Black Sheep Squadron

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Baa Baa Black Sheep (later syndicated as Black Sheep Squadron) was first aired on NBC from 1976 until 1978. Its premise was based on the experiences of United States Marine Corps aviator Pappy Boyington and his World War II "Black Sheep Squadron." The series was created and produced by Stephen J. Cannell.

The opening credits read: "In World War II Marine Corps Major Greg 'Pappy' Boyington commanded a squadron of fighter pilots. They were a collection of misfits and screwballs who became the terrors of the South Pacific. They were known as the Black Sheep."

"Pappy" Boyington is the squadron-leader of a group of fighter pilots stationed on an island in the Pacific, during World War II. Pappy often intercedes in altercations at the base, but everyone seems to pull together when they are assigned missions in the air. "Pappy" liked to drink and fight a lot when not flying missions, and owned a Bull Terrier named 'Meatball'

The series premise was very loosely based on a portion of the real-life military career of Gregory Boyington, known as "Pappy" due to his "advanced" age compared to the younger pilots under his command. (He was 30 when he took command of VMF-214.) The premise is misleading in that the "Black Sheep" were not misfits or screwups. Boyington, who was a technical advisor for the series, commented that this was "fiction based on reality" and that no regular character in the series except for himself actually existed.

The cast

Steven Richmond ... Stan Richards / ... (11 episodes, 1977-1978)
Robert Conrad ... Maj. Greg 'Pappy' Boyington / ... (9 episodes, 1976-1978)
Robert Ginty ... Lt. T.J. Wiley (8 episodes, 1976-1978)
W.K. Stratton ... Lt. Larry Casey (8 episodes, 1976-1978)
John Larroquette ... Lt. Bob Anderson (7 episodes, 1976-1978)
Dana Elcar ... Col. Thomas Lard (7 episodes, 1976-1978)
Denise DuBarry ... Nurse Samantha Greene / ... (7 episodes, 1978)
Simon Oakland ... Gen. Thomas Moore (6 episodes, 1976-1978)
Joey Aresco ... Sgt. John David 'Hutch' Hutchinson (6 episodes, 1976-1977)
James Whitmore Jr. ... Capt. James Gutterman (6 episodes, 1976-1977)
Dirk Blocker ... Lt. Jerry Bragg (5 episodes, 1976-1977)
Jeff MacKay ... Lt. Don French (5 episodes, 1976-1977)
Byron Chung ... Captain Harachi (4 episodes, 1977-1978)
Brianne Leary ... Pretty Nurse / ... (4 episodes, 1977-1978)
Red West ... Mechanic Sergeant Andy Micklin / ... (4 episodes, 1977-1978)
Larry Manetti ... Lt. Bob Boyle (3 episodes, 1976)
Marcus K. Mukai ... First commando / ... (3 episodes, 1976-1978)
Charles Napier ... Major Red Buell (3 episodes, 1976)
Nancy Conrad ... Lieutenant Nurse Nancy Gilmore / ... (3 episodes, 1977-1978)
John Kerry ... Pilot (2 episodes, 1976-1978)
Hatsuo Uda ... First Japanese Pilot / ... (2 episodes, 1976-1978)
Curtis Credel ... Marine Captain / ... (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Tim Haldeman ... Lt. Davis / ... (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Jim Ishida ... Japanese Lieutenant / ... (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Lloyd Kino ... Japanese Admiral / ... (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
James Saito ... Ensign Kira / ... (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Cory B. Shiozaki ... First Japanese Lieutenant / ... (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Peter Donat ... Col. Mathis (2 episodes, 1976)
George Gaynes (2 episodes, 1976)
Sharon Gless ... Nurse (2 episodes, 1976)
Dale Ishimoto ... Japanese Mechanic / ... (2 episodes, 1976)

Jill Jaress ... Col. Lard's Secretary / ... (2 episodes, 1976)
Anne Francis (2 episodes, 1977)
Jacquelyn Gaschen ... Tall Nurse (2 episodes, 1977)
Frederick Herrick (2 episodes, 1977)
Soon-Tek Oh ... Col. Tokura / ... (2 episodes, 1977)
Linda Scruggs ... Caroline Holden (2 episodes, 1977)
Kin Shriner ... C-47 Pilot (2 episodes, 1977)
Michael Yama ... Japanese plotter / ... (2 episodes, 1978)
Katherine Cannon ... Capt. Dottie Dixon (1 episode, 1977-1978)