Period wartime action adventure series Baa Baa Black Sheep was based on real life stories. During the second world war ‘Pappy’ Boyington runs a crew of pilots in the pacific, the squadron was known as the VMF Black Sheep and were based on the island of Vella La Cava. The boys were not noted for their discipline. Off duty the boys liked to chase after the nurses Ellie, Dottie (who was in charge of the girls), Nancy (played by Robert Conrad’s real life daughter), Sue and Cheryl.
The series was actually cancelled at the end of the first season but then brought back with a title change to Black Sheep Squadron. The real life Gregory Boyington acted as technical advisor to the series too.
production details
USA / NBC – Universal / 1×95 minute episode 35×60 minute episodes / Broadcast 21 September 1976 – 1 September 1978
Creator/Executive Producer: Stephen J. Cannell
cast
Robert Conrad as Major Gregory Boyington
Simon Oakland as Gen. Thomas Moore
Dana Elcar as Col. Carl Lard
James Whitmore, Jr. as Capt. James Gutterman
Robert Ginty as Lt. Joseph Wiley
Dirk Blocker as Lt. Jerry Bragg
W.K. Stratton as Capt. Lawrence Casey
John Larroquette as Lt. Robert Ander- son
Jake Mitchell as Lt. Robert Boyle
Larry Manetti as Lt. Robert Boyle; later
Jeff MacKay as Lt. Donald French
Joey Aresco as Lt. Hutch
Jeb Adams as Lt. Jeb Pruitt
Red West as Sgt. Andy Micklin
Steve Raymond as Pvt. Stan Richards
Nancy Conrad as Nurse Nancy Gilmore
Denise DuBarry as Nurse Samantha Greene
Katherine Cannon as Nurse Dottie Dickson
Kathy McCullem as Nurse Ellie Farrell
Brianne Leary as Nurse Sue Webster
Leslie Charleson as Nurse Ann Wilson
Sharon Ullrick as Nurse Cheryl Stone
Byron Chung as Capt. T. Harachi
True Grit as Meatball the Squadron dog
