Ace! A Marine Night-Fighter Pilot in World War II

by R. Bruce Porter, Eric Hammel

ACE!
A Marine Night-Fighter Pilot in World War II

by Colonel R. Bruce Porter with Eric Hammel

"My first time at the controls of the N3N was a nightmare of jerky, uncoordinated movements, over-corrections, needless exertions, and red-faced certainty that I did not, in fact, have the right stuff. The instructor calmly got me—and himself—out of trouble and never uttered a sound of dismay. Until we were safely on the ground. Then he looked at me—a wet rag, sweating fear and embarrassment into my bulky flight suit—and said just the thing to make my day: 'Porter, you will never solo. You are the dumbest cadet I have ever laid eyes on.'"

Ace! is Bruce Porter's life as a Marine combat fighter pilot—from his earliest days as a naval aviation cadet before World War II, to his adventures guarding America’s forwardmost defense line in the South Pacific, to his aerial combat over the Solomons. Follow Bruce Porter through his exacting night-fighter training and fly with him on his rare double-kill night mission over Okinawa in 1945.

Colonel Robert Bruce Porter, USMCR (Ret) reported for his Last Flight on April 20, 2009.

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“From flight training, Bruce Porter’s aeronautical skills as a Marine day- and night-fighter pilot defined the term—fighter ace! Bruce’s book reflects the keen, analytical mind of a fighter pilot’s technical skills projected into combat. This book is a ‘must’ for anyone interested in combat aviation history.” ———Col Jeff De Blanc, Marine Medal of Honor recipient

“[In his book], Bruce relives the challenges, frustrations, and triumphs of training, on to his victories in the Corsair in the Solomons, and then on to attain ace status with a flourish at Okinawa. Read and enjoy a fabulous Marine aviation combat story.” ———BriGen Joe Foss, Marine Medal of Honor recipient

“Bruce Porter’s book is great! It shows the many details and answers many questions about operating from an aircraft carrier. . . . It explains why, even without enemy action, steady operations under poor conditions will cost us pilots and aircraft. . . . I highly recommend Ace!” ———BriGen Bob Galer, Marine Medal of Honor recipient

“You have to read this excellent book. It will keep you glued to the pages as you sit in the cockpit with Bruce. . . . It is very well written and personal.” ———Col Jim Swett, Marine Medal of Honor recipient

“Bruce Porter’s book, Ace!, tells of our flying Wildcats together before Pearl Harbor, about his Corsair victories in the Solomon Islands, and his splendid night flying from Okinawa. I highly recommend Ace!” ———LtCol Ken Walsh, Marine Medal of Honor recipient

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military History, World War II, War

279 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Relstuart]

A well written memoir by a Marine pilot. It was written long enough later that his is pretty honest about some things he might have felt he needed to hold back had he written right after the war. Survivors guilt and some of the wild partying that was common.

A humorous story from this book: It was during the so called slack period (on Banika island in the Solomons) that Captain Bob Baker and I managed to swipe a box of two ounce medicinal purpose brandy from the group sick bay. We were feeling no pain by the time we decided to shower before going to evening chow.
We were lathered up and just starting to rinse off when two old geezers with towels wrapped around their middles clomped in. They hung their towels up and isolated themselves at the far end of the line showers, all the way down the row from Baker and me.
The two freely used their soap and rinsed off for an incredibly long period of time, despite the fact that they were standing beside a prominent sign reading "CONSERVE WATER! USE ONLY TO RINSE THE SOAP OFF."
The constant noise of running water and the low muttering of old voices that accompanied it finally got under Baker's skin. He suddenly turned and yelled at the two geezers, "Hey, Sawtooth and Pinhead! Can't you read?" He pointed ominously at the sign.
The two old men wordlessly turned and pondered the message, then they meekly turned off the water, collected their towels and hobbled out of our sight.
Baker felt like a million bucks.
Next morning , Baker and I were in the squadron mess hall, easing coffee into our system to counteract the alcohol poisoning we had acquired all thru the previous afternoon and evening. The hubbub of the cavernous Quonset hut was suddenly broken by a call to attention. Everyone mindless rose to obey. The screen door flew open and in strode Sawtooth and Pinhead. Each was turned out in a freshly starched kaki uniform. Each sported a wide smile on his face. On their shirt collars were lots of shiny stars. Sawtooth had three, and Pinhead had two. They both looked freshly showered.
Baker groaned out loud and I just turned improbable colors and strangled on my heart as Pinhead and Sawtooth strode straight forward to join our skipper at the command table.
Lieutenant General Alexander Vandegrift had commanded the 1st Marine Division in the Guadalcanal and had run the ground war there for four months until his Marines were relieved. He was the senior ranking Marine officer in the Pacific and it was common knowledge that he was slated to become the next Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Major General Roy Geiger was the senior aviator on active duty in the Marine Corps. He commanded the Marine Aircraft wing during the dark days on Guadalcanal and was slated to become Vandgrift's successor as the corps commander at the end of the year, an unprecedented assignment for an aviator.
The two generals had arrived late the previous afternoon to inspect the Marine's newest and most advanced operational base and to overnight with VMF-121 (Porter's squadron). They arrived with so little fanfare that most of us never got the word.
A year later, Baker was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station at Goleta, near Santa Barbara, California. One day he spotted a notice that General Vandegrift, by then a four star general and Commandant of the Marine Corps, was due to arrive to conduct an official inspection. During the general's tour of the base, Baker was standing at attention with a large group of other pilots in front of the squadron offices. Vandegrift stopped right in front of him, looked him square in the eye, and asked, "Captain, do you have enough water here?" Baker didn't bat an eye when he barked, "Yes Sir!" at the Commandant, who moved on up the line without saying another word.

[Kenneth Flusche]

The War Stories of Bruce Porter: The Bait Night-Fighter: The Hook Corsairs: An EZ to read Memory of 1940 to 1945. Living History Yes. Real History not really as it is only a tiny slice of one young man's adventure in the reality of war. Thank You Bruce for letting me into your World.

[Chris Tschirhart]

Adequate Story but not all that well written.

[Lew]

This is basically Bruce Porter's story of his WWII experience as a Marine fighter pilot. The title is bit of a stretch as Mr. Porter did not become a night fighter until the last year of the war and saw his only night action over Okinawa. This takes nothing away from a very good account of a Marine pilot during all of WWII. Mr. Porter did not see much combat action but made the most of his encounters to become a fighter ace. As an avid WWII reader, I thought Mr. Porter gave a unique insight into being a Marine fighter pilot. Also, Mr. Porter writing is very easy reading and I found a connection to him.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Here is the story of Bruce Porter’s experiences during World War II and in his obtaining the coveted title of Ace. In this entertaining book you get a glimpse of how it feels to be at deployments to combat areas and non active combat areas. You feel the frustration when Bruce Porter’s station is bypassed and younger pilots get to go on and fight when he is stuck holding the line in an inactive sector.

-Dan H.-

[Barbara]

Better than most self-published books. Straight-forward story of a young man become an ace Marine pilot.