"Black Sheep Squadron" (1976) "Baa Baa Black Sheep" (original title), TV series 1976-1978

Creator:

Stephen J. Cannell
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

21 September 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Action | War | Adventure | Drama

Plot:

Pappy Boyington is the squadron-leader of a group of fighter pilots stationed on an island in the Pacific...

Plot Keywords:

Fighters | Corsair | Pacific Ocean | Sitcom | Aviation

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Robert Conrad	...	Maj. Greg 'Pappy' Boyington (36 episodes, 1976-1978)
Simon Oakland	...	Brig. Gen. Thomas Moore (36 episodes, 1976-1978)
Dana Elcar	...	Col. Thomas A. Lard (36 episodes, 1976-1978)
Dirk Blocker	...	1st Lt. Jerome 'Jerry' Bragg (36 episodes, 1976-1978)
W.K. Stratton	...	2nd Lt. Lawrence 'Larry' Casey (36 episodes, 1976-1978)
Jeff MacKay	...	French / ... (36 episodes, 1976-1978)
Larry Manetti	...	Lt. Bob Boyle / ... (34 episodes, 1976-1978)
Robert Ginty	...	1st Lt. Thomas Joseph 'T.J.' Wiley (32 episodes, 1976-1978)
John Larroquette	...	Lt. Bob Anderson / ... (32 episodes, 1976-1978)
Red West	...	Sgt. Micklin / ... (29 episodes, 1976-1978)
James Whitmore Jr.	...	Capt. James 'Jim' Gutterman (26 episodes, 1976-1978)
Joey Aresco	...	Sgt. John David 'Hutch' Hutchinson (21 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Directed by
Lawrence Doheny		(8 episodes, 1976-1978)
Jackie Cooper		(5 episodes, 1976-1977)
Dana Elcar		(4 episodes, 1977-1978)
Robert Conrad		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Edward Dein		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Russ Mayberry		(2 episodes, 1976)
John Peyser		(2 episodes, 1976)
Philip DeGuere		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
Barry Shear		(2 episodes, 1977)
Alex Beaton		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Stephen J. Cannell		(36 episodes, 1976-1978)
Philip DeGuere		(7 episodes, 1976-1977)
Donald P. Bellisario		(7 episodes, 1977-1978)
Ken Pettus		(6 episodes, 1976-1977)
Milt Rosen		(2 episodes, 1976)
Frank Abatemarco		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
Rod Baker		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
James Crocker		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
Glen Olson		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
Nicholas Corea		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Stephen J. Cannell	....	executive producer (36 episodes, 1976-1978)
Alex Beaton	....	producer / supervising producer (33 episodes, 1976-1978)
Philip DeGuere	....	supervising producer / producer (27 episodes, 1976-1978)
Chuck Bowman	....	associate producer / producer (24 episodes, 1976-1977)
Donald P. Bellisario	....	producer (8 episodes, 1977-1978)
J. Rickley Dumm	....	associate producer (7 episodes, 1978)

Series Original Music by
Pete Carpenter		(32 episodes, 1976-1978)
Mike Post		(32 episodes, 1976-1978)

Series Cinematography by
Edward R. Plante		(22 episodes, 1976-1977)
H. John Penner		(8 episodes, 1977-1978)
John Elsenbach		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
George Potter		(9 episodes, 1976-1978)
Jerry Dronsky		(8 episodes, 1976-1977)
Robert L. Kimble		(8 episodes, 1976-1977)
Christopher Nelson		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)

Series Art Direction by
John D. Jefferies Sr.		(22 episodes, 1976-1977)
Ron Foreman		(3 episodes, 1978)

Series Set Decoration by
Ron Jeschke		(23 episodes, 1976-1978)
Ed Baer		(3 episodes, 1976)

Series Costume Design by
Yvonne Wood		(1 episode, 1976)

Series Production Management
Jack Terry	....	unit manager (23 episodes, 1976-1977)
James M. Walters Jr.	....	unit manager (3 episodes, 1978)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James W. Gavin	....	second unit director (22 episodes, 1976-1978)
David Menteer	....	assistant director (13 episodes, 1976-1978)
Larry Powell	....	assistant director (12 episodes, 1976-1977)
Robert Gilmore	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1977-1978)

Series Art Department
Ken Speed	....	carpenter (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Lowell Harris	....	sound (23 episodes, 1976-1977)
Kendrick Sweet	....	sound effects editor (18 episodes, 1976-1977)
Robert Jackson	....	boom operator (12 episodes, 1976)
Walt Jenevein	....	sound effects editor (4 episodes, 1976)
Colin C. Mouat	....	sound effects editor (4 episodes, 1977-1978)
John K. Kean	....	sound (4 episodes, 1978)
Lawrence E. Neiman	....	sound effects editor (3 episodes, 1978)
David Pettijohn	....	sound effects editor (2 episodes, 1978)
Pieter Hubbard	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Charles E. Moran	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Donald L. Warner Jr.	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunt performer (1 episode, 1978)
Jean Coulter	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Veto	....	stunt camera rigger (29 episodes, 1976-1978)
Doug Mathias	....	gaffer (unknown episodes, 1977)
Rexford L. Metz	....	director of photography: second unit (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lew Richard	....	technical advisor (23 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Music Department
Stephen A. Hope	....	music editor (31 episodes, 1976-1978)
Pete Carpenter	....	composer: theme music (25 episodes, 1976-1978)
Mike Post	....	composer: theme music (25 episodes, 1976-1978)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	production driver (4 episodes, 1976-1977)
Frank Khoury	....	driver (2 episodes, 1976)

Series Other crew
Gregory H. 'Pappy' Boyington	....	technical advisor (33 episodes, 1976-1978)
Ken Pettus	....	story consultant (16 episodes, 1976-1977)
Sharon Thurgood	....	studio teacher (7 episodes, 1978)
Milt Rosen	....	creative consultant (6 episodes, 1976)
'Junior' Burchinal	....	pilot (unknown episodes)
James W. Gavin	....	pilot (unknown episodes)
Steve Hinton	....	pilot (unknown episodes)
Gerald Martin	....	pilot (unknown episodes)
Art Scholl	....	pilot (unknown episodes)
Frank Tallman	....	aerial coordinator / pilot (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Stephen J. Cannell Productions
• Universal TV

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1976-1978) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Studios USA Television
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

"Baa Baa Black Sheep" - USA (original title)

Runtime:

60 min (37 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Indian Dunes, Ventura County, California, USA

Company:

Stephen J. Cannell Productions

Trivia:

In the pilot the character Boyle was played by Jake Mitchell (as listed in episode end credits). In every subsequent episode he was played by Chicago actor Larry Manetti.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In several of the dogfight scenes, when there is a brief in-cockpit view of the pilot's hands dramatically pushing or pulling at the control stick, none of the (clearly visible) instruments ever move to indicate a climb, dive, or turn.

Quotes:

Capt. James Gutterman:[talking back to a Navy officer] I'm already carrier qualified Mommy!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: Episode #26.46" (2009)

Thrilling WWII Action with Flying Leathernecks

Baa Baa Black Sheep or Black Sheep Squadron is an exciting TV series about Pappy Boyington's VMF 214, a USMC fighter squadron of WWII vintage. The characters are likeable and Robert Conrad really fills the bill as Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, Medal of Honor winner and multiple ace in the Pacific. The aerial sequences are outstanding and the use of combat footage is skillful. I watch the show every opportunity I can get and enjoy the episodes that feature combat and not the ones where a black sheep is caught behind enemy lines