***Borrowed from Black Sheep Aces
Aces of Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF) 214***
First Lieutenant Edwin L. Olander was a self-described "civilian soldier," who happily returned to civilian life in 1946. After training at Pensacola, he became a 'plowback' instructor before hooking up with the Black Sheep. He flew two combat tours with them and was credited with downing 5 enemy planes.
After getting credit for a couple probables in September, he got his first confirmed victory on Oct. 10, a flamer over Kahili.
Olander was a big fan of Boyington and respected his inspirational leadership. On Oct. 17th, Olander was chasing a Zero that had another Corsair right behind it. Unable to get a clear shot without risking hitting the friendly, Olander held his fire. When he reported this at base, Boyington chewed him out; he had been in the other Corsair, and wanted Olander to fire at the enemy regardless of the risk to himself. This reinforced Olander's dedication to Boyington's leadership. Perhaps he redeemed himself a little bit by shooting down a Zero the next day.
Olander also experienced the hazards of poor leadership on Dec. 28, when his division leader, J.C. Dustin, led his four planes into a gaggle of Zeros. The Japanese had the advantages of numbers, a sunward position, and altitude. But Dustin led his planes in speed-killing climb, right into the enemy's gunfire. Dustin and Red Bartl were killed, while Olander and Bruce Matheson escaped with heavily damaged airplanes. As Olander twisted away, one of the pursuing Zeros overran him, and he brought it down into the water.
He scored his fifth kill x dys later, on another fouled-up mission. Leading a division in support of some B-24 Liberators over Rabaul, weather prevented the Marine fighters from linking up with the bombers. The unescorted bombers took a beating, but Olander found a Zeke and flamed it, his fifth kill. He was an ace.
When Boyington and George Ashmun were shot down on Jan. 3, 1944, Olander was especially hard-hit by the loss of his close friend Ashmun.
Aces of Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF) 214***
First Lieutenant Edwin L. Olander was a self-described "civilian soldier," who happily returned to civilian life in 1946. After training at Pensacola, he became a 'plowback' instructor before hooking up with the Black Sheep. He flew two combat tours with them and was credited with downing 5 enemy planes.
After getting credit for a couple probables in September, he got his first confirmed victory on Oct. 10, a flamer over Kahili.
Olander was a big fan of Boyington and respected his inspirational leadership. On Oct. 17th, Olander was chasing a Zero that had another Corsair right behind it. Unable to get a clear shot without risking hitting the friendly, Olander held his fire. When he reported this at base, Boyington chewed him out; he had been in the other Corsair, and wanted Olander to fire at the enemy regardless of the risk to himself. This reinforced Olander's dedication to Boyington's leadership. Perhaps he redeemed himself a little bit by shooting down a Zero the next day.
Olander also experienced the hazards of poor leadership on Dec. 28, when his division leader, J.C. Dustin, led his four planes into a gaggle of Zeros. The Japanese had the advantages of numbers, a sunward position, and altitude. But Dustin led his planes in speed-killing climb, right into the enemy's gunfire. Dustin and Red Bartl were killed, while Olander and Bruce Matheson escaped with heavily damaged airplanes. As Olander twisted away, one of the pursuing Zeros overran him, and he brought it down into the water.
He scored his fifth kill x dys later, on another fouled-up mission. Leading a division in support of some B-24 Liberators over Rabaul, weather prevented the Marine fighters from linking up with the bombers. The unescorted bombers took a beating, but Olander found a Zeke and flamed it, his fifth kill. He was an ace.
When Boyington and George Ashmun were shot down on Jan. 3, 1944, Olander was especially hard-hit by the loss of his close friend Ashmun.
***Borrowed from Black Sheep Aces
Aces of Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF) 214***
First Lieutenant Edwin L. Olander was a self-described "civilian soldier," who happily returned to civilian life in 1946. After training at Pensacola, he became a 'plowback' instructor before hooking up with the Black Sheep. He flew two combat tours with them and was credited with downing 5 enemy planes.
After getting credit for a couple probables in September, he got his first confirmed victory on Oct. 10, a flamer over Kahili.
Olander was a big fan of Boyington and respected his inspirational leadership. On Oct. 17th, Olander was chasing a Zero that had another Corsair right behind it. Unable to get a clear shot without risking hitting the friendly, Olander held his fire. When he reported this at base, Boyington chewed him out; he had been in the other Corsair, and wanted Olander to fire at the enemy regardless of the risk to himself. This reinforced Olander's dedication to Boyington's leadership. Perhaps he redeemed himself a little bit by shooting down a Zero the next day.
Olander also experienced the hazards of poor leadership on Dec. 28, when his division leader, J.C. Dustin, led his four planes into a gaggle of Zeros. The Japanese had the advantages of numbers, a sunward position, and altitude. But Dustin led his planes in speed-killing climb, right into the enemy's gunfire. Dustin and Red Bartl were killed, while Olander and Bruce Matheson escaped with heavily damaged airplanes. As Olander twisted away, one of the pursuing Zeros overran him, and he brought it down into the water.
He scored his fifth kill x dys later, on another fouled-up mission. Leading a division in support of some B-24 Liberators over Rabaul, weather prevented the Marine fighters from linking up with the bombers. The unescorted bombers took a beating, but Olander found a Zeke and flamed it, his fifth kill. He was an ace.
When Boyington and George Ashmun were shot down on Jan. 3, 1944, Olander was especially hard-hit by the loss of his close friend Ashmun.
Aces of Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF) 214***
First Lieutenant Edwin L. Olander was a self-described "civilian soldier," who happily returned to civilian life in 1946. After training at Pensacola, he became a 'plowback' instructor before hooking up with the Black Sheep. He flew two combat tours with them and was credited with downing 5 enemy planes.
After getting credit for a couple probables in September, he got his first confirmed victory on Oct. 10, a flamer over Kahili.
Olander was a big fan of Boyington and respected his inspirational leadership. On Oct. 17th, Olander was chasing a Zero that had another Corsair right behind it. Unable to get a clear shot without risking hitting the friendly, Olander held his fire. When he reported this at base, Boyington chewed him out; he had been in the other Corsair, and wanted Olander to fire at the enemy regardless of the risk to himself. This reinforced Olander's dedication to Boyington's leadership. Perhaps he redeemed himself a little bit by shooting down a Zero the next day.
Olander also experienced the hazards of poor leadership on Dec. 28, when his division leader, J.C. Dustin, led his four planes into a gaggle of Zeros. The Japanese had the advantages of numbers, a sunward position, and altitude. But Dustin led his planes in speed-killing climb, right into the enemy's gunfire. Dustin and Red Bartl were killed, while Olander and Bruce Matheson escaped with heavily damaged airplanes. As Olander twisted away, one of the pursuing Zeros overran him, and he brought it down into the water.
He scored his fifth kill x dys later, on another fouled-up mission. Leading a division in support of some B-24 Liberators over Rabaul, weather prevented the Marine fighters from linking up with the bombers. The unescorted bombers took a beating, but Olander found a Zeke and flamed it, his fifth kill. He was an ace.
When Boyington and George Ashmun were shot down on Jan. 3, 1944, Olander was especially hard-hit by the loss of his close friend Ashmun.
