"In World War II, Marine Corps Major Greg 'Pappy' Boyington commanded a squadron of fighter pilots. They were a collection of misfits and screwballs who became the terrors of the South Pacific. They were known as the Black Sheep."
The Chance Vought F4U Corsair was an
American fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II
and the Korean War.
Corsairs were flown by the "Black
Sheep" Squadron (VMF-214, led by Marine Major Gregory "Pappy"
Boyington) in an area of the Solomon Islands called "The Slot".
Boyington was credited with 22 kills in F4Us (of 28 total, including
six in an AVG P-40, although his score with the AVG has been
disputed). Other noted Corsair pilots of the period included
VMF-124's Kenneth Walsh, James E. Swett, and Archie Donohue,
VMF-215's Robert M. Hanson and Don Aldrich, and VF-17's Tommy
Blackburn, Roger Hedrick, and Ira Kepford. Nightfighter versions
equipped Navy and Marine units afloat and ashore.
One particularly unusual kill was
scored by Marine Lieutenant R. R. Klingman of VMF-312 (the
"Checkerboards"), over Okinawa. Klingman was in pursuit of
a Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu ("Nick") twin-engine fighter at
extremely high altitude when his guns jammed due to the gun
lubrication thickening from the extreme cold. He flew up and chopped
off the Ki-45's tail with the big propeller of the Corsair. Despite
missing five inches (127 mm) off the end of his propeller blades, he
managed to land safely after this aerial ramming attack. He was
awarded the Navy Cross.
At war's end, Corsairs were ashore on
Okinawa, combating the kamikaze, and also were flying from fleet and
escort carriers. VMF-312, VMF-323, VMF-224, and a handful of others
met with success in the Battle of Okinawa.