ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In 1946, from his college dorm typewriter, Dave MacArthur set out to record his World War II experiences, noting that to relate it all in detail would fill a small book, so I am going to cover the important facts.
Filling in the gaps between those facts, however, was possible only with the help of the many people below.
In July 2017, a mere six months after her husbands death, Sharon Kinne MacArthur welcomed me into her home to pore over Daves extensive collection of letters, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, interviews, government documents, photographs, flight logs, and other records. Over that week in Florida, and through the countless hours of telephone, text, and Face-Time conversations that followed, she shared delightful anecdotes and poignant memories of her husbands life, and put me in contact with others who did the same. It is because of Sharons joyful and tireless stewarding of Daves story that Lightning Sky exists.
Special thanks is also due to Captain John J. Shenton, Air Force Reserve and retired American Airlines pilot, who now flies World War IIera planes. Not only did he share personal remembrances of Dave, which added significantly to this story, but with an eagle eye he combed through the manuscript to ensure that my aircraft descriptions and flight sequences ring true. Any errors or oversights are mine alone.
Two records in Daves personal collection offered particularly valuable insight: John Quinns 1996 recorded audio interview, and Gwen Merricks 2008 profile of Dave, which became the basis of her paper entitled P-38s and Patriotism: A POWs Perspective.
Thanks, as well, to Peter Egeli for sharing his experiences with Dave; to Sharon, Bruce, Bayne, and Denise for reading early versions of the manuscript and offering constructive feedback; and to John B. Thomas III whose father, John Barney Thomas, named and piloted the P-38 Lightning (Joanne) in which Dave was shot down on October 6, 1944.
When the manuscript was early in its infancy, CW2 Christopher S. Young, U.S. Army, provided military-related information and useful guidance in contacting members of several different military associations, including the Eighth Armored Division Association, three members of which were especially helpful in gathering information on Vaughn MacArthur: David J. Clare, association historian, whose father, Sergeant Paul W. Clare, served in Company C of the divisions Fifty-eighth Armored Infantry Battalion; Vernon Miller, a ninety-five-year-old veteran who served with Chaplain MacArthur in World War II (Headquarters of the 130th Armored Ordnance Maintenance Battalion); and Andy Waskie, Jr., president of the Eighth Armored Division Association, whose father, First Lieutenant Andy Waskie, served as a senior medical officer (also Headquarters of the 130th Armored Ordnance Maintenance Battalion).
Much of my understanding of Vaughns service during the war is credited to Lyle Dorsett, who graciously directed me to the chaplain files held in Record Group 247 of the National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri, and whose excellent book Swerving God and Country: United States Military Chaplains in World War II exposed me to the triumphs and challenges many chaplains faced.
The staffs of several entities were especially helpful in securing records, tracking down obscure bits of information, and providing access to material not otherwise available: the staff of the National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; Catharine Giordano, supervisory archivist of the Stars and Stripes Library and Archives; Valeria Pendenza of LOsservatore Romano Archives; and Marco Grill, secretary of the Prefecture of the Vatican Secret Archives.
Special gratitude is reserved for my agent, Greg Johnson, president of WordServe Literary and longtime champion of the forgotten stories of World War II.
The extraordinary publishing team at Kensington has gone above and beyond in producing a book worthy of Daves story. I am especially indebted to president and CEO Steven Zacharius; vice president-general manager Adam Zacharius; vice president-publisher Lynn Cully; director of communications Vida Engstrand; copy chief Tracy Marx; assistant editor Norma Perez; copyeditor Brenda Horrigan; editor in chief of Citadel Michaela Hamilton, who arranged the first contact with Sharon MacArthur; creative director/trade Kristine Noble, who designed Lightning Skys beautiful cover; production director Joyce Kaplan; production editor Arthur Maisel; and my publicist, senior communications manager Ann Pryor.
I owe deepest thanks to Wendy McCurdy, my inestimable editor and a master of story craft, who first saw value in telling Daves story and who shepherded this project with skill, finesse, and patience edging on the infinite.
Only days after Daves death, Wendys brother, Jeffrey McCurdy, sent a photo of Daves obituary to his sister with the words, Somebody needs to write this story. For allowing me to be that somebody, and for entrusting me with so precious a narrative, I remain enormously grateful.
The MacArthur family, c. 1926. Vaughn (age 26), Dorothy (age 23), Dave (age 2), and Gene (infant).
From the personal collection of Charles R. MacArthur. Courtesy Carol Ansel .
The MacArthur family. Left to right: Gene (age 17), Vaughn (age 44), Dorothy (age 41), Dave (age 19), and Charlie (age 15) on the day of Daves graduation from flight training at Eagle Pass, Texas, March 12, 1944. Lieutenant Colonel Vaughn H. MacArthur delivered the graduation address.
From the personal collection of David W. MacArthur. Courtesy Sharon Kinne MacArthur .
Nineteen-year-old Dave with his Fairchild PT-19 at the Spartan School of Aeronautics, Muskogee, Oklahoma, fall 1943.
From the personal collection of David W. MacArthur. Courtesy Sharon Kinne MacArthur .
Nineteen-year-old Dave as an Army Air Corps cadet, February 1944, shortly before his graduation from flight training in Class 44-C at Eagle Pass, Texas.
From the personal collection of David W. MacArthur. Courtesy Sharon Kinne MacArthur.
Second Lieutenant David W. MacArthur receiving his wings from his father, Lieutenant Colonel Vaughn H. MacArthur, following Daves graduation from Eagle Pass, Texas, March 12, 1944.
From the personal collection of David W. MacArthur. Courtesy Sharon Kinne MacArthur .
Dave climbing out of the cockpit of his P-38 Lightning at Triolo Airfield, Foggia, Italy, September 1944.