[Delno Carlton oral history interview]

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Identifier2002-02-13-1139_AV_212Parts2002-02-13-1139_AV_212_01SourceThe American Fighter Aces Association Oral Interviews (2002-02-13-1139)CreatorAmerican Fighter Aces AssociationIntervieweeCarlton, DelnoInterviewerunidentified interviewerDescriptionAudio recording of an oral history with fighter pilot Delno "Del" Carlton, conducted by an unidentified interviewer, circa 1980s-1990s.

Text on label: "Eric - Del Carlton. Needs positive ID."AbstractFighter pilot Delno “Del” Carlton is interviewed about his military service with the United States Marine Corps during World War II. The interview focuses specifically on an incident in 1944 or 1945, when VM(N)F-542 (Marine Night Fighter Squadron 542) deployed from the USS Sitkoh Bay (CVE-86) to Yontan Airfield, Okinawa, Japan. Due to navigational errors, Carlton’s flight of Grumman F6F Hellcats and Vought F4U Corsairs ended up at Iriomote, off the coast of present-day Taiwan.

The interview is conducted by an unidentified interviewer, who then forwarded the tape to historian Eric M. Hammel.BiographyDelno “Del” Carlton was a fighter pilot who served with the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He was born on January 9, 1923 in Lynd, Minnesota. He attended Crosby-Ironton Junior College from 1941-1942 and afterwards enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was one of five Navy pilots recruited by the Marine Corps for a newly formed night fighter squadron. Carlton served with VM(N)F-542 (Marine Night Fighter Squadron 542) in the Pacific Theater, flying missions out of Ulithi, Okinawa, and other areas. After the end of World War II, he continued to serve in the Reserves. He also wrote a book about his military career, titled “Sent Forth a Warrior.”

In his civilian life, Carlton earned a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1948 and worked for Pickands Mather & Company until his retirement in 1980. He and his wife Ruth also served as Christian lay counselors. In 1982, they founded the Cornerstone Christian School in Emily, Minnesota.

Carlton passed away in 2019.Creation Datecirca 1980s-1990sSubjectUnited States. Marine Night Fighter Squadron 542Carlton, DelnoGrumman F6F Hellcat FamilyVought F4U Corsair FamilySitkoh Bay (Cargo ship and aircraft ferry)Air pilots, MilitaryFighter pilotsUnited States. Marine CorpsWorld War, 1939-1945PlaceOkinawa Island (Japan)JapanIriomote Island (Japan)Extent1 sound cassette (8 min., 10 sec.) : analog ; 4 x 2.5 inOriginal Formatoral histories (literary works)audiocassettesBibliographic CitationThe American Fighter Aces Association Materials/The Museum of FlightRightsIn copyright

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[Delno Carlton oral history interview]