Marion E Carl

[Vulture6]

MARION E CARL
MAJOR GENERAL, USMC


Major General Marion E. Carl, the Marine Corps' first air ace who downed 10 enemy aircraft during the battle for Guadalcanal, was twice awarded the Navy Cross, and who finished World War II with 18 kills to his credit, was killed 28 June 1998 during a robbery at his home in Roseburg, Oregon.

Born 1 November 1915, in Hubbard, Oregon, he graduated with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon State College in 1938. A member of the ROTC unit while attending college, he resigned an Army Reserve commission to accept appointment as a Marine aviation cadet in August 1938, and was designated a Naval aviator with the rank of second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on 1 December 1939.

As a section leader in a Marine fighter squadron during the Battle of Midway, he earned the Navy Cross while leading an attack against a vastly superior number of Japanese bomber and fighter planes. Later, in the fight for Guadalcanal, he earned a second Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism in aerial combat as a pilot in VMF-223, and became the first Marine Corps ace on 26 August 1942.

In an aerial fight off the coast of Guadalcanal, he had to bail out of his shot-up Wildcat and was losing his battle to swim ashore against the tide when he was picked up by friendly natives in a canoe. After 5 days with the natives, he finally made his way back to his base. He returned to the United States on 21 October 1942, and was promoted to major the following May.

In July 1943 Major Carl left San Francisco on his second tour of overseas duty, which took him through the Hawaiian Islands to New Hebrides, Vella Lavella in the Solomons, Guadalcanal, and Emirau. In November 1944 he returned from the Pacific area, having earned a total of three Distinguished Flying Crosses and thirteen Air Medals. Following his return to the United States, he was assigned duty with Flight Test, Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland. It was on V-J Day, 14 August 1945 that he received his promotion to lieutenant colonel.

As a test pilot assigned to the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, following the war, he made some of the first carrier landings and take-offs with an F-80 Shooting Star Jet; became the first Marine helicopter pilot; and earned a fourth Distinguished Flying Cross setting a world's speed record in the Douglas Skystreak in 1947. He later commanded the Marine Corps' first jet fighter outfit, VMF-122, at Cherry Point, North Carolina, and formed the first jet aerobatic team.

From 1949-52, he commanded the Carrier Section of Flight Test at Patuxent River, and became the first Marine aviator to receive the Octave Chanute Award for "notable contribution to the aeronautical sciences." In 1953, while testing a new Navy high altitude pressure suit, he set an unofficial world's altitude record in the Navy's rocket-powered Douglas Skyrocket aircraft, earning a fifth Distinguished Flying Cross.

After serving as Operations Officer of the Air Station in Quantico, Virginia, he subsequently completed the Senior Course in 1954, then performed temporary duty at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nevada. Ordered to Korea in November 1954, he commanded a Marine photographic squadron with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force. In June 1955 he moved with his squadron from Korea to Japan, and was assigned as Operations Officer and Executive Officer, respectively, of Marine Aircraft Group 11, until December 1955.

Following instruction in the Naval Aviation Safety Officers Course at the University of Southern California, he was named Wing Aviation Safety Officer, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, California, in May 1956. Remaining at El Toro, he was given command of Marine Aircraft Group 33 in October 1956, following his promotion to colonel that same month. He also served as the 3d Wing's Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, prior to his detachment in June 1958.

That August Colonel Carl entered the Air War College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama. Upon graduation he was assigned to July 1959 to the Joint Staff, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Following this assignment, he joined the Division of Aviation at Headquarters Marine Corps in July 1961 and served, consecutively, as Assistant Division Director, Director of Aviation, and in July 1962 became Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff (Air).

In July 1963 he departed Washington, D.C. for Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, serving as Chief of Staff, 1st Marine Brigade, until January 1964, when he was promoted to brigadier general and named Commanding General of the Brigade.

Following the transfer of elements of the 3d Marine Division from Okinawa to Vietnam in February 1965, units of the 1st Brigade were deployed from Hawaii to Okinawa where Brigadier General Carl was designated Commanding General, Task Force 79. In June 1965 he was transferred to Iwakuni, Japan, where he assumed duty as Assistant Wing Commander, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The Legion of Merit with Combat "V" was awarded him for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the Marine Brigade and as Assistant Wing Commander, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from March 1965 to April 1966.

