Black Sheep Squadron

Small War

Season 1, Episode 4, Aired 9/28/76

Episode Summary

TV Rated: Not Rated (most likely TV-PG or TV-14)

Major Boyington is shot down and lands on a Japanese held island where he meets up with an Australian sailor. Major Boyington discovers the Australian is willing to wait until the allies arrive, which presents Boyington with a conflict since he want to return to the fight.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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Joey Aresco

John David "Hutch" Hutchinson
James Whitmore Jr.

Capt. James "Jim" W. Gutterman
Robert Conrad

Maj. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington

Fan Episode Reviews (1)

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An old fashion action adventure with an hint of situational comedy makes Small War a good way to spend an hour.

9.2

"Superb"

By bmoshier, Jan 25, 2011 Report Abuse

Small War combines situational comedy with good old fashion action adventure.

Lt. T. Joseph "T.J." Wiley (played by Robert Ginty) downs Major Boyington (play by Robert Conrad) not once, but twice resulting in a comedy of errors so great they bring the viewer to cry and laugh.

By downing Major Boyington, the writers split the Black Sheep allowing them to continue the on-going 'destruction of the squadron' plot line. Back on the island we watch was the squadron first loses it moral and later brings itself together in order to go on without their Pappy. By the time the episode ends we can believe the squadron could survive with him.

Major Boyington works hard to return not just to save his Black Sheep but to return to the fighting. This character is the direct opposite of his companion on the island, an Australian Lt Hooper (played by future Star Trek Odo, Rene Auberjonois). The writers have a glorious time pitting Major Boyington against Lt. Hooper. Viewers can see how little by little Boyington can become anyone's Pappy.

Major Boyington is resourceful and with a little help at a strategic moment from Lt. Hooper, both of them get off the island only to face TJ again.

Philip DeGuere (the writer) certainly understands irony.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Goof: The Universal Newsreel copyright at the episode's beginning is 1939 (MCMXXXIX). This date is incorrect based upon the time frame of the series. VMF-214 under Major Boyington started flying in 1943. Edit
- TJ becomes a Japanese ace when he shots Pappy down not once, but twice. Edit
- Who needs a mae west (inflatable vest) when your darned plane FLOATS like a raft?!? Pappy and Hooper hop out of their floating Japanese plane, nonchalantly stand on the wing root, and point and wave at the Black Sheep flying overhead. Edit
Notes
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- When Pappy returns to squadron he sees Meatball. Meatball however runs past Pappy despite being called repeatedly. Pappy says "he didn't even miss me at all." Only problem with this is that Meatball is definitely a female. Edit
Quotes
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- Boyington: You know all that talk back there about you being a coward? Hooper: Clearing his throat I wonder if we could forget about that. Maybe? There's no use for something like that getting around, is there? Boyington: What's wrong with being a coward? It's guy who are afraid of being a coward that turn out to be heroes. They think they have something to prove. I'll tell ya. Guys like that make this war very dangerous. Hooper: Ha. Edit
- Boyington and Hooper are standing on the Japanese airplane, which is floating in the ocean. They are looking into the sky, while Boyington points into the sky. Boyington: That's my unit up there. Hooper: Ha! Small war, isn't it? Edit
- Capt. Gutterman: All right, only got one thing to say to you guys. Any man doesn't follow orders in the air, I'll flame him personally and that is a promise. I want every member of this squadron to come back with a kill or not come back at all. Edit
Allusions
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