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Contact Info
Home Town Valley, Nebraska
Last Address Melbourne, Florida
Date of Passing Mar 29, 1998
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Early in his career he was a fighter pilot andlater was unit commander and staff officer. His final assignment was as Executive Officer with the U.S. Representative NATO Standing Group in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon from Jul 1963 until he was medically retired Oct 22, 1964.
Headquarters, 9th Air Force, General Orders No. 264 (November 9, 1944)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Marvin Edwards Childs (ASN: 0-26300), United States Army Air Forces, for heroic achievement while participating in aerial flight in the European Theater of Operations on 17 August 1944. Demonstrating superb flying skill and courage he led his flight of _-38 type aircraft to attack an enemy anti-aircraft emplacement. Under his bold leadership the flight destroyed the gun position, thus enabling the balance of the squadron to inflict heavy damage on a motor convoy hauling vital material. His brave and daring actions were responsible in large measure for the destruction of vital enemy equipment, and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Army Air Forces.
Aircraft/Missile Information
General characteristics
* Crew: 1 * Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m) * Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m) * Height: 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m) * Wing area: 235 ft� (21.83 m�) * Empty weight: 7,635 lb (3,465 kg) * Loaded weight: 9,200 lb (4,175 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 12,100 lb (5,490 kg) * Powerplant: 1� Packard Merlin V-1650-7 liquid-cooled supercharged V-12, 1,695 hp (1,265 kW) * Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0163 * Drag area: 3.80 ft� (0.35 m�) * Aspect ratio: 5.83
Performance
* Maximum speed: 437 mph (703 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,620 m) * Cruise speed: 362 mph (580 km/h) * Stall speed: 100 mph (160 km/h) * Range: 1,650 mi (2,755 km) with external tanks * Service ceiling 41,900 ft (12,770 m) * Rate of climb: 3,200 ft/min (16.3 m/s) * Wing loading: 39 lb/ft� (192 kg/m�) * Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (300 W/kg) * Lift-to-drag ratio: 14.6 * Recommended Mach limit 0.8
Armament
* 6 � 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns; 400 rounds per gun for the two inboard guns; 270 per outboard gun * 2 hardpoints for up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) * 10 � 5 in (127 mm) rockets
Specifications
* A-36A Apache - Dive bomber (US Army) * F-6 - US Army offshoots model * F-6A - US Army offshoots model * F-6C - Reconnaissance variant * P-51A - More powerful powerplant; 4 x machine guns. * P-51B - 4 x machine guns; Original and bubble canopy. * P-51C - 4 x machine guns; Original and bubble canopy. * P-51D - Classic variant; most produced. * P-51H - Lighter airframe version * P-51K - Featuring an Aeroproducts propeller. * F-51 - Redesignated to "Fighter" in the new jet fighter age. * F-6K - Reconnaissance version of P-51K
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