On August 7, 1943, VMF-214 was formed with Greg Pappy Boyington and twenty-seven men at Espiritu Santo in the Western Pacific. In 1957 the squadron was re-designated as VMA-214 Black Sheep. In 1962 VMA-214 began to fly the A-4 Skyhawk until June 1989 when they received the AV-8B Harrier. VMA-214 was the first A-4 squadron to fly 30,000 accident-free hours as well as 6 years accident-free flying. Douglas A-4M Skyhawk II Bu. 160030 went to AMARC in December 1990.