Black Sheep Squadron 2026

A Solitaire Game of U.S. Marine Corsair Pilots in the Solomons, 1943–44

Black Sheep Squadron puts you in command of VMF-214, Pappy Boyington’s legendary U.S. Marine Corsair unit, during the fierce air battles over the Solomon Islands. As the squadron’s commanding officer, you’ll plan missions, manage pilots and aircraft, and lead daily sorties against Japanese forces from Vella Lavella to Rabaul.

The game combines strategic squadron management with abstract air combat on a Battle Board that resolves dogfights without complex maneuver plotting. Each six-week campaign represents one historical combat tour, complete with fatigue, pilot status, and maintenance pressures that mirror the brutal pace of the Pacific air war.

You’ll assign pilots, brief missions, launch flights, and face encounters with Japanese Zeros. Between missions, you will handle pilot wounds and fatigue as well as aircraft repairs. Pilots that are shot down could be rescued by PBYs or submarines, or they could be lost forever.

Designed for solitaire play, Black Sheep Squadron features a robust Japanese AI system that controls enemy aircraft interceptions and combat on the Battle Board. The result is an immersive narrative experience that captures the grit, courage, and camaraderie of Marine aviators flying from dusty island strips into the heart of enemy skies.

—description from the designer