Cmdr Mac McWhorter was born in Athens, Georgia to Hamilton McWhorter Jr. and Nettie Lou Peurifoy McWhorter. He married his wife Louise in 1943.
Cmdr McWhorter was a naval aviation cadet undergoing training when Pearl Harbor was attacked in December 1941. Within a few years he had become the first American Pilot to achieve "Ace" status flying a new airplane, the Hellcat. By May 12, 1945, he had shot down at least 12 Japanese planes and escaped danger of several occasions. He later co-authored the book, "The First Hellcat Ace," published in 2001. He was interviewed by the History Channel for a segment on dogfights.
With his wife they had five children, three of whom he taught to fly.
After retiring from the Navy, he became a flight instructor at Gillespie Field. He was proud that so many of his students became airline pilots.
He retired to El Cajon and became a gentleman farmer, tending avocado trees.
Besides his wife, he is survived by sons Donald of Lemon Grove, William of El Cajon, Hamilton IV of San Diego and Jon of San Diego: daughter Georgia Scheingross of Sand Diego and six grandchildren.
Source: San Diego News, online edition, Nov 1, 2008.
Cmdr McWhorter was a naval aviation cadet undergoing training when Pearl Harbor was attacked in December 1941. Within a few years he had become the first American Pilot to achieve "Ace" status flying a new airplane, the Hellcat. By May 12, 1945, he had shot down at least 12 Japanese planes and escaped danger of several occasions. He later co-authored the book, "The First Hellcat Ace," published in 2001. He was interviewed by the History Channel for a segment on dogfights.
With his wife they had five children, three of whom he taught to fly.
After retiring from the Navy, he became a flight instructor at Gillespie Field. He was proud that so many of his students became airline pilots.
He retired to El Cajon and became a gentleman farmer, tending avocado trees.
Besides his wife, he is survived by sons Donald of Lemon Grove, William of El Cajon, Hamilton IV of San Diego and Jon of San Diego: daughter Georgia Scheingross of Sand Diego and six grandchildren.
Source: San Diego News, online edition, Nov 1, 2008.
Cmdr Mac McWhorter was born in Athens, Georgia to Hamilton McWhorter Jr. and Nettie Lou Peurifoy McWhorter. He married his wife Louise in 1943.
Cmdr McWhorter was a naval aviation cadet undergoing training when Pearl Harbor was attacked in December 1941. Within a few years he had become the first American Pilot to achieve "Ace" status flying a new airplane, the Hellcat. By May 12, 1945, he had shot down at least 12 Japanese planes and escaped danger of several occasions. He later co-authored the book, "The First Hellcat Ace," published in 2001. He was interviewed by the History Channel for a segment on dogfights.
With his wife they had five children, three of whom he taught to fly.
After retiring from the Navy, he became a flight instructor at Gillespie Field. He was proud that so many of his students became airline pilots.
He retired to El Cajon and became a gentleman farmer, tending avocado trees.
Besides his wife, he is survived by sons Donald of Lemon Grove, William of El Cajon, Hamilton IV of San Diego and Jon of San Diego: daughter Georgia Scheingross of Sand Diego and six grandchildren.
Source: San Diego News, online edition, Nov 1, 2008.
Cmdr McWhorter was a naval aviation cadet undergoing training when Pearl Harbor was attacked in December 1941. Within a few years he had become the first American Pilot to achieve "Ace" status flying a new airplane, the Hellcat. By May 12, 1945, he had shot down at least 12 Japanese planes and escaped danger of several occasions. He later co-authored the book, "The First Hellcat Ace," published in 2001. He was interviewed by the History Channel for a segment on dogfights.
With his wife they had five children, three of whom he taught to fly.
After retiring from the Navy, he became a flight instructor at Gillespie Field. He was proud that so many of his students became airline pilots.
He retired to El Cajon and became a gentleman farmer, tending avocado trees.
Besides his wife, he is survived by sons Donald of Lemon Grove, William of El Cajon, Hamilton IV of San Diego and Jon of San Diego: daughter Georgia Scheingross of Sand Diego and six grandchildren.
Source: San Diego News, online edition, Nov 1, 2008.
