Lonnie Ortega Aviation Art

Print Size 8½” x 11” ----- Open Edition

Captain Marion E. Carl

VMF-221/VMF-223 ~ PTO

(18.50 victories)

Marion Eugene Carl graduated from college in 1938 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve. He soon resigned this commission to accept an appointment as an Aviation Cadet, United States Navy, and entered flight school at Pensacola, Florida. Completing flight training in 1939, he was commissioned a second lieutenant, United States Marine Corps, and assigned as a fighter pilot aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3). In early 1942, Carl’s squadron, VMF-221, was based at Midway Atoll. He fought at the Battle of Midway and shot down his first enemy airplane, a Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter. Lieutenant Carl was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions in that decisive battle. Marion Carl was next assigned to VMF-223 under the command of Captain John L. Smith. The Marine fighter squadron was the first air unit to arrive at Henderson Field on the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomons. This was a critical airfield, originally built by the Japanese military but occupied by Allied forces. By the end of 1943 his total was 18½, making the seventh highest-scoring Marine fighter pilot of World War II. After the War Marion Carl trained as a test pilot at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, testing jet aircraft on aircraft carriers and was the first Marine pilot to fly a helicopter. He commanded the Marine’s first jet squadron, VMF-122. At Muroc Army Air Field (now Edwards Air Force Base) he tested the Douglas D-558-I Skystreak and D-558-II Skyrocket, setting world records for speed and altitude. By 1962 Colonel Carl was Director of Marine Corps Aviation. As a brigadier general, he commanded the First Marine Brigade during the Vietnam War and flew combat missions in jet fighters and helicopter gun ships.

Promoted to Major General, Carl commanded the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, then served as Inspector General of the Marine Corps. When he retired in 1973, General Carl had accumulated more that 13,000 flight hours.

Tragically, Major General Marion E. Carl, United States Marine Corps (Retired), was murdered in 1998, as he defended his wife, Edna during a home-invasion robbery. Mrs. Carl was wounded, but survived. General Carl is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.