Frederick Walker Castle

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Frederick Walker Castle, photograph from the West Point yearbook of 1930

Frederick Walker Castle (born October 14, 1908 in Manila , Philippines , † December 24, 1944 in Anthisnes , Belgium ) was an American brigadier general in the US Air Force . He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his conduct on a mission in which he killed us .

Career

Pre-war period

Castle began his military career in the National Guard of New Jersey before taking a degree at the June 1930 United States Military Academy at West Point earned. He was then assigned to the United States Army Air Corps and completed pilot training in 1931 at March Field in California and Kelly Field in Texas . His first employment as a military aviator was as deputy commander of the 17th Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base . In 1934 he ended his active service and became a reservist in the New York National Guard .

Second World War

After the United States entered World War II , Castle was called back to active service in January 1942 with the rank of Captain . Castle was transferred to England , where he was involved in building the 8th Air Force under Ira C. Eaker . In March 1942 he was promoted to major , in September 1942 to Lieutenant Colonel , in January 1943 to Colonel . Castle commanded the 94th Bomb Group from June 1943 and the 4th Combat Wing from April 1944. In November, he was promoted to Brigadier General .

Deployment on December 24, 1944 and death

Frederick Walker Castle's grave in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial

On December 24, 1944 Castle commanded an air division with B-17 bombers on an attack flight against an airfield in Darmstadt . An engine failure of his airplane occurred over Liège in Belgium . As a result, the machine was attacked by Luftwaffe fighters and seriously damaged. Castle refused to drop the bombs he was carrying in order to improve the maneuverability of the machine, as he was over the area of ​​Allied troops at that time and did not want to endanger them. He made it possible for his crew to leave the machine, which could explode at any moment, and stayed behind the wheel himself. The machine was hit again and crashed at Xhos in the Belgian municipality of Anthisnes . Castle was killed in the process. Castle was buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium.

Awards and honors

Medal of Honor in execution for members of the US Air Force

He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his behavior before his death :

"His intrepidity and willing sacrifice of his life to save members of the crew were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service."

"His fearlessness and willing sacrifice to save the crew were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service."

- From the official announcement on the award of the Medal of Honor

Other awards Castles were:

The Castle Air Force Base (now: Castle Airport ) and the Castle Air Museum in California were named in honor of Castle .

Web links

Commons : Frederick Walker Castle  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Congressional Medal of Honor Society
personal data
SURNAME Castle, Frederick Walker
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American brigadier general and Medal of Honor holder
DATE OF BIRTH October 14, 1908
PLACE OF BIRTH Manila
DATE OF DEATH December 24, 1944
Place of death Anthisnes