Christopher Magee (fighter pilot): The True Crime Story and Key Facts
Christopher Magee (fighter pilot): United States Marine Corps aviator and journalist. The documented story, timeline and key facts of the case.
Christopher Lyman Magee was a United States Marine Corps aviator who became a fighter ace in World War II and was one of the more colorful members of the famous "Black Sheep" squadron, VMF-214. Known as a fearless and aggressive pilot he was credited with nine victories during the war. For his heroic actions in September and October 1943 during the Solomon Islands campaign he was awarded the Navy Cross. After the war, he dabbled in bootlegging, went to Israel and flew with the Haganah during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and later served 81⁄2 years in federal prison for bank robberies in the Chicago area. Upon his return from prison, he lived quietly on the North Side of Chicago working as a columnist and reporter for a community newspaper. He died of surgical complications while having stomach cancer tumors removed on December 27, 1995.
Why the case is remembered
The Christopher Magee (fighter pilot) story remains one of the most discussed entries in true-crime history, covered in documentaries, podcasts and books. The summary above follows the publicly documented record.
Text adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Facts reflect the documented public record.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Christopher Magee (fighter pilot)?
Christopher Lyman Magee was a United States Marine Corps aviator who became a fighter ace in World War II and was one of the more colorful members of the famous "Black Sheep" squadron, VMF-214. Known as a fearless and aggressive pilot he was credited with nine victories during th.
Why is the Christopher Magee (fighter pilot) case famous?
It is one of the most documented bank robber cases, widely covered by true-crime media.
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