Lost Black Sheep: The Search for WWII Ace Chris Magee

by Robert T. Reed, Constance C. Dickinson

Lost Black Sheep chronicles the wartime exploits of Marine Corps ace Chris Magee, former member of the famous Black Sheep Squadron, his improbable postwar odyssey, and the surprising developments of his later years. Magee was the leading ace under the Black Sheep’s flamboyant leader, Major Greg “Pappy” Boyington. A free-spirited intellectual with the heart of a warrior and the soul of a poet, Magee grew up on Chicago’s rambunctious South Side dreaming of the day when he could fly fighter planes into combat. His dream came true when, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he transferred from the Royal Canadian Air Force to the U.S. Marine Corps and received training as a fighter pilot. He was sent to the South Pacific where his bravery and piloting skills earned him the Navy Cross and the title of “Ace.” When the war ended, Magee refused to pursue a conventional lifestyle or take advantage of the fame that awaited him back home, choosing instead to seek new adventures. During the next twelve years he walked the razor’s black marketeer, bootlegger, volunteer fighter pilot for the fledgling nation of Israel, courier for a covert group of U.S. “businessmen” involved in Latin American politics, and, eventually, bank robber. Then, one day, Magee found an envelope slipped under his front door with a note inside that ultimately changed his life, causing him to revisit parts of his past he thought were forever forgotten.

254 pages, Hardcover

First published June 22, 2001

Reviews

[KOMET · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sheds light on the enigmatic life of Chris Magee (1917-1995), who besides being a Marine Corps fighter ace in Gregory 'Pappy' Boyington's Black Sheep Squadron in the South Pacific during World War II, lived a life that was at times, off the beaten track, veiled in mystery. For instance, in addition to his wartime service, during which he was awarded the Navy Cross for bravery against superior Japanese forces in aerial combat, Magee later volunteered to serve in the nascent Israeli Air Force as a fighter pilot during the Israeli War of Independence in 1948. He was truly a man who danced to the beat of a different drummer, embodying Thoreau's saying "Let him step to the music that he hears, however measured or far away."

[Jim B · Rating 4 out of 5]

When most people think about VMF-214, aka "The Black Sheep," they remember either Pappy Boyington or the fictional characters from the 1970s TV show. Few know that a member of VMF-214 was not only an ace, but his life was probably more interesting than the fiction they remember with nostalgia. His name was Chris Magee.

Robert T. Reed's book, Lost Black Sheep: The Search of WWII Ace Chris Magee, is written in two parts; the first, a biography of Mr. Magee, the second, a search for Mr. Reed's roots, and the two turn out to have significant crossover. Chris Magee grew up in Chicago and, as a young man, tried to get to Europe to become a fighter pilot in World War II. He failed at first, but did end up training in Canada with the RCAF. After graduating with his wings from the RCAF he joined the United States Marine Corps and became the second highest scoring ace with the Black Sheep. Mr. Magee was not the typical fighter pilot as portrayed on screen. He was a deeply intellectual man, who was a voracious reader and a great writer. Several of his letters are included in the book and they are well written, observant, and quite amusing at times. Post-war, Mr. Magee continued flying as a mercenary with Israel, later became a bank robber and then spent some time as a guest of the Federal Government. After paying his debt to society, he dropped off the face of the earth.

The second section of the book is more personal for Mr. Reed. He discovered that the man he grew up calling "Dad" was not his biological father; it was actually Mr. Magee. Robert tracked down Mr. Magee and set out to establish a relationship. What does an ace, robber, and mercenary do in old age? Apparently, settle down to a life in a small apartment outside of Chicago to continue his intellectual quests, spending most of his time with his nose in a book. The story continues as Mr. Reed becomes acquainted with his father and reintroduces Chris to both his fellow Black Sheep and Mr. Magee's remaining estranged family members.

Lost Black Sheep is quite interesting and enjoyable. After finishing it, I longed for more insight into what made Mr. Magee tick. Clearly he was far from the stereotypical fighter pilot and certainly no two dimensional underscripted TV character.