Marion Milton “Black Mack” Magruder, USMC, was one of the first American pilots to learn the art of Airborne Radar Intercept Operations and maintenance. During World War II, Magruder and three other pilots were selected by Maj. Gen. R. J. Mitchell to learn the specialized techniques from England’s Royal Air Force. Pressed for time after the attack on Pearl Harbor, they finished a one-year program in an astonishing three months. This biography follows Magruder through his WWII military actions, highlighting his accomplishments as leader of the top-scoring Nightfighter Squadron in the Pacific Theatre.
Magruder trained an independent squadron of pilots just out of flight school. This unit continually achieved so-called “impossible” standards and cheated death on a nightly basis. Never-before-released information from Colonel Magruder’s private files, VMF(N)533 Squadron War Diaries, After Action Reports, and Secret Communiqués have been incorporated into this tale of military evolvement and American heroes.
About the Author
Mark A. Magruder is the third of five “devil pups” born to Col. Marion Milton Magruder, USMC. Because of his military upbringing, Magruder’s childhood was richly expanded by living in exotic postings across the world. He had the unique opportunity of being a “fly on the wall,” when the soldiers mentioned in this book would get together and recount their shared experiences in the privacy of his father’s home. With a wide range of talents, Magruder has been quite successful in the music, film, and arts industries, as well as writing and professional speaking.
NIGHTFIGHTER:
Radar Intercept Killer
By Mark A. Magruder
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Military
HISTORY / Military / World War II
HISTORY / Military / Aviation
288 pp. 6 x 9
70 photos 3 maps Biblio. Index
ISBN: 9781455615315