VMF(N) 533

by Mark A. Magruder

Commissioned October 1, 1943 as part of MAG 53, MCAS Cherry Point, N.C., Third Marine Aircraft Wing. Major Marion M. Magruder, CO, Captain H. Hutchinson Jr., XO. Magruder and Hutchinson had just returned from England along with four other Officers and five NCO's from three months of intense training with the RAF to learn as much as possible about Night Fighting Techniques from the British. Major Magruder was tasked with developing the Naval Night Fighting Doctrine for a single pilot, single engined fighter capable of operating from a carrier that could be quickly adapted from the existing US fighter inventory-as the Navy was in desperate need of effective night fighting capabilities in the Pacific.

It was not until December 1, 1943 that 533 received enough personnel to operate as an independent unit. Magruder had hoped to receive experienced pilots due to the highly specialized nature of Night Fighting but none were available. The Squadron had to begin with pilots fresh out of operational training, which added to the daunting task at hand. VMF(N) 533 was the first Squadron to receive the F6F 3(N) Hellcats. Magruder's doctrine dictated that a night fighter squadron should be configured to operate as a stand-alone unit so that it could be quickly deployed to the rapidly changing combat arenas when most needed-at the beginning of hostilities. VMF(N) 533 was totally self contained; all they required was a runway to operate from. Maj. Magruder was promoted to Lt. Col. in January 1944.

After an arduous training program the Squadron deployed to Eniwetok Island on May 6, 1944. VMF(N) 533 relieved VMF(N) 532. The Squadron continued it's rigorous training schedule while conducting the night defense of the area. On July 6, 1944 the Squadron also set up a contingent on Roi Island, Kwajalein Atoll, for their night defense. On November 30, 1944 the squadron moved operations over to Engebi.

May 7, 1945, on three days notice, VMF(N) 533 was ordered to deploy to Okinawa with a skeleton crew and very few spare parts, to fly aboard five R5C transports along with the Squadron's fifteen hellcats-all flying into combat. The 2500-mile journey with two stops is the longest over water flight by single engine fighters in WWII. (The remainder of the squadron personnel and equipment followed by sea on LCT's, several weeks later)

Arriving on May 10, 1945 at Yontan Field, the Squadron was operational in 36 hours, adding to the units already in the area. The 'Scrappers' (call sign of 533) were responsible for two shifts of six aircraft for every night, until the schedule changed slightly on June 19 with one night in four on standby and one night sending up 2 six plane 'offensive night combat attack missions'. 'Black Mac's Killers' never fell short on meeting its operational commitments! They also covered shortfalls in defensive aircraft that other night fighter squadrons were unable to launch. On one occasion VMF(N) 533 sent up a total of 17 fighters in a single night. This is a remarkable achievement as the Squadron only had 15 fighters, total, and they were operating with minimal personnel.

On June 15, 1945 the Squadron moved operations from Yontan to Charlie airstrip, Ie Shima. The original 30 officers and 60 enlisted men that had been operating the Squadron, now joined the rest of the Squadron personnel that had been busy setting up 533's new location since their arrival on May 30. This made operations much easier for the unit for the remainder of the conflict.

In spite of the fact that 'Black Mac's Killers' arrived forty days after the Okinawa campaign began, and the weather was horrendous throughout, they shot down 35 enemy aircraft-all radar intercepts, which is almost as many aircraft destroyed as all 3 other night fighter squadrons on Okinawa, combined! VMF(N) 533 is the top scoring Night Fighter Squadron of the Pacific Theater in WWII. VMF(N) 533 had the best safety record and the highest combat ready rate for any operational squadron in the Pacific. In 15 months deployment overseas the 'Scrappers' logged nearly 11,000 flight hours with only two regrettable losses, both due to 'friendly' fire, 1st Lt.'s Wilhide and Kelley.

Captain Robert Baird of VMF(N) 533 is the only US Night Fighter Ace of WWII with 6 Night Kills. 1st Lt.'s Dellamano, Hemstad and Wellwood had 3 each and Le Faivre and Smurr had 2 each. Eighteen 'Scrappers' had at least one Night Kill, including Black Mac, the CO. Among the many commendations and citations earned by the Squadron, VMF(N) 533 was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for this action, and the legacy of 'Black Mac's Killers' still lives on today as VMFA (AW) 533.

The story of Col. Marion M.(Black Mac) Magruder and VMF(N) 533, 'Black Mac's Killers', is chronicled in the book, 'Nightfighter©', soon to be released.

The Black Sheep: The Definitive Account of VMF-214 in World War II, by Bruce Gamble The story of VMF-214, in all three of its incarnations: the Swashbucklers in early 1943, Boyington's 'Black Sheep', and the carrier-based unit in 1944-45. The book provides a more balanced, accurate story of those events than Boyington's self-serving Baa Baa Black Sheep. In particular, the author describes the role played by all the members of the squadron, not just the famous 'Pappy'. As needed, Gamble also takes pains to contrast certain facts with Boyington's version of them. Of particular poignancy was the story of Bob Alexander, mistakenly attacking a PT boat, getting shot down by its crew, and the Black Sheep's later efforts to find his remains. Buy 'The Black Sheep' at Amazon.com

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