Major
Edwin L. Olander
“Black Sheep” Squadron
By Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette
Edwin Lawrence Olander was born in
Northampton, Massachusetts on March 27, 1917. With the nickname "Olie"
he became a newspaper reporter after he graduated from Amherst collage in 1938.
He joined the Navy at the Glenview Naval Base on September 26, 1941 before the
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Like all other young men of the time after the
attack on our bases in Hawaii, and the Philippines Olander was motivated to
serve our country in combat.
He earned his wings at Opa Locka, Florida
on June 18, 1942. He served as a flight instructor from August 1942 until May
1943 at Jacksonville Naval Air Station flying the SNJ trainer. His duties were
to help train pilot in aerial marksmanship, flying formation, and some combat
training.
Olander was itching to get to the Pacific
and enter combat. He was assigned to VMF-214 on August 7th, where he
was trained in the new fighter, the F4U Corsair. Olander transferred out to the
Russell Islands in September to start this first combat tour. With his
instructor’s duties in Florida, Olander came to the Pacific with 600 hours of
flight time. Some of the new pilots only had 200 hours in the cockpit and had to
learn on the job. The Corsair was so new that all pilots had to learn to fly it
as it appeared on the airfields across the Pacific.
The Navy and Marine units had been flying
the F4F Wildcat, which was not equal to the fighters that the Japanese aviators
were flying. The Corsair however was a great improvement to the Wildcat but it
was heavy and fast. The Corsair was still at a disadvantage with the nimble Zero
which could out perform it. However the Zero would crumble when hit by a full
volley of the six fifty-caliber machine guns from the Corsair. The extra hours
in the cockpit gave Olander confidence and the transfer to the Corsair was
easier for him.
He arrived at Espiritu Santo, in the New Hebrides where he was assigned to a pool of pilots that were used to replace pilots from the combat squadrons weather they were wounded, killed, or rotated back to the States. However the need for another full squadron was desperately needed.
Fresh from China and the American
Volunteer Group with combat experience, Major Gregory Boyington was available
for a command. VMF-214 was reconstructed and the group trained in Espiritu for
two weeks. The newest pilots were given flying time with the new Corsair and
personally checked out by Boyington. “Pappy” wanted to know each of his
aviators and their full capabilities. “Pappy” spent many hours discussing
with his men the combat techniques of the Japanese and the capability of the
enemy fighters compared to the Corsairs that they would be flying.
“Pappy” who also answered to
“Skipper”, and “Gramps” bonded with his men. Olander openly states in
several interviews that the men of the unit felt comfortable with him and that
they were in fact lucky to have a man to lead them who had combat experience and
had good leadership capabilities. Everyone knew that Boyington was indeed rough
around the edges, but he was a natural leader. After their two weeks of training
they flew to Guadalcanal where they would engage the enemy.
Frank E. Walton was the squadron’s
intelligence officer and Jim Reames was their doctor. The first group was made
up of 26 pilots. All aircraft and the maintenance crews were borrowed. During
his first tour Olander flew the F4U-1 “Birdcage” model of the Corsair.
The war in the Pacific was savage with
both Japanese and American forces clashing with each other on land, sea, and in
the air almost daily. Combat came right away for the new squadron. Olander was
credited with attacking and badly damaging a Japanese aircraft on September 16th
and again on the 23rd. Olander was credited with probable on each
mission. A probable is when you are credited with an attack on an enemy aircraft
and causing substantial visual damage. The enemy aircraft cannot be claimed as
an aerial victory unless it is witnessed crashing. The squadron was flying from
a new airfield on Munda, New Georgia.
Olander was credited with his first
official victory on October 10th when he was flying escort for B-24
bombers. The bombers were to attack an enemy airfield know as Kahili Airdrome.
Only six Corsairs accompanied the flight of Liberators to the target. They
started with eight fighters but two of the group had to turn back because of
mechanical problems. A flight of Army P-38’s that was to help in the mission
appeared and then disappeared. The bombing was miserable with many bombs missing
the island completely and killing only fish.
