{"product_id":"before-they-were-the-black-sheep-marine-fighting-squadron-vmf-214-and-the-battle-for-the-solomon-islands-paperback","title":"Before They Were the Black Sheep: Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-214 and the Battle for the Solomon Islands - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eCarl O. Dunbar\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003ePeter M. Dunbar\u003c\/b\u003e (Editor)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWorld War II letters of a New Englander's journey from civilian to elite fighter squadron pilot\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBefore the Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-214 became known as the Black Sheep squadron led by \"Pappy\" Boyington, this air group was already flying missions from Guadalcanal. Commissioned in 1942, the squadron was originally known as \"The Swashbucklers.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLt. Carl Dunbar, Jr. was one of the squadron's original pilots, and his letters home describe the training and living conditions he faced as a Marine in the Pacific theater during the early years of World War II. Dunbar ultimately flew eighty-two missions during the Solomon campaign, and this volume includes his private logbook.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLike many veterans, after returning to the United States Dunbar rarely spoke about his wartime service. Only after his death did his son Peter discover this trove of material, and his commentary provides context for each of his father's letters. Both personal and universal, this volume offers a glimpse of what life was like for a man with a great sense of loyalty and compassion caught up in the war of his generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePeter M. Dunbar\u003c\/b\u003e is a lawyer and special counsel in the Tallahassee office of Jones Walker and has served as an adjunct professor of law at Florida State University.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 312\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.7 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e December 16, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45440072777830,"sku":"9780813081328","price":37.27,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0599\/7255\/0758\/files\/Di3hPQgNDM9780813081328.webp?v=1776008842","url":"https:\/\/infinitylightwa.com\/products\/before-they-were-the-black-sheep-marine-fighting-squadron-vmf-214-and-the-battle-for-the-solomon-islands-paperback","provider":"Infinity Light","version":"1.0","type":"link"}