[Phillip C. DeLong oral history interview]

Fighter ace Phillip C. DeLong discusses his nearly three decades of military service with the United States Marine Corps. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time with Marine Fighting Squadron 212 (VMF-212) during World War II and with Marine Fighter Squadron 312 (VMF-312) during the Korean War. He also touches on other assignments from his military career, such as his time with the Marine Corps Aviation Guided Missile unit and with several Marine training squadrons. Topics discussed include his service history with VMF-212 and VMF-312; his aerial victories against two Yakovlev fighters in Korea; and his various command and administrative positions.

Phillip C. DeLong was born on July 9, 1919 in Jackson, Michigan. He entered the Naval Aviation Cadet program and received his commission with the United States Marine Corps in 1942. The following year, he was assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron 212 (VMF-212) in the South Pacific, flying missions in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. DeLong remained in the military after World War II and went on to serve with Marine Fighter Squadron 312 (VMF-312) aboard the USS Bataan (CVL-29) during the Korean War. Apart from his combat tours, he also held a number of command and administrative positions during his career, including serving as commanding officer of several Marine training squadrons and of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Japan. DeLong retired as a colonel in 1969, then worked as a personnel director for the Irwin Yacht and Marine Corporation. He passed away in 2006.

Biographical information courtesy of: Boyce, Ward J., ed., American fighter aces album. Mesa, Ariz: American Fighter Aces Association, 1996.