Black Sheep Squadron Nurses Cast

After his box office failure with The Wild Wild West, Robert Conrad returned to military dramas as Black Sheep Squadron on Wednesdays, where it competed against Charlie’s Angels for ratings success. To woo female viewers away from Charlie’s Angels’ more outrageous antics, producers added attractive nurses dubbed Pappy’s Lambs into Black Sheep Squadron — including Nancy Gilmore played by Robert’s daughter Nancy Conrad herself!

This story was loosely inspired by Major Greg “Pappy” Boyington’s real life squadron of Marine fighter pilots that battled Japanese forces during World War II over the Solomon Islands, though as with other dramas of that era it featured both facts and fiction; while some Corsair pilots were real; however, other characters, especially cute nurses from the show bore little relation to reality.

Black Sheep Squadron did not shy away from exploring some of the emotional struggles its pilots were going through, such as Gutterman experiencing a deep crisis of confidence about his flying abilities and fearing that once his flying wasn’t top notch anymore he’d be abandoned by his friends; and Casey, an outcast who struggled with trying to prove his worth and gain acceptance amongst his group mates.

While most Sheeps were reckless and arrogant, there were still those with integrity within the group who demonstrated decency. A Navy doctor was often called upon by them for medical assistance when injured pilots needed their services as well as providing valuable moral support that often came in handy.

Even though they were an unlikely group of fighter pilots, it is undeniable that the Black Sheeps were highly skilled fighter pilots who proved a formidable opponent to Japan’s air force. Their superiors wanted them out of action quickly; thus organizing an unauthorized attack against a Japanese radar station hoping for good publicity; this action led Pappy facing court martial; however fortunately a sympathetic judge eventually cleared him from all charges against him.