I just got my hands on the first season of Baa Baa Black Sheep and thought that it would be fun to model each variant of the Corsair they flew. As far as I can tell, they only flew the -1A; however, the -1C and -1D fit the time frame and would be appropriate for 214’s mission. Bear in mind, this is based on the limited research I am able to do until I get back to the States, I am simply trying to take the easy way out and rely or the expertise of the forums.
I am no F4U expert, but am a fan of the bent wing bird due to that series as well. If you are gonna model the ones flown by VMF-214 while under the command of Boyington, the F4U-1 (birdcage canopy) and the F4U-1A (early bubble canopy w/frame) would be the variants to make. IIRC, the -1D did not reach combat service until later in 1944 well after Boyington had been downed and the Blacksheep rotated out of combat. I dont recall reading about them ever having the cannon armed -1C.
Thanks for the info. I have found definite references to the -1A, I wasn’t sure about the -1. The others were speculation on my part. I could add the planes from the show to it for contrast. The -1C is pretty easy to pick put, the others are a little tougher. I guess I’ll just have to educate my self on the Corsair and watch more Baa Baa Black Sheep.
VMF-214 flew the birdcage -1 as well as the ‘bubble’ canopy -1A.
There are quite a few pictures of Black Sheep flying very beat up Birdcage Corsairs with all sorts of national marking variations and color schemes. Some had the stars at all six locations with just white wings (no blue outline) obviously just tacked on, some had the stars with the wings with the blue outlines in all six locations, some had the four locations. Some of these earlier Corsairs were in the gray scheme and some in tri-color. The -1As were all tri-color with the stars in the four locations and blue outlines. I doubt any Black Sheep Corsiars had the red outlines on the national markings.
I have never seen a VMF-214 -1C or -1D, though they did fly Gloss Sea Blue -4s in Korea.
keep in mind that the TV show is grossly inaccurate in every way. The only things they got right were the VMF-214 “Black Sheep” did fly Corsairs in the Solomon islands and they were led by Maj. Boyington, who did drink and fight a lot (though his pilots didn’t nearly as much). Most of Corsairs in the show aren’t even the right models and none of them are wearing the right colors.
I did a bit more reading after my previous post on this last night. The -1C and -1D were developed concurently with the primary difference being the guns. Rougly only 200 -1Cs were built and both types did not go operational until mid 1944. The original Blacksheep were rotated out of combat and disbanded shortly after Boyington was shot down. A new VMF-214 was established in CA a short time later. They would deploy to war aboard USS Franklin (CV-13) in 1945 and would be operating using F4U-1Ds off her when she was so heavily damaged off of Japan.
Sounds like you have a great project ahead of you here.
There were actually three different “VMF-214” units during WWII. The first was known as the “Swashbucklers”, commissioned in July 1942 and flew from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal later that year. The Black Sheep came on the scene in August 1943.
You mean the show was not COMPLETELY historically accurate? That’s it! I am NEVER watching TV again!
The show just got me to thinking about the planes they flew and I figured that there would be few enough models they flew that it would be easy to do a Black Sheep set. I am thinking that a gray -1 next to a tri-color -1A would look nice together.
I still like the idea of doing the TV birds as a sister display. I was hooked on the Black Sheep when I was a kid and would run around the house imitating the air raid siren as the show opened.
Boyington’s VMF-214 used a mixed bag of F4U-1 & F4U-1A’s. According to photos sources I have, as well as several videos I have from the era, showing VMF-214, the F4U-1’s could be painted in the blue-gray over light gray (see F4U-1 “Marines Dream”) or the field interpretation of the tri-color scheme (see Bu#17430= dark sea blue continues straight across the fuselage as on an F6F, does not swoop downward to top of wing). VMF-214 F4U-1A’s during Boyington’s tenure all wore the factory-style tri-color scheme.
VMF-214 returned to the combat zone in 1945 aboard USS Franklin, flying F4U-1D version in the overall dark sea blue scheme. VMF-214 was removed from the combat zone when USS Franklin was struck & severely damaged during a kamikaze attack.
As for the TV show, they flew a mix of F4U-1A/ -1D, -4/4B, -5/5N/5NL, and even a -7. If you know Corsairs, and look carefully, you can pick out the different models, The show is entertaining, but don’ rely on it to be historically accurate!
Wasn’t there an AU-1 in there?