World War II Marine Corps Fighter Ace, United States Marine Corps General. He shot down 18 enemy aircraft in World War II, flew U-2 spy flights over China and fought in the Vietnam War. In 1942 he became the first Marine fighter ace, downing three Japanese bombers and a fighter plane over Guadalcanal. He ended his stint at Guadalcanal with 11.5 combat aircraft destroyed, according to the National Museum of Naval Aviation. After the war, he became a Navy test pilot, setting a world speed record of 651 mph on August 25, 1947, at Muroc Field, (now Edwards Air Force Base), in California. His fame from these exploits was fleeting and was soon forgotten by the general public. Chuck Yeager, the Air Force's top test pilot, wrested away the title of world's fastest human by breaking the sound barrier two months later,when he flew a Bell X-1 rocket plane at Mach 1.07 (700 mph)on October 14, 1947. In 1953, Marion Carl set a world altitude record of 83,235 feet and two years later flew U-2 photo reconnaissance missions over China. He returned to combat during the Vietnam War, commanding the 2nd Marine Air Wing. He retired in 1973 with 13,000 flying hours, a Navy Cross with two Gold Stars, the Legion of Merit with three Gold Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross with four Gold Stars and the Air Medal with 13 Gold Stars. On June 28, 1998 the 82-year-old Carl, one of the Marines' most highly decorated aviators, was killed while trying to protect his wife from an intruder in their home outside Roseburg, Oregon. Date on the stone is incorrect.
World War II Marine Corps Fighter Ace, United States Marine Corps General. He shot down 18 enemy aircraft in World War II, flew U-2 spy flights over China and fought in the Vietnam War. In 1942 he became the first Marine fighter ace, downing three Japanese bombers and a fighter plane over Guadalcanal. He ended his stint at Guadalcanal with 11.5 combat aircraft destroyed, according to the National Museum of Naval Aviation. After the war, he became a Navy test pilot, setting a world speed record of 651 mph on August 25, 1947, at Muroc Field, (now Edwards Air Force Base), in California. His fame from these exploits was fleeting and was soon forgotten by the general public. Chuck Yeager, the Air Force's top test pilot, wrested away the title of world's fastest human by breaking the sound barrier two months later,when he flew a Bell X-1 rocket plane at Mach 1.07 (700 mph)on October 14, 1947. In 1953, Marion Carl set a world altitude record of 83,235 feet and two years later flew U-2 photo reconnaissance missions over China. He returned to combat during the Vietnam War, commanding the 2nd Marine Air Wing. He retired in 1973 with 13,000 flying hours, a Navy Cross with two Gold Stars, the Legion of Merit with three Gold Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross with four Gold Stars and the Air Medal with 13 Gold Stars. On June 28, 1998 the 82-year-old Carl, one of the Marines' most highly decorated aviators, was killed while trying to protect his wife from an intruder in their home outside Roseburg, Oregon. Date on the stone is incorrect.
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