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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 Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Nial K. Castle (ASN: 0-797787), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight over Ormoc Bay, Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 1 November 1944. This officer, while flying in a formation of eight P-38's over Ormoc Bay, encountered ten to fifteen enemy fighters. The P-38's attacked, and Lieutenant Castle opened fire on one of the hostile aircraft. The pilot bailed out and the airplane crashed near the shore line. Lieutenant Castle then fired a three-second burst at another fighter which passed in front of him, whereupon it started burning and later crashed and exploded. The outstanding courage and devotion to duty displayed by this officer are worthy of the highest commendation.
General Orders: Headquarters, Far East Air Forces, General Orders No. 114 (January 18, 1945)
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar Length 86.48 ft | 26.36 m Width 109.32 ft | 33.32 m Height 26.25 ft | 8.00 m Engine(s) 2 x Wright R-3350-89 Cyclone 18-cylinder radial engines delivering 3,500hp each. Empty Weight 39,800 lbs | 18,053 kg MTOW 85,001 lbs | 38,556 kg Max Speed 217 mph | 350 km/h | 189 kts Max Range 1,771 miles | 2,850 km Ceiling 23,901 ft | 7,285 m | 4.5 miles Climb Rate Not Available Hardpoints 0 Armament None. Accommodations 4 + 40 Operators Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Italy, India, Morocco, Norway, Vietnam (South) and the United states of America.