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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 AC-119G Shadow / Stinger Length 86.38 ft | 26.33 m Width 109.28 ft | 33.31 m Height 26.64 ft | 8.12 m Engine(s) 2 x Wright R-3350-85 Duplex Cyclone radial piston engines generating 3,500hp each. Empty Weight 40,124 lbs | 18,200 kg MTOW 61,950 lbs | 28,100 kg Max Speed 208 mph | 335 km/h | 181 kts Max Range 1,926 miles | 3,100 km Ceiling 23,294 ft | 7,100 m | 4.4 miles Climb Rate 950 ft/min (289.56 m/min) Hardpoints 0 Armament 4 x 7.62mm miniguns Accommodations 6 Operators South Vietnam and the United States of America