Philippine Army Air Corps
Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) (also as "PAAC Infantry Battalion", 1942) | |
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Pulutong Himpapawid ng Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas | |
![]() Philippine Army Air Corps Emblem 1941–42 | |
Active | 1936 – after May 1942 May 1945 – 1 July 1947 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | Philippine Army |
Type | Combat Flying Units; Infantry (after c.31 Dec 41) |
Size | Air Group; Infantry Battalion |
Part of | Far East Air Force |
Engagements | World War II
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Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Maj. William L. Lee Maj. Basilio Fernando LCol. Charles A. Backes Capt. Pelagio Cruz (PAAC Inf. Bn.) LCol. John Ryan LCol. Edwin Andrews |
Insignia | |
Roundel | ![]() |
WWII Philippine Army Divisions | ||||
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The Philippine Army Air Corps (Filipino: Pulutong Himpapawid ng Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas) was created in 1935 as the air component of the Philippine Army. It was the predecessor of the Philippine Air Force, created in 1947.
History
The Air Corps was created by the
General
The air corps was targeted to have by independence in 1946 approximately 100 bombers and additional tactical support aircraft to be used with the Off Shore Patrol of torpedo boats in coastal defense.
The first Philippine Army
On 31 July 1941 the corps consisted of 2,132 enlisted troops, under the command of 275
- Headquarters (109)
- U.S. 4th Composite Group (1,393)
- U.S. 20th Air Base Group(842)
- Tow Target Detachment (42)
- Weather Detachment (21)
World War 2
On 8 December 1941, despite receiving the news on the
On 9 December, units of the PAAC attached to the Southern Luzon Force were ordered to do reconnaissance flight towards the South China Sea for any possible amphibious landing by the Japanese on the Batangas coastline.[12]
The PAAC had its baptism of fire on 10 December. While the officers and men of the 6th Pursuit Squadron was having lunch,
The following day, 11 December, the 6th Pursuit Squadron moved to Batangas Airfield north of
The 6th Pursuit Squadron returned to Nichols Airfield on 13 December with 4 remaining P-26s, and on the following day another Japanese raid came, and Lt. Gozar was the only pilot who was able to meet the Japanese bombers and fighters. Lt. Gozar was able to survive the encounter against three Japanese Zeros with one unconfirmed kill, and land his battered aircraft.[25][26]
While greatly outclassed and outnumbered, the accomplishment of the 6th Pursuit Squadron has become of a legend and a source of encouragement among the ground forces and the civilians who witnessed their defense over the skies of Luzon. On 15 December Capt. Villamor, Lt. Gozar, and Capt. Colin Kelly of the 14th Bombardment Squadron posthumously, were awarded by Gen. MacArthur the Distinguished Service Cross for their defense of the airspace above Manila. Lt. Godofredo Juliano on the other hand received a Gold Cross, and Lt. Aranzaso was awarded with the Silver Star.[27][28]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Philippine_air_corps_p-26_peashooter.jpg/220px-Philippine_air_corps_p-26_peashooter.jpg)
Upon activation of
On 9 February 1942, Capt. Villamor conducted a reconnaissance mission over occupied
The four months siege of Bataan culminated on 9 April 1942, and about 80,000 emaciated and sick Filipinos and American POWs, including the surviving men of the PAAC, were committed to the infamous
The Filipino POWs in Capas, Tarlac were released by August 1942, and the former members of the PAAC either transitioned back to civilian life, collaborated with the Japanese-sponsored Philippine government, or joined the underground guerilla movement. Famous of this was Capt. Villamor's escape to Australia and finding himself assigned to the Allied Intelligence Bureau as one of its operatives.[citation needed]
Aircraft
As of 8 December 1941
Numbers in parentheses indicate number of aircraft that were usable, where records are available.
