The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of 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 aerial flight over Clark Field, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 26 December 1944. Lieutenant Castle was flying a P-38 aircraft in a formation when five enemy airplanes were spotted. He fired at one of them, set it on fire and sent it crashing into the hills. He then attacked another, caused it to go out of control, and saw it go into a cloud burning fiercely. The outstanding courage and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Castle during this flight are worthy of the highest commendation.
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Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
1 January 1945. Lieutenant Castle was flying in a formation of twelve P-38 aircraft which encountered a lone enemy airplane. He fired from below and astern, 1926, authorized by Act of Congress, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight near Manila, July 2, Luzon, Philippine Islands, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Nial K. Castle (ASN: 0-797787), The President of the United States of America, United States Army Air Forces -
Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
1 January 1945. Lieutenant Castle was flying in a formation of twelve P-38 aircraft which encountered a lone enemy airplane. He fired from below and astern, 1926, authorized by Act of Congress, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight near Manila, July 2, Luzon, Philippine Islands, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Nial K. Castle (ASN: 0-797787), The President of the United States of America, United States Army Air ForcesService:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Second Lieutenant (Air Corps)Batallion:
8th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
49th Fighter GroupDivision:
5th Air ForceAction Date:
January 1, 1945
Headquarters, Far East Air Forces, General Orders No. 534 (April 13, 1945)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of 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 aerial flight near Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 1 January 1945. Lieutenant Castle was flying in a formation of twelve P-38 aircraft which encountered a lone enemy airplane. He fired from below and astern, set it on fire and sent it crashing to the ground. This was the fifth enemy aircraft destroyed by Lieutenant Castle. His outstanding courage and devotion to duty are worthy of the highest commendation.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Second Lieutenant (Air Corps)Batallion:
8th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
49th Fighter GroupDivision:
5th Air ForceAction Date:
November 1, 1944
Headquarters, Far East Air Forces, General Orders No. 114 (January 18, 1945)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.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Second Lieutenant (Air Corps)Batallion:
8th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
49th Fighter GroupDivision:
5th Air ForceAction Date:
January 1, 1945
Headquarters, Far East Air Forces, General Orders No. 534 (April 13, 1945)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of 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 aerial flight near Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 1 January 1945. Lieutenant Castle was flying in a formation of twelve P-38 aircraft which encountered a lone enemy airplane. He fired from below and astern, set it on fire and sent it crashing to the ground. This was the fifty enemy aircraft destroyed by Lieutenant Castle. His outstanding courage and devotion to duty are worthy of the highest commendation.