The Marine Attack Squadron 214 (VMA-214) is a fighter unit of the United States Marine Corps, equipped today (2009) with AV-8B Harrier.
His baptismal name was originally Baa Baa Black Sheep, it becomes over time Black Sheep (black sheep). It originated during the Second World War, when one of its commanders was Colonel Grégory 'Pappy' Boyington.
A 1970s television series, Les Têtes brûlées, immortalized their exploits.
It was created, during the Second World War, as VMF-214 (The F meaning fighter, hunter in English) on the island of Oahu (Hawaii) on July 1, 1942. It implemented F4F Wildcat. The pilots of VMF-214 completed two tours of operations before being transferred to the island of Espiritu Santo, under the command of the United States Navy.
In 1943, after leaving the Flying Tigers, Major Gregory Boyington was assigned to the Marine Corps. There, he brought together 27 pilots, most of whom had either failed their qualification on the F4U corsair, or were simply relegated to administrative tasks because of their behavior towards their superiors.
With the fighting in the Pacific constantly requiring new pilots, due to the preparation for the attack on Bougainville Island in the Solomon Islands archipelago, Boyington was tasked with an almost impossible mission:training in less than three months of these 27 pilots on the Corsair. He would then take the lead of the VMF-214 squadron temporarily.
In view of the results of the squadron, Major Boyington retained command of VMF-214. He took part in staff meetings, and imposed new tactics.
The VMF-214 destroyed more than 203 Japanese planes, including 97 in air combat, sank many ships and above all systematically provoked the Japanese on their own ground.
The VMF-214 received the Presidential Unit Citation, for all of its actions.
today the 214 still exists it is the VMA 214 A for attack and flies on AV8b Harrier II
214 Campaigns
World War II
Vietnam War
Gulf War
Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)
War in Iraq
The hotheads mounts
F4F Wildcat (originally)
F4U Corsair (WWII and early Korean War)
F9F Panther
F2H Banshee ( Late Korean War)
FJ-1 Fury
A-4 Skyhawk
AV-8 Harrier II.