However the anti-aircraft fire from the
Japanese airfield was accurate. Two of the B-24’s were hit and were descended
upon by the Japanese defenders. One Liberator was set afire and crashed. Only
four of the bombers crewmembers were able to bail out. The Japanese fighters
shot at the crewmen suspended in their parachutes. This enraged the American
fighter pilots. In the ensuing battle Olander was able to shoot down a Zero
fighter and damage another. He was the only “Black Sheep” to score against
the enemy that day.
Three days later Olander shot down his
second Zero as fifty-five Zero’s attacked their group of 21 Marine fighters
over the same airfield. The next day, the 14th of October,
“Pappy” led the group back to the airfield for more action. The Japanese
supply line was growing thin and replacing pilots and aircraft was causing the
Japanese to be cautious. After flying over the field “Pappy” could not get
the Japanese to come up and join in a fight with the “Black Sheep”.
“Pappy” got on the radio and tuned to the Japanese radio frequency and
taunted the enemy to a point that they were so angered by his taunts that
fifteen enemy fighters took of to fight the “Black Sheep”. The only problem
was that the “Black Sheep” had the advantage of already being at altitude
where they could then swoop down and pick off the rising enemy fighters. Olander
added a third Zero to his credit.
The squadron was relieved for a brief rest
and resumed their combat duties on their second tour in December 1943. They
group was stationed at Vella Lavella, which would be considered their home base
for this tour. They resumed flights in the area and saw combat on December 12th,
tangling with sixty Zero’s. A Zero that was coming in fast from behind on
Olander was scoring hits on his Corsair. The
enemy fighter overshot his Corsair and dove so Olander followed. Enemy fighters
were also following Olander as he fired on the Zero ahead of him. The Zero hit
the water for his fourth aerial victory. However victory was not without danger
as Olander found himself bobbing and weaving trying to avoid the swarm of
Zero’s that had been following him. Tracers for the Zero’s cannons were
flying past his canopy, as he was able to pull away and safely return to base.
On the 30th Olander led his division escorting B-24’s headed for Rabaul. He was one of two divisions covering the bombers from VMF-214. The visibility was poor on the flight and the bombers and fighters became separated. The Japanese fighters were waiting for the bombers and attacked them viciously. Olander and the others had to climb high to get clear of the clouds.
Once they saw the battle below between the
bombers and enemy fighters the “Black Sheep” dove into the melee. Olander
was able to claim a Zero and was credited with badly damaging another for a
probable. Several bombers were lost over the target.
Olander was now an official ace with five
enemy Zero fighters and four Zero probable. After his second tour was completed
Olander was sent back to the States to train for carrier landings. His final
tour would have been the invasion of Japan however the war ended.
Olander was never wounded in his many
aerial combats however his ground crews were amazed at the condition of his
Corsair after several of the battles. The F4U was a rugged fighter and with
holes punched through the airframe and fabric, the Corsair always brought
Olander back to base safely. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and
the Air Medal.
In November 1945 Olander left the military
and resumed the life of a civilian. He returned to Northampton, Massachusetts
and started a business selling building materials. Olander was elected Mayor of
Northampton and served two terms. He also served on the boards of the local
hospital and bank. At the Age of eighty-eight the memories of his combat
experiences are still fresh in his memories. His reflection of his military
service was as a “civilian soldier”. Olander served his country however he
was not that infatuated with making the military his life.
The above Corsair was an F4U-1, BuNo 02576, “Marine’s Dream”. This particular aircraft was not Olander’s personal Corsair. No pilot of VMF-214 was assigned their own aircraft. All of the Corsair’s that VMF-214 flew were in fact borrowed from other units. Olander doesn’t know who had the artwork of the girl and the name painted on the cowling. He only flew this Corsair a few times and scored his second victory in this machine. Number 576 ended upside down and written off not long after Olander flew it.
A rough landing for "Marine's Dream".
This is the finished painting!
Signed by the Ace himself!
Would you like a painting like this signed by the Ace? Let me know!
All research, writings and artwork are by Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette.
No one is permitted to republish any part of this story with out my personal permission.
Please call or e-mail me for any use of this story.
I do not mind sharing, just call or e-mail and ask for permission.
Sir. Ernie Hamilton Boyette
904-282-4198
e-mail: aviationartstore@peoplepc.com
Counter Started 3-16-07