Upon his return to the United States in May 1966, he became Commanding General, Marine Corps Air Bases, Eastern Area and of the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, and earned a second award of the Legion of Merit. Major General Carl earned a gold star in lieu of a third Legion of Merit for service as Commanding General, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, from August 1968 to June 1970. While stationed at Cherry Point, he was promoted to major general in August 1967.

Major General Carl's last duty assignment was as Inspector General of the Marine Corps at Headquarters Marine Corps from 10 July 1970 until 31 May 1973. For outstanding performance of duty during this tour, he was awarded a gold star in lieu of a fourth award of the Legion of Merit. He was placed on the retired list on 1 June 1973, completing over 35 years of active service.

A complete list of the general's medals and decorations include: the Navy Cross with gold star in lieu of a second Navy Cross; the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and gold stars in lieu of second through fourth awards; the Distinguished Flying Cross with four gold stars in lieu of second through fourth awards; the Air Medal with two silver stars and three gold stars in lieu of second through fourteenth awards; the Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze star; the American Defense Service Medal with Base Clasp; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze stars; the American Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star; the Vietnam Service Medal; and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

[Vulture6]

Marion E. Carl: A pioneering spirit of Marine aviation

Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification #: 2005721114630
Story by Cpl. Paul Leicht




MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (July 14, 2005) -- Struggling to defend his Roseburg, Ore., home from an intruder during an attempted robbery June 29, 1998, the Marine Corps' first combat fighter ace was killed after suffering a shotgun blast to the head. His wife was also wounded during the violent altercation, according to contemporary news accounts.

It proved a tragic fate for a legendary hero of Marine aviation. Even as his loss was felt around the Corps, his life's accomplishments were celebrated.

In tribute to his exploits as a fighter pilot, retired Maj. Gen. Marion Eugene Carl was known as the 'Chuck Yeager of the Marine Corps', in honor of both his own spirit and that of the now infamous Air Force ace and test pilot.

His life began November 1, 1915, in Hubbard, Ore. Growing up in his native state, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in aeronautical engineering from Oregon State University in 1938.

During his 34-year career as a Naval aviator that began with a commission December 1, 1939, Carl became the Corps' first qualified helicopter pilot, the second American pilot to land a jet on a ship, a world record holder for both the fastest speed and highest altitude achieved in jet-powered flight, and logged more than 13,000 flight hours before his retirement in 1973.

As a Marine and a fighter pilot, he was highly respected by his peers and was considered to be "one of the three finest Naval aviators of the World War II generation," according to retired Navy Rear Adm. James D. Ramage, another leader in Naval aviation in World War II.

Carl's air combat record is exemplary. He was awarded the Navy Cross for actions during the defense of Midway Island in June 1942. Later, flying almost daily combat with Marine Fighter Squadron 223 and the 'Cactus Air Force' from Henderson Field at Guadalcanal, he earned a second Navy Cross, a Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals. He emerged battle-tested with 18-and-a-half Japanese kills from the cockpit of his F4F-4 Wildcat and then an F4U Corsair.

After the war ended in 1945, he entered the Navy's test pilot school and graduated first in his class. It was later during his command of the Corps' first jet squadron that he set a world speed record of 650 miles-per-hour in 1947. Only two months later, Air Force Capt. Chuck Yeager broke the record in the Bell X-1.

But Carl continued to make his mark by leading the way.

In August 1953, Carl, then a lieutenant colonel, set two more records in a jet soaring to 83,225 feet and a speed of 1,143 miles-per-hour later in September 1953.

Always at home in the cockpit, in the 1960's he joined the Division of Aviation at Headquarters Marine Corps before flying a variety of aircraft, including UH-1s, A-4s, F-4s and F-8s, as a brigade commander and assistant wing commander during combat missions in Vietnam.

Near the end of his career, he was promoted to major general in 1967 and served as commanding officer for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. before finishing his career as Inspector General of the Marine Corps.

The Naval Institute Press published Carl's autobiography, "Pushing the Envelope," in 1994. The book not only reveals his honor, courage and commitment, but sheds light on his leadership style and modest character.

As a leader, Carl knew how to take care of his Marines. He believed, "you take care of your people and they will take care of you," according to his autobiography.

His achievements as fighter pilot and a Marine, as retold in historical accounts, will always outshine and eclipse the unexpected and lamentable manner of his death.

Many military heroes and fellow Marines, including close friend and former Marine fighter pilot Sen. John Glenn, attended his funeral. Carl was laid to rest in Section 66 at Arlington National Cemetery July 9, 1998, but his inspirational legacy endures each time a Marine pilot straps in to an aircraft, even to this day.