Nightfighter: Radar Intercept Killer

by Mark Magruder

Overview

The true story of a legendary aviation commander. This biography of an American hero explores the intricacies of nightfighting during World War II and the specialized training involved. After a three-month crash course, Marion Milton Magruder, USMC, went on to lead the top scoring nightfighter squadron in the Pacific Theatre. Drawing upon primary sources, the author accurately captures the combat stories of Black Mac Magruder and his fellow nightfighters in breathtaking detail.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781455615315
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	02/07/2012
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.34(w) x 9.32(h) x 1.06(d)

About the Author

Mark A. Magruder was born the third of five sons to decorated war hero Col. Marion Milton Black Mac Magruder, USMC. He grew up listening to his father's war stories and spent his childhood living in exotic postings throughout the world. Magruder's assorted interests and careers range from visual arts, music, and poetry to marketing, mechanical/industrial design, and the restaurant industry. During his decade as a McDonald's franchise owner/operator, Magruder successfully devised several national marketing programs and later served as a franchise consultant. Magruder is a songwriter with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers and has recorded albums produced by Duane Eddy in Hollywood. He has written or co-produced more than thirty-four jingles for clients, including Ronald McDonald House and Exxon. Magruder has been a National Songwriters Association Finalist and was nominated for a CLIO award for his TV commercial Quiet Side of the Rockies. A multi-talented man, Magruder has paintings hanging in the Denver Art Museum and the New York Museum of Modern Art. His short stories, poetry, and articles have been published in Leatherneck Magazine, PHOENIX, UFO Magazine, and a number of off-road racing publications. A member of the Marine Night Fighters Association, Magruder lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Table of Contents

Note to the Reader about Nightfighter: Radar Intercept Killer 9

Introduction 11

Prologue 13

Chapter 1 Becoming a Marine 21

Chapter 2 First Posting 29

Chapter 3 Flight School 35

Chapter 4 VMF1 Fighter Squadron 55

Chapter 5 Preparing for War; WAR 79

Chapter 6 Night Fighting with the British 95

Chapter 7 VMF(N)533 is Formed 121

Chapter 8 Deployed to Eniwetok; Engebi 139

Okinawa Campaign

Chapter 9 Okinawa, Yontan Field 177

Chapter 10 "You Give Me Ten Days and I'll Show You" 189

Chapter 11 Black Macs Killers "Own" the Night 215

Chapter 12 Ie Shima, Charlie Field 253

Epilogue 285

Reference Sources 289

Index 299