a mixed group of experienced and replacement pilots. The squadron moved through Guadalcanal and other Solomon Islands bases, often operating under difficult logistical conditions. In September 1943 its pilots adopted the Black Sheep identity. The unit’s principal wartime combat period lasted 84 days and produced a highly publicized record of attacks against Japanese aircraft, shipping, and ground installations. The original Black Sheep received the Presidential Unit Citation. The squadron’s second wartime tour ended shortly after Boyington was shot down and captured in January 1944. VMF-214 was re-formed later that month at MCAS Santa Barbara. In 1945 it deployed aboard USS Franklin for the Okinawa campaign. The carrier attack of 19 March caused severe losses, including 32 Black Sheep personnel. After the war, the unit moved among California bases and conducted carrier deployments aboard several escort carriers. During the Korean War, VMF-214 deployed with F4U-4B Corsairs and became the first Marine squadron to see combat. It operated from USS Sicily, USS Badoeng Strait, and USS Boxer, supporting the Inchon landing and later campaigns including the fighting around the Chosin Reservoir. The squadron performed close air support, interdiction, and attacks on enemy positions and transport networks. Postwar modernization brought the F9F Panther, F2H-4 Banshee, FJ-4 Fury, and FJ-4B Fury. The unit was redesignated Marine All Weather Fighter Squadron-214 in December 1956, then became VMA-214 in July 1957 as its formal role shifted from fighter to attack. It received the A-4B Skyhawk in 1962 and used Skyhawk variants for decades. In 1963 it provided a detachment for a WestPac cruise aboard USS Hornet, including surveillance and interception missions involving Soviet aircraft. During the Vietnam War, VMA-214 moved to MCAS Iwakuni and operated from Chu Lai beginning in June 1965. The squadron returned for additional combat in 1966 and later served as an operational training squadron at El Toro. Its Vietnam service included extensive flying and ordnance-delivery activity and earned a Navy Unit Commendation with Bronze Star. In the late 1970s and 1980s the Black Sheep participated in the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program, rotating between Japan and California. It moved to MCAS Yuma in 1987 and introduced the AV-8B Night Attack Harrier II in 1989. The 1990s brought night-operations experimentation, deployments to Somalia and Southwest Asia, and support for expeditionary operations from amphibious ships. The squadron participated in operations connected with Restore Hope, Quick Draw, United Shield, Southern Watch, Desert Strike, and Desert Fox. It later deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan. Following the Marine Corps’ Harrier retirement program, the unit transitioned to the F-35B Lightning II and retained its expeditionary fighter-attack mission.

• 1989

  AV-8B Night Attack introduced

  [1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  VMFA-214 became the first operational Marine squadron for the AV-8B Night Attack configuration.

• 1987

  Relocation to MCAS Yuma

  [1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron moved to its current Arizona home in September.

• 1965

  Vietnam combat deployment

  [1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  The Black Sheep moved to Chu Lai and began combat operations in Vietnam in June.

• 1962

  A-4 Skyhawk era begins

  [1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  The unit replaced the FJ-4B Fury with the A-4B Skyhawk.

• 1957

  Redesignated VMA-214

  [1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron adopted the Marine attack squadron designation on 9 July.

• 1950

  First Marine squadron in Korean War combat

  [1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  VMF-214 flew its first Korean War combat mission from USS Sicily on 3 August.

• 1944

  Squadron re-formed in California

  [1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  VMF-214 was re-formed at MCAS Santa Barbara on 29 January.

• 1943

  Black Sheep identity adopted

  [1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron adopted the Black Sheep name during its Solomon Islands combat period.

• 1942

  Squadron commissioned

  [1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  VMF-214 was commissioned on 1 July at MCAS Ewa, Hawaii.

An expeditionary U.S. Marine Corps fighter attack squadron combining short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing aviation, air-to-ground attack, air-to-air defense, and electronic support within Marine air-ground task forces.

• fighter attack aircraft

  F-35B Lightning II

  The squadron’s current aircraft is the F-35B, a short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing multirole fighter. It supports Marine expeditionary operations through air-to-air combat, precision surface attack, sensor fusion, and electronic-warfare capabilities.

