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De Carlo (Zilda) Personal Papers
SDASM.SC.10035
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Zilda De Carlo Special Collection
source:
De Carlo, Zilda
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10035
Physical Description:
0.6 Cubic Feet
2 Boxes
Date (inclusive): 1913-2010
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.
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
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
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.
Women of Flight Collection.
Naval Aviation Collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Women in aeronautics
Women air pilots
Naval Station Pearl Harbor (Hawaii)
Naval Air Station (N.J.)
World War, 1939-1945
United States. Naval Reserve. Women's Reserve (WAVES)
De Carlo, Zilda