Zilda De Carlo Special Collection, 1913-2010

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
De Carlo, Zilda
Abstract:
Zilda De Carlo was born July 2, 1913 in North Hollywood, California. She was the youngest of four children to Frank and Vincenza (Dinino) De Carlo. Their sons, Ray, Bill, and Nick, also served in the Armed Forces. Zilda enrolled in Parachute Rigger School at Lakehurst in January 1943 after completing WAVES basic training at Hunter College in The Bronx. She was one of the first women to serve in the Navy as a chief parachute rigger.
Extent:
0.6 Cubic Feet 2 Boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives”]

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes photographs; 1945 newspapers from Honolulu; Naval Air Station newsletters; U.S. Navy certificates of service and I.D. cards; manual, album, and personal diary in two boxes.

Biographical / historical:

Zilda De Carlo was born July 2, 1913 in North Hollywood, California. She was the youngest of four children to Frank and Vincenza (Dinino) De Carlo. Their sons, Ray, Bill, and Nick, also served in the Armed Forces. Zilda enrolled in Parachute Rigger School at Lakehurst in January 1943 after completing WAVES basic training at Hunter College in The Bronx. She was appointed as Chief Parachute Rigger on November 24, 1956 and retired from the Navy Reserves in 1973 as a Chief Petty Officer/Chief Parachute Rigger. De Carlo was also a commander for the 20th District American Legion Auxiliary. De Carlo was an expert seamstress and before her enlistment, she was employed in Desmond’s alteration department, a large men’s clothing store in North Hollywood, and in the wardrobe department at 20th Century Fox. De Carlo passed away at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Long Beach, California on January 17, 2010 and was honored at a “Beach Jumpers” reunion ceremony in November 2010, held at the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, and included WAVES from the local San Diego Unit, Stars & Stripes. She was married after World War II to Beatrice Claude Davis and is interred as “Zilda De Carlo Davis” at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood, California

Acquisition information:
The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open to researchers by appointment.

Terms of access:

Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.

Preferred citation:

[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives”]

Location of this collection:
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 234-8291