THE BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON photograph:
Ed Harper is nearest the cockpit on the right side.
The "Black Sheep Squadron", the second of three U.S. Marine fighter teams to bear the designation VMF-214, fought over the Northern Solomon Islands and Rabaul from August 1943 until January 1944, under the command of Colonel Greg "Pappy" Boyington. Performing escort, patrol and interception missions, they downed 94 Japanese planes, with nine pilots earning "ace" status (one of these was signer ROBERT "BOB McCLURG" (born in 1919), who downed seven enemy aircraft and had two "probable" kills). Lieutenant Colonel JAMES J. "JIM" HILL (born in 1920), flew in 70 combat missions. Brigadier General Bruce J. MATHESON (born in 1921), had three victories and 1.5 probables. BILL HEIER (born in 1920) joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941 before serving with the Black Sheep Squadron. Heier is credited with four kills and three probables.
Colonel EDWIN "ED" HARPER (born in Canada in 1920) was credited with one kill and two probables. He was wounded in action on October 17, 1943.
The feats of the squadron, already documented in several books, were further celebrated on the TV series, Black Sheep Squadron (1976-1978).