Navy Federal Credit Union

Marion Carl learned to fly while attending college and soloed after merely 2 1/2 hours of instruction. He studied engineering at Oregon State College (now OSU), Class of 1938, and earned his commission in the Army Reserve. Transferring to the Marine Corps, he became the 7th leading Marine ACE in World War II, credited with shooting down 18.5 enemy aircraft. It is believed it was Marion Carl who shot down the famous Japanese Navy Tainan Kokutai ace Junichi Sasai over Henderson Field. In 1947, Carl was one of two pilots selected to fly the Douglas D-558/I Skystreak in record setting speed attempts. That August, he was recorded at 650 mph, establishing a new world record. When Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in October, he also broke Carl’s record. On June 28, 1998, Marion Carl was murdered while trying to protect his wife from an intruder at their home in Oregon.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    Marine Fighting Squadron 223 (VMF-223)

    Action Date:

    World War II

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain Marion Eugene Carl (MCSN: 0-6053), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during World War II.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Major

    Action Date:

    1953

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major Marion Eugene Carl (MCSN: 0-6053), United States Marine Corps, was awarded a Fourth Gold Star in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while testing a new Navy high altitude pressure suit, during which he set an unofficial world’s record altitude in the Navy’s rocket-powered Douglas Skyrocket aircraft.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Major

    Action Date:

    1947

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major Marion Eugene Carl (MCSN: 0-6053), United States Marine Corps, was awarded a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in setting a world speed record in the Douglas Skystreak in 1947.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Major General

    Action Date:

    July 10, 1970 – May 31, 1973

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major General Marion Eugene Carl (MCSN: 0-6053), United States Marine Corps, was awarded a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Inspector General of the Marine Corps, Headquarters, Marine Corps, from 10 July 1970 to 31 May 1973.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    Marine Fighting Squadron 223 (VMF-223)

    Action Date:

    World War II

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain Marion Eugene Carl (MCSN: 0-6053), United States Marine Corps, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during World War II.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221)

    Regiment:

    Marine Air Group 22 (MAG-22)

    Division:

    Naval Air Station, Midway

    Action Date:

    June 4, 1942

    Authority: Board of Awards: Serial 06053 (SofN Approved November 10, 1942)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Marion Eugene Carl (MCSN: 0-6053), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving Section Leader and a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-221), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Midway, during operations of the U.S. Naval and Marine Forces against the invading Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942. Leading his section in a dauntless and aggressive attack against a vastly superior number of Japanese bomber and fighter planes, Captain Carl aided in the disruption of enemy plans and lessened the effectiveness of their attack. As a result of his daring tactics, he succeeded in destroying one OO Isento KI Navy Fighter. The courageous leadership and utter disregard for personal safety displayed by Captain Carl in this attack were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    Marine Fighting Squadron 223 (VMF-223)

    Regiment:

    Marine Air Group 23 (MAG-23)

    Division:

    1st Marine Aircraft Wing

    Action Date:

    August 24 – September 9, 1942

    SPOT AWARD, 1942

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Captain Marion Eugene Carl (MCSN: 0-6053), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE (VMF-223), Marine Air Group TWENTY-THREE (MAG-23), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomons Islands Area from 24 August 1942 to 9 September 1942. With utter disregard for his own personal safety, Captain Carl, during the period of sixteen days, shot down ten enemy aircraft unassisted, and with the help- of another Marine Corps pilot, succeeded in shooting down the eleventh plane. His brilliant daring and conspicuous skill as an airman served as an inspiration to other pilots of his squadron and contributed greatly to the security of the positions of the United States Forces in the Solomon Islands. His courageous and loyal devotion to duty is in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Brigadier General

    Action Date:

    March 1965 – April 1966

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Brigadier General Marion Eugene Carl (MCSN: 0-6053), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Assistant Wing Commander, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in Southeast Asia from March 1965 to April 1966. (Brigadier General Carl is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Brigadier General

    Action Date:

    May 1966

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Brigadier General Marion Eugene Carl (MCSN: 0-6053), United States Marine Corps, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding General, Marine Corps Air Bases, Eastern Area and Commanding General, Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, in 1966.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Major General

    Action Date:

    August 1968 – June 1970

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major General Marion Eugene Carl (MCSN: 0-6053), United States Marine Corps, was awarded a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding General, SECOND Marine Aircraft Wing, from August 1968 to June 1970.