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The Black
Sheep
Nicolas Trudgian
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Few fighter units in World War II gained
the notoriety of Pappy Boyington's Marine Corps VMF-214
'Black Sheep' Squadron. Equipped with the Chance Vought
F4U Corsair, under Boyington's spirited leadership, the
'Black Sheep' pilots were accorded one of only two Presidential
Unit Citations awarded to Marine Corps squadrons during
the war in the Pacific.
With the American forces pushing up
through the South Pacific, the First Marine Air Wing was
urgently looking for a seasoned fighter pilot to form a
unit to take the brand new F4U into combat. Boyington had
the experience - he had become an Ace flying with Chennault's
'Flying Tigers' in China - and the rank to lead a squadron;
he also had a reputation as an aggressive fighter leader,
and was a natural choice for the job. Recruiting pilots
from the reserve pool, together with others awaiting assignment
to squadrons, the 30 year-old Boyington - dubbed "Pappy"
by his group of young pilots - knocked them into one of
the most effective fighter units in the South Pacific. In
their first twelve weeks of operation they brought down
97 Japanese aircraft, no fewer than 95 of which were enemy
fighters. During this period they lost only 11 pilots.
VMF-214 saw action at Guadalcanal, the
northern Solomons and Vella Lavella; they were the first
to strafe Kahili, the first to operate from the field at
Munda while it was still under enemy fire artillery fire,
and the first to lead fighter sweeps over Rabaul. Nicolas
Trudgian's out-standing painting captures the scene at Vella
Lavella as Pappy Boyington leads his VMF-214 'Black Sheep'
Squadron off the island strip to escort a B-17 Fortress
raid on Rabaul in December 1943. Boyington led his 'Black
Sheep' pilots through two combat tours before being brought
down himself and taken prisoner. On his last mission he
shot down three Zeros, bringing his final tally to 28. He
was to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Nick's
fine image pays tribute to one of the US Marine Corps' most
illustrious fighter squadrons and to its remarkable leader.
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Overall print
size: 35 1/2" wide x 24" high.
Image size: 28 3/4" wide x 16"
high.
| The
Black Sheep by Nicolas
Trudgian |
| The Fighter Pilots Edition |
| 125 s/n prints w/TWO signatures. |
SOLD
OUT |
| The Black Sheep Tribute
Edition |
| 10 Tribute Edition (NINE
signatures, issued w/ORIGINAL pencil drawing.) |
SOLD OUT |
| The Black Sheep Edition |
| 500 s/n prints w/SEVEN
signatures. |
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| 25 Artist Proofs |
SOLD OUT |
| 40 Remarques |
SOLD OUT |
| 10 Double Remarques |
SOLD OUT |
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The
Fighter Pilots Edition
Joining artist Nicolas Trudgian, the
Fighter Pilots Edition is signed by two leading 'Black Sheep'
F4U Corsair pilots.
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 Brigadier
General Bruce J. Matheson
USMC
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 Boyington's 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. |
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 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 Squadron's first aerial combat
on 16 September 1943, an escort missionof torpedo and dive-bombers,
Bob shot down a Zero over Ballale for one of the 'Black Sheep's'
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.
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The
Black Sheep Edition
With all the components of the Fighter
Pilots Edition, the Black Sheep Edition is additionally signed
by five fighter pilots who flew with VMF-214, making a total
of SEVEN signatures in this edition.
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 Lieutenant
Colonel W. Thomas Emrich USMC
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 USMC
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
USMC
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, Bill's 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.
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 Lieutenant
Colonel James J. Hill USMC
James Hill was born in Chicago in
1920. He arrived in the South Pacific on 5 June 1943 after
completing flight school in Pensacola, and joined VMF-214
on 7 August 1943. 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.
 Captain
Fred S. Losch USMC
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.
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very small number of 'THE BLACK SHEEP' prints will be issued
as the 'Black Sheep' Tribute Edition, limited to just TEN Copies!
Each print will be released with a unique and separate ORIGINAL
PENCIL DRAWING beautifully crafted by Nicolas Trudgian. Each
individual original drawing will be inscribed with a matching
number to the main print. |
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These ten original
pencil drawings will be signed by the 'Black Sheep' Ace Lieutenant
Colonel John Bolt, and most importantly, will be individually
matted to include the ORIGINAL AND GENUINE signature of Colonel
'Pappy' Boyington.
With such a glittering array of
'Black Sheep' fighter pilot signatures, including that of
'Pappy' Boyington, this is an edition of major historical
importance to all Aviation Art Collectors.
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 Colonel
Gregory 'Pappy' Boyington USMC
(matted signature)
'Pappy' Boyington resigned his Marine
Corps commission in 1941 to join the
Chennault's 'Flying Tigers' in China, where he notched up 6
victories. He rejoined the Marines in 1942, and commanded VMF-122,
followed by VMF-112. In September 1943 he took over VMF-214,
the 'Black Sheep', and nine days later shot down 5 Japanese
aircraft in a day. Boyington led the squadron through a period
of intense activity, personally shot down 14 enemy aircraft
during a 32 day period. On 3 January 1943 he downed three enemy
aircraft before he was shot down and picked up by a Japanese
submarine to become a POW in Japan. He scored 28 victories during
the war, 22 of them with the 'Black Sheep'. He was awarded the
Medal of Honor and Navy Cross.
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 Lieutenant
Colonel Henry M. Bourgeois
USMC (original
drawing)
Born in Louisiana in 1921, Henry Bourgeois
was the youngest Marine Officer ever commissioned when he joined
VMF-214. He flew two combat tours with VMF-122 prior to joining
the 'Black Sheep'. With VMF-122 he shot down 2 enemy aircraft
and scored a probable. On 21 September 1943 he led his division
of 4 Corsairs on a strafing mission of Kahili Airfield, where
he destroyed 2 enemy aircraft on the ground, and after the mission
at least 12 aircraft were left burning and an AA position destroyed.
After his tour with VMF-214 he completed his South Pacific Combat
Duty and he returned to the US. He remained in the Marine Corps
after the war and retired ads a Lt. Colonel in 1961. |
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