Fighters
- Boeing P-12E: 2
- Boeing P-26A: 12[34]
- Seversky P-35A: 48
Bombers
- Martin B-10B monoplane bomber: 3 (2)
- Keystone B-3A light bomber: 1
Noncombatant
- Beechcraft 18D trainer and utility transport aircraft: 2
- Douglas O-46 observation aircraft: 4
- Other (mainly trainers): 50
- Boeing-Stearman 76D-4
- Consolidated PT-1 Trusty trainers (73L-3)
- Stinson Reliant
- Curtiss O-1 observation/attack biplane
- probably Thomas-Morse O-19 observation biplane
Organization of The Philippine Army Air Corps as of 8 December 1941
- Philippine Army Air Corps Headquarters
- 1st Training Squadron
- Zosa's Depot Detachment
- Ramos' Depot Detachment
- Sebastian's Airbase Detachment
- 5th Photo Detachment
- 6th Interceptor Squadron
- Ebuen's Instruction Squadron
- de Leon's Airbase Detachment
- 9th Observation Squadron
- 10th Bombardment Squadron
- Aya-ay's Airbase Detachment
- Primary Flying School
- Basic & Advanced Flying School
- Philippine Army Air Corps Supply
See also
Notable members
- Jesus Villamor, first Filipino pilot ace, AIB agent. US Distinguished Service Cross awardee.
- Pelagio Cruz, AFP Chief of Staff 1961 to 1963.
- Marcos Soliman, Superintendent PMA 1959, Director General NICA 1963-64, 1969 - 72
- Pedro Molina - PAF Commanding General 1966
- Edwin Andrews
- Basilio Fernando
References
- ^ Morton 1993, p. 10.
- ^ a b c Morton 1993, p. 9.
- ^ Morton 1993, pp. 9–10.
- ^ Morton 1993, p. 11.
- ^ Morton 1993, p. 13.
- ^ Alcaraz, Ramon. "Diary of Ramon Alcaraz - August 15, 1941". The Philippine Diary Project. The Philippine Diary Project. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ a b "The Philippine Air Force". The Filipinas Heritage Library. Ayala Foundation, Inc. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ "World War II in the Philippines: Legacy of Two Nations" (PDF). Bataan Legacy. The American Legion. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ a b "History of the Philippine Air Force". The Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Office of the President. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ISBN 978031654498-6.
- ^ Correll, John T. "Disaster in the Philippines". Air Force Magazine. US Air Force. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ Order of Battle of the United States Army Ground Forces in World War 2 in Pacific Theater Operations. Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army. 1959. p. 16.
- ^ Nemenzo, Eldon (1992). The Philippine Air Force story. Philippine Air Force. pp. 74–80.
- ^ Villamor, Jesus; Snyder, Gerald (1968). They Never Surrendered. Quezon City: Vera-Reyes, Inc. p. 32.
- ISBN 9781472833235.
- ^ ISBN 9781781593196.
- ^ "Speech of President Corazon Aquino at the 50th Anniversary of the Philippine Air Force". The Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Office of the President. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ Alcaraz, Ramon (15 December 1941). "The Diary of Ramon Alcaraz - December 15, 1941". The Philippine Diary Project. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ "Fighting Filipino pilot". Library of Congress. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ Alcaraz, Ramon (15 December 1941). "Diary of Ramon Alcaraz - December 15, 1941". The Philippine Diary Project. The Philippine Diary Project. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ Quezon, Manuel L. "A Record of Heroic Deeds". www.ibiblio.org. Ibiblio. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-101-96929-8.
- ^ "Jesus Villamor: Soldier, Spy". www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph. Filipinas Heritage Library. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ Alcaraz, Ramon (30 December 1941). "Diary of Ramon Alcaraz - December 30, 1941". The Philippine Diary Project. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ Neri, Francis Karem Elazegui. "PAF History: Lt. Jose Gozar". Armed Forces of the Philippines - AFP on Facebook. Facebook. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ISBN 9780405121357. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ Alcