Before They Were the Black Sheep: Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-214 and the Battle for the Solomon Islands

Before the Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-214 became known as the Black Sheep squadron led by “Pappy” Boyington, this air group was already flying missions from Guadalcanal. Commissioned in 1942, the squadron was originally known as “The Swashbucklers.”

Lt. Carl Dunbar, Jr. was one of the squadron’s original pilots, and his letters home describe the training and living conditions he faced as a Marine...