Warbird Information Exchange

Just received my copy of the long awaited book on the making of Baa Baa Black Sheep / Black Sheep Squadron TV series from 1976-78.

It was just released a week ago and my sister in law was kind enough to bring my copy (to avoid the high UK postal charges) with here on a BA 777.

Whether you're old enough to remember when it was shown on NBC or just know it from reruns on cable, you'll find it interesting.

To my surprise, the book is a thick, large format (12" w x8 1/2" high) hardcover printed on quality paper. Most photos are in color.
There are chapters on the background of the story...based on Major Gregory Boyington's period as commander of VFM-214 in the south Pacific.
The first chapter introduces you to the actors and more importantly to our discussion, the pilots who portrayed them for filming.
Other chapters discuss the logistics of getting six airworthy Corsair for initial filming (plus two others used in later episodes), numbers which accounted for some 66% of the world's flying Corsair population at the time.
Each episode is briefly discussed, again with emphasis on aircraft useage.

But it's not all airplanes, you learn the genesis of stories and the challenges and pressures faced by the producers, writers and stars. One of the newcomers was the script supervisor, a 40-something Marine vet turned advertising executive named Donald Bellisario...who would go onto a successful tv career producing or creating shows like Magnum, P.I., Quantum Leap, Airwolf, Jag and the current several NCIS series.

Owners and pilots included Tom Friedkin, Tom Mooney, Bill Yoak, and owner of the F4U-7, John Schafhausen, whose son, Mark, was present during much of the filming during his summer vacation from college. Now a retired airline pilot, Mark provided many never before seen photos to the author. Steve Hinton was just 24 with just 1.2 hours in Corsairs when he was asked by John Stokes, owner of FG-1D 92629 if he'd like to fly his Corsair for a TV show.

The rest of the book, some 110 pages, consists of well done color profiles of the major types and finally, appendices on the Corsairs, the " Tora Tora" veterans which portrayed the Japanese enemy, the many allied types seen in the series...C-47s, a J2F, Duck, L-5, Mustangs, P-38s, B-17s, several B-25...(plus some surprises...I didn't recall seeing an Avenger or Helldiver), finally a look on the camera ships provided by Tallmantz Aviation.

Each plane has been identified with histories of their pre and post film use. The fates of the various F4U/FG-1s are well known, less is known about the many supporting aircraft.
One of the C-47s used (fitted with a DC-3 style door) disappeared on a flight to Hawaii in 1979, the other still flies as a museum ship for Delta Air Lines...its original owner in 1940. One of the P-38s seen was subsequently lost in a fatal crash.

Rivet counters may need to take a deep breath/tranquilizer or have a strong shot before watching the series.

Yes, the series took liberties....Okay, a LOT of liberties...with the story of 214 and World War II in general.
Yes, the hairstyles are more 1970s than 1940s.
Yes, the nurses were more Charlie's Angles than the heroic real life volunteers,
Yes, (as the author points out), none of the Corsair were of the model used by 214....

But...

It was a fairly high budget, highly visible series about wartime pilots on a major tv network back when there were only three.
And given the lack of real aircraft in later productions, it is likely the last time warbirds will be used for an aviation-centric TV series.
So cut it some slack and enjoy it for what it is.
Like the much derided Pearl Harbor, I propose that any film that presents real heroes, whether it be Jimmy Doolittle of Pappy Boyington, to a new generation can't be all bad.

Because of that, it deserves to be remembered by warbird fans.


By Stephen Chapis, Key Publishing.2025

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

Interview with the author below, with links to audio version and various other places of interest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjMihUVPSR4

I think I remember a Helldiver in the background during the “Meatball Circus” (?) episode where the Blacksheep fly Japanese planes for a raid “behind the lines”. I think it’s the SB2C that Yanks have now.

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Defending Stearmans on WIX since Jeff started badmouthing them back in 2005.

Yes, the book has identifies it as the Yanks example.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

I’m still waiting for my copy to show up.

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Defending Stearmans on WIX since Jeff started badmouthing them back in 2005.

Hang in there as it took a little while longer after mine showed delivered. It will be worth the wait.

Received mine last week - very well done.

Bravo to Steve Chapis!
A true tome about the TV series that gives all the background, photos and info on the series that a like me thrives on!

The fantastic color profiles by Jim Laurier were unexpected and covered each aircraft used in the show.
Thank you Steve, for spending the time and effort to produce such a seminal work!
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

I hope Steve Chapis checks in here, I have a couple of questions for him that the book didn't address.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

Hello everyone. Boy, it has been quite a long time since I was on WIX!! Glad to see the book getting discussed on that the reviews are positive.

JohnB- What's your question(s)?

Chappie

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Brrring. Dispersal? TWO SECTIONS SCRAMBLE!!

I'm really enjoying the book. I recall many of the stories in the aviation media of the time, so it's fun to get another look at the series.
I haven't had a chance to get too deep in it, so I might have missed it...

-How did Universal find and hire the aircraft from such a diverse group of owners?
Did they have someone (a plane wrangler?) who knew who had what?
Burchinal was in Texas, John Schafhausen was in Spokane, so they were a disparate group.
I always assumed Tallmantz was the go-between, but aside from providing the B-25 camera ships and Duck, they didn't seem too involved in the production.

Speaking of Tallmantz, I figured they supplied the L-5 since they had one at the time, so I was surprised to see it was the POF Stinson.

-I've been telling my Black Sheep story for years. In1977 I was in LA visiting my late wife's family. Her brother was a pilot so he took us up to Oxnard for lunch from Van Nuys in a rented 182. The FBO he used was very nice and to my surprise, there was a large signed photo of Robert Conrad on the wall. I was told that Conrad was taking lessons there and following a recent divirce was living in a large motor home in the parking lot.
Ever hear that? We see Conrad (apparently) taxi and shut down a Corsair, and he did take lessons, do you know how far his training went in warbirds?

I know one of your sources, Mark Schafhausen. I recall seeing his dad's Corsair (and later Mustang) in town back in the day.
Last year I mentioned that a Black.Sheep book was in progress, he surprised me by telling me he'd lent you family photos. He's promised to sign my book.

I was very impressed by the design, size and quality of the book. Well done.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

JohnB,

From what I've been told it was up to Frank Tallman and James Gavin to gather the aircraft. The warbird world was much smaller back then, and it seems everyone knew everyone back then. I've heard the stories of Conrad's flight training, but I don't think it ever extended beyond GA aircraft. I think he did occacionally taxi the L-5 and perhaps a Corsair. Bill Yoak told me that Conrad wanted him to check him out in a T-6, but again it never went beyond the discussion stage.

Yeah, probably 60%+ of the photos in the book came from Mark, Steve Guilford, Frank Mormillo, David Cassidy, and James Farmer. Very grateful to them.

Chappie

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Brrring. Dispersal? TWO SECTIONS SCRAMBLE!!

JohnB,

From what I've been told it was up to Frank Tallman and James Gavin to gather the aircraft. The warbird world was much smaller back then, and it seems everyone knew everyone back then. I've heard the stories of Conrad's flight training, but I don't think it ever extended beyond GA aircraft. I think he did occacionally taxi the L-5 and perhaps a Corsair. Bill Yoak told me that Conrad wanted him to check him out in a T-6, but again it never went beyond the discussion stage.

Yeah, probably 60%+ of the photos in the book came from Mark, Steve Guilford, Frank Mormillo, David Cassidy, and James Farmer. Very grateful to them.

Chappie

_________________
Brrring. Dispersal? TWO SECTIONS SCRAMBLE!!