Captain Marion Eugene Carl
Last Wartime rank:
Captain (Major General, USMC Ret.)
Unit(s):
VMF-221/MAG 23/1st MAW/SWPA
C.O. VMF-223/MAG 23/
1st MAW/SWPA
C.O. VMJ-1/Korea
C.O. 2nd MAW/Viet Nam
Theatre(s):PTO
Born:
November 1, 1915 at Hubbard, Oregon
Passed:
June 29, 1998 at Roseburg, Oregon
Education:
Graduated Oregon State University in 1938
with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering
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Victories:
18.5 Aerial Destroyed
3 Aerial Damaged
Sorties: N/A
Decorations:
Navy Cross with 2 Gold Stars
Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and 3 Gold Stars
Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 Gold Stars
Air Medal with 2 Silver Stars and 3 Gold Stars
Presidential Unit Citation with Bronze Star
American Defense Service Medal with Base Clasp
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Vietnam Service Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
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SERVICE:
Commissioned in the U.S. Army Reserve then re-commissioned as
2nd Lt., Naval Aviator on December 1, 1939. Assigned to VMF-221
at Midway Island on December 25, 1941. Awarded Navy Cross for
actions in defense of Midway Island, June 4, 1942. Assigned to
VMF-223 at Guadalcanal on August 20, 1942 and was awarded a second Navy
Cross, a Distinguished Flying Cross and 5 Air Medals
while with the "Cactus Air Force" flying from Henderson Field. While
the Marines fought at Bloody Ridge to defend Henderson Field, Carl
was shot down into the sea and swam against the tides until rescued
by island natives on Sept 9, 1942. With the help of a "Coast Watcher"
scout, Cpl. Eroni, Carl journeyed for 5 days to return to his squadron
on Sept. 14, 1942. Assumed command of VMF-223 on Jan. 26, 1943.
Returned with the unit to Midway in May 1943 and on to Vella Lavella
in November. During the assault on Rabaul, Carl scored two victories
while flying the F4U Corsair to bring his score to 18.5 confirmed.
After the war, Lt. Col. Carl was assigned to the Naval Air Test Center
at Patuxent River, Maryland. Awarded a fourth DFC for setting a new
world speed record of 650.6 mph in the Douglas D-558-1 "Skystreak" on
August 25, 1947 at Muroc Field (now Edwards AFB) just weeks before Chuck
Yeager would break the "sound barrier" in the Bell XS-1.
Assumed command of VMF-122, the United States Marine Corps'
first jet unit, flying McDonnell FH-1 Phantoms at MCAS Cherry Point,
North Carolina. Lt. Col. Carl set a world altitude record of 83,235 feet
on August 21, 1953. Received a fifth DFC for setting a world
speed record of 1143 mph on September 2, 1953 while flying the Douglas
D-558 "Skyrocket". Assigned to Korea and assumed command of VMJ-1 (photo-
recon) flying the McDonnell F2H-2P "Banshee" and received his 14th Air
Medal. Promoted to Colonel in October 1956.
Assumed command of MAG-33 at MCAS El Toro, California in August 1958.
Carl flew Lockheed U-2 missions over China. Entered the
Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama and upon
graduation, assigned to the Joint Staff Office, Joint Chiefs of Staff in
July 1959. In July 1961, assigned to the Division of Aviation,
HQ Marine Corps in July 1961 and served as Assistant Division
Director and Director of Aviation. In July 1962 became Assistant Deputy
Chief of Staff (Air). Became Chief of Staff of the 1st Marine Brigade in
July 1963. In January 1964, promoted to Brigadier General and became
Commanding General of the 1st Marine Brigade in Hawaii. Deployed with the
1st Brigade to Okinawa as Commanding General, Task Force 79 in February 1965.
Became Assistant Wing Commander of the 1st Marine Air Wing at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.
Promoted to Major General in August 1967. Became Commanding General of the 2nd Marine
Air Wing in August 1968, saw combat in Viet Nam and was awarded his first, with Combat "V",
of 4 Legion of Merit medals. Became Inspector General of the Marine Corps from
July 10, 1970 until his retirement from service on March 31, 1973.
QUOTE:
After having been shot down and then returned to his unit on
September 14, 1942, Carl reported to 1st Marine Air Wing commander,
Brig. General Roy S. Geiger, only to learn that his squadron's top ace
and C.O., future Medal of Honor recipient John L. Smith had expanded his
lead, in victories, over Carl - Geiger asked what should be done and Carl
responded,
"Goddammit, General, ground him for five days!"
NOTE:
All but two of Marion Carl's victories, scored in the F4U Corsair,
were achieved while flying the F4F-3 and F4F-4 Wildcats. Marion Carl is
known as the "Chuck Yeager of the Marine Corps", which is meant as
a tribute to both the well-known U.S.A.F. Brig. General Yeager and
U.S.M.C. Maj. General Carl for their respective exploits in air combat
and flight test.
At age 82, Maj. General Marion E. Carl, USMC Retired, was killed
instantly by a shotgun blast after his wife, Edna was wounded, while
both struggled to defend their own home from an intruder on June 29,
1998.
