S3#118 Baa Baa Black Sheep- (BBB) - Mar - Apr 2020

Map: Solomons
(Due to the limitations of the Solomons map, we cannot extend our combat into Rabaul, and will concentrate on the Solomons islands from Guadalcanal to Bougainville Island. However we may switch maps in Frame 5 to the New Guinea map…we shall see…)

Time Frame: Early 1943 - Early 1944

This series will focus on the exploits of VMF-214. In early 1943, VMF-214 nicknamed the “Swashbucklers” flew in two tours in the Solomons campaign under Major George Britt.

From August 1943 through January 1944, the second incarnation, the famed “Black Sheep” squadron fought in the Northern Solomons under Major Gregory, “Pappy” Boyington. The Black Sheep fought for only 84 days. In that time, they piled up a record of 203 planes destroyed or damaged, produced 8 aces with 97 confirmed air to air victories, sank several troop transports and supply ships, and many enemy installations. For their actions the original Black sheep were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action.

While his Medal of Honor Citation was awarded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in March 1944; he was not decorated until October 5, 1945 due to his captivity by the Japanese. In a White House ceremony with other Sailors and Marines, he was personally decorated by President Harry S. Truman.  He was also awarded the Navy Cross, the nations second highest honor, by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Alexander A. Vandegrift.
 
Pappy Boyington died on January 11, 1988 in Fresno, California.  He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 7-A.

Lest we forget the pilots of the JAAF. One such pilot, Lietenant Junior-Grade Hirotoshi Nishizawa, was known as the “Demon of Rabaul”. It is possible that Nishizawa was the most successful Japanese fighter ace of the war; he personally claimed to have had 102 aerial victories at the time of his death. After escorting a Kamikaze mission, his request to volunteer to take part in the next day’s kamikaze mission was refused. Instead his plane was flown by a less experienced pilot who crashed his plane into the escort carrier USS Suwanee. The following day, Nishizawa was killed as a passenger when his Ki-49 transport was attacked by two F6F hellcats from the Carrier Wasp. Upon learning of Nishizawa's death, the commander of the Combined Fleet, Admiral Soemu Toyoda, honored Nishizawa with a mention in an all-units bulletin and posthumously promoted him to the rank of lieutenant junior-grade. Nishizawa was also given the posthumous name Bukai-in Kohan Giko Kyoshi, a Zen Buddhist phrase that translates: "In the ocean of the military, reflective of all distinguished pilots, an honored Buddhist person."

We will endeavor to recreate the battle of the Solomon Islands in the 118th S3 Series, Baa Baa Black Sheep.

This event begins on Sunday, March 15, 2020 in the S3 Arena at 8:30PM Eastern/5:30 PM Pacific. Five frames in the schedule. Available squads and their Squad roles.

 

*Aircraft Table * Game Map *Game Rules * Point Summary * Pilot Q * Game Scores *