• fighter attack aircraft · 1989

  AV-8B Harrier II Night Attack

  VMFA-214 pioneered operational Marine Corps use of the AV-8B Night Attack configuration in 1989. The aircraft extended Harrier attack operations into darkness through improved night-attack systems and supported the squadron’s expeditionary close-air-support role.

• attack aircraft · 1962

  A-4 Skyhawk

  The A-4B Skyhawk entered Black Sheep service in 1962 and began a long association with the Skyhawk family. The aircraft was used for attack, bombing, rocketry, gunnery, carrier qualification, and operational training missions.

• fighter aircraft · 1942

  F4U Corsair

  The Corsair was the aircraft of the squadron’s most famous Second World War and Korean War operations. VMF-214 used Corsair variants for air combat, ground attack, interdiction, and close air support.

• 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom

  Iraq

  The Black Sheep deployed with AV-8B Harriers for the invasion of Iraq and returned for another deployment from February through August 2004.

  Outcome. The squadron conducted expeditionary attack operations from deployed bases, including Al Asad during the later deployment.

  Source
• 1993Operation Restore Hope and Quick Draw

  Somalia · Burundi · Rwanda

  VMA-214 deployed aboard USS Peleliu and supported contingency operations in Somalia, while a detachment operated in connection with activities in Burundi and Rwanda.

  Outcome. The deployment expanded the squadron’s expeditionary role in humanitarian and contingency operations.

  Source
• 1965Vietnam War

  Vietnam · Japan

  VMA-214 operated from Chu Lai in 1965 and 1966, flying extensive A-4 combat sorties in support of Marine and allied ground forces.

  Outcome. The unit was credited with major combat flying and received a Navy Unit Commendation with Bronze Star.

  Source
• 1950Korean War

  Korean Peninsula

  VMF-214 flew Corsair combat missions from escort carriers, supporting Inchon, the Chosin Reservoir campaign, air cover, interdiction, and attacks on ground positions.

  Outcome. The squadron completed two combat tours.

  Source
• 1943Solomon Islands campaign

  Solomon Islands

  The original Black Sheep conducted an intensive combat tour from forward airfields including Guadalcanal, Munda, and Vella Lavella, attacking Japanese aircraft, shipping, and installations.

  Outcome. The unit received the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism.

  Source

• 1989

  Introduce AV-8B Night Attack capabilityProduct launch

  Background

  The Marine Corps required improved fixed-wing attack capability for operations in darkness and poor visibility.

  Action taken

  VMFA-214 became the first operational Marine squadron to field the AV-8B Night Attack Harrier II.

  Aftermath

  The squadron subsequently pioneered night-attack deployments and dedicated night-systems training.

  Source

• Transition to the F-35BGeneration change

  Background

  The Marine Corps replaced its AV-8B fleet with the F-35B as part of its modernization program.

  Action taken

  The squadron transitioned to the F-35B Lightning II and continued operating from MCAS Yuma.

  Aftermath

  VMFA-214 now combines the Black Sheep lineage with the Marine Corps’ fifth-generation short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing fighter capability.

  Source

• 1989

  Black Sheep introduce AV-8B Night Attack capability[1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  The squadron became the Marine Corps’ first operational unit equipped with the fixed-wing AV-8B Night Attack Harrier II configuration.

• 1950

  VMF-214 conducts first Marine squadron combat action of Korean War[1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The squadron launched Corsairs from USS Sicily for an attack near Inchon on 3 August 1950.

• 1945

  USS Franklin attack kills Black Sheep personnel[1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A Japanese bomber struck USS Franklin on 19 March 1945, killing 772 people aboard, including 32 members of VMF-214.

• 1943

  Black Sheep begin combat operations in the Solomon Islands[1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Under Gregory Boyington, the squadron conducted its best-known Second World War combat tour from forward bases in the Solomon Islands.

• 1942

  VMF-214 commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa[1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The unit was established on 1 July 1942 as Marine Fighter Squadron 214, beginning the lineage later associated with the Black Sheep.

• VMFA-214 transitions to the F-35B Lightning II[1]VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  The squadron transitioned from the Harrier family to the F-35B and remains based at MCAS Yuma as part of MAG-13.

1. 1VMFA-214en.wikipedia.org
2. 23rd Marine Aircraft Wing: VMFA-2143rdmaw.marines.mil