: For longtime fans, this episode is bittersweet. It marks the final appearances for two series staples: Lt. Robert Anderson (John Larroquette) and Lt. Thomas Joseph "T.J." Wylie (Robert Ginty).
: While the series often leans into the "misfit hero" trope, this episode highlights the gritty reality of the Solomon Islands campaign, where survival often depended on illicit trades and "requisitioning" supplies.
With standard military supply chains in a state of collapse, Pappy is desperate to keep his planes in the air. This desperation leads him right into a trap. Harpenger cons Pappy into a high-stakes trade: a cache of much-needed whiskey for airplane oil. It seems like a classic Black Sheep "horse trade" until the oil fails during combat, putting the pilots in immediate danger. [S2E6] Ten'll Get You Five
"Black Sheep Squadron" Ten'll Get You Five (TV Episode 1978)
The episode kicks off with the island being visited by a group of politicians on a fact-finding mission. While that sounds dry, the real trouble arrives in the form of the pilot flying them in— (played by Scott Colomby), a smooth-talking, top-tier black market operator. : For longtime fans, this episode is bittersweet
Whether you're here for the dogfights or the back-alley military politics, "Ten'll Get You Five" is a classic example of why Black Sheep Squadron remains a standout of 70s television—balancing high-stakes action with the witty, often cynical humor of men trying to win a war while fighting their own bureaucracy.
: Fans of Robert Conrad will note that he didn't just lead the squadron on-screen; he also stepped behind the camera to direct this particular episode. Cast Highlights Robert Conrad as Maj. Greg "Pappy" Boyington Scott Colomby as Sgt. Carlos Harpenger John Larroquette as Lt. Bob Anderson Robert Ginty as Lt. T.J. Wylie Dana Elcar as Col. Lard Thomas Joseph "T
The boys of VMF-214 are back at it, but this time the toughest fight isn't in the cockpit of a Corsair—it's on the ground, navigating the murky waters of wartime supply lines. In the sixth episode of Black Sheep Squadron ’s second season (originally aired January 18, 1978), Major Greg "Pappy" Boyington and his crew face a crisis that a Japanese Zero can’t solve: a severe military supply shortage.