A US Marine Corps hero of Midway and Guadalcanal, World War II pilot Captain Marion Carl was the Marine's first ever ace. Although he was a member of the 223 Squadron (VMF-223), Carl's first enemy encounter came while flying with the VMF-221 at Midway under the wing of Major Floyd Parks on June 4th, 1942. After being spotted by a Catalina flying boat, seven Buffalos and five Wildcats responded to the enemy offensive heading towards Midway. Outnumbered by Japanese Zeros, he shot down one aircraft and later escaped the encounter. Marion Carl was one of the few pilots to survive the climatic Battle of Midway, which turned the tied of the Pacific War.

Barely two months later he had became part of the "Cactus Air Force" with Major John L. Smith's VMF-223 at Guadalcanal. He was very successful with the numerous encounters against the dreaded Japanese Zero. In less than three months of conflict over the bitterly contested island, Carl was credited with 15.5 air-to-air victories. By the end of the war, Carl's victory total stood at 18.5.

I used Tamiya's 1/48 airplane model kit to create Marion Carl's famous F4F Wildcat. Aftermarket parts include Eduard's excellent photo-etch seatbelts. Victory marks on both sides of the fuselage, surface oil stains and a nice dirty looking Blue Grey over a Light Grey scheme give the model an authentic look. Enjoy the photos.