COLONEL EDWIN A. HARPER - COLLECTION WITH EDWIN L. OLANDER, LT. COLONEL THOMAS EMRICH, GLEN BOWERS, GENERAL BRUCE J. MATHESON - HFSID 269473

BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON: ED OLANDER, BRUCE J. MATHESON, EDWIN "ED" HARPER, TOM EMRICH, GLEN BOWERS
This fantastic set of items is signed by five pilots with the legendary WWII Black Sheep Squadron, including ace Ed Olander. The set includes a b/w photo of the squadron standing on the wings of a F4U Corsair fighter plane.
Cards signed "Ed Olander/Pilot with/Boyington's Black Sheep Squadron", "Tom Emrich/VMF-214/Black Sheep Sqd./F4U-1 USMCR", "Glen L Bowers/VMF214 Blacksheep" and "Bruce J Matheson/colonel - U. S. Marine Corps - Retired/Original Member/VMF 214/'The Black Sheep'/1943-1944" and photograph signed "Ed Harper", all in blue and black ink. Four 4 ½ x 2 ½ (visible)cards and one 8¾x6¾ b/w photo, matted 23 ¾ x 11 ¾ in a white-and-green matte. The "Black Sheep Squadron", the second of three marine fighter teams to bear the designation VMF-214, fought over the Northern Solomon Islands and Rabaul from August of 1943 until January of 1944, under the command of Colonel Greg "Pappy" Boyington. Performing escort, patrol and interception missions, they downed 94 Japanese planes, with 9 pilots earning "ace" status (including Olander, who downed 5 enemy aircraft). Their feats, already documented in several books, were further celebrated in the TV series Black Sheep Squadron (1976-1978). OLANDER (1917-2008, born Edwin L. Olander in Northampton, Massachusetts) returned to civilian life after the war and served two terms as Northampton's mayor. Brigadier General MATHESON (1921-2009, born in Chicago, Illinois), had three victories and 1.5 probables. Colonel HARPER, born Edwin A. Harper in Bassano, Alberta, Canada in 1920, was credited with one kill and two probables. He was wounded in action on October 17, 1943. Lieutenant Colonel EMRICH, born W. Thomas Emrich in Mt. Pulaski, Illinois in 1921, shot two enemy planes. Lightly toned. Light impressions on Matheson's card (does not touch signature). Otherwise in fine condition.