US Army Air Corps Brigadier General, World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award posthumously on February 28, 1946, for his actions as a brigadier general in the 487th Bombardment Group, 4th Bombardment Wing, 8th Air Force, US Army Air Corps, on December 24, 1944, during World War II. The son of a career US Army military officer, his family settled in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey following World War I where he attended Boonton High School and Storm King Military Academy. In October 1924 he signed up with the New Jersey National Guard and two years later he received an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating in June 1930 with a 2nd lieutenant's commission in the Corps of Engineers. The following year, he attended pilot training at March Field (now March Air Reserve Base), California and received his pilot wings at Kelly Field, Texas in December 1931. His first assignment was with the 17th Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Field, Michigan followed by an assignment with the Civilian Conservation Corps. In February 1934 he resigned his commission to take a position with Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation, and later with the Sperry Gyroscope Company, but remained in the US Army Reserve. Following the US entry into World War II on December 7, 1941, he was recalled to active duty at the rank of captain and assigned to Brigadier General Ira Eaker's newly formed 8th Air Force based in England. In June 1943 he became commander of the 94th Bomb Group at Rougham, England, serving in that position until April 1944 when he became commander of the 4th Bomb Wing. In November 1944 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and following the Battle of the Bulge, Belgium in December 1944, he assigned himself to lead the Wing in the largest US air strike operation of the war, to counter the German offensive. On December 24, 1944, he was killed in action at the age of 36, while co-piloting the lead Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft on a bombing mission (his 30th combat mission) over Europe when it was attacked by enemy fighter aircraft on three separate occasions that resulted in his aircraft crashing, near Hods, Belgium. In addition to the Medal of Honor, he also received the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross (with three oak leaf clusters) , the Purple Heart, the Air Medal (with four oak leaf clusters), the American Defense Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (with eight battle stars), the World War II Victory Medal, the Belgian Croix de Guerre (with palm), the French Legion of Honor, the Polish Silver Cross Class V, and the Russian Order of Kutuzov, 2nd Class. His Medal of Honor citation reads in part: "En route to the target, the failure of one engine forced him to relinquish his place at the head of the formation. In order not to endanger friendly troops on the ground below, he refused to jettison his bombs to gain speed maneuverability. His lagging, unescorted aircraft became the target of numerous enemy fighters which ripped the left wing with cannon shells, set the oxygen system afire, and wounded two members of the crew. Repeated attacks started fires in two engines, leaving the Flying Fortress in imminent danger of exploding. Realizing the hopelessness of the situation, the bail-out order was given. Without regard for his personal safety, he gallantly remained alone at the controls to afford all other crewmembers an opportunity to escape. Still another attack exploded gasoline tanks in the right wing, and the bomber plunged earthward, carrying General Castle to 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." Merced Army Airfield in Merced, California was renamed Castle Field, then Castle Air Force Base (now closed) in his honor.