Carl O. Dunbar, Jr. collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 01.0530

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Carl O. Dunbar, Jr. served in the U.S. Marine Corps Fighter Squadron VMF-214 as a pilot in the Pacific Campaign during World War II. This collection contains news articles, navigation log books, photographs, and a scrapbook with artifacts, government documents and letters, photographs, and ephemera. Dunbar's flight mission log book recorded action at Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands. This collection also contains a manuscript written by Dunbar's son, Peter, which highlights his father's military career and flying experiences. The photographs are from before, during, and after World War II. Dunbar included materials from his activities after the war, including his career as a lawyer and judge.

Dates

Created: 1942-1969
Other: Date acquired: 10/16/2001

Creator

Dunbar, Carl O., Jr. (Family)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Carl O. Dunbar Jr. was born March 2, 1920, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day, in New Haven Connecticut. He served with Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-214 as a fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater. He traveled to various flight training bases throughout the East Coast of the United States before seeing action in the Solomon Island Campaign and Guadalcanal.

He returned to New Haven, Connecticut after his service and married his wife, Ann Peck Dunbar, along with obtaining a law degree from Yale University. The family eventually relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, where Dunbar became certified to practice law in the State of Florida. Dunbar remained in Jacksonville until his untimely death in 1981. Dunbar's son, Peter Dunbar, compiled and published his father's letters and personal stories into the book Before They Were the Black Sheep: Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-214 and the Battle for the Solomon Islands. This book highlight's Dunbar's career as a pilot and experiences in the Pacific Campaigns. Carl O. Dunbar, Jr. passed away August 16, 1981 and is buried in Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park, Clearwater, FL.