VMA-214 traces its roots back to World War II and the legendary Greg "Pappy" Boyington, who took command of 27 Marines, flying the vaunted F4U-1A Corsair in the Pacific Theatre.
In a mere 84 days, they met the Japanese over their own territory and earned a record of 203 planes destroyed or damaged, and make aces out of 9 of their pilots. "Boyington's Bastards," as they were once called, received a Presidential Unit Citation in recognition for their fighting prowess.
During the Korean War, the Black Sheep became the first Marine squadron to see action. During two combat tours, they provided nearly constant air cover, inflicting heavy damage on numerous ground targets and enemy armor.
As the Cold War heated up, VMA-214 saw many changes, such as transitions to the F2H-4 and F9F-2 Panthers until transitioning to the venerable A-4M Skyhawk where they saw considerable action in the Vietnam War.
The 80's saw the next airframe transition to the AV-8b Night Attack Harrier IIs. It is in this capacity, and because of their heralded pedigree that we at USLANTCOM use the DCS AV-8b. An airframe that saw them through multiple deployments in Operation Iraqi Freedom and ont into the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan.
A few, very dedicated pilots from various Primary Squadrons, have the privilege of flying the AV-8b as a secondary qualification and operate the Harrier, albeit rarely, in our major campaigns throughout the year.
Virtual USLANTCOM is a community of like-minded simulation enthusiasts that are in no way connected or affiliated with the real-life military or government entities that we have assimilated for entertainment purposes only. It is out of our sheer admiration for the men, women, and equipment that keep our values safe, that we seek to honor them by wearing the colors they bear — in the spirit of both gratitude, and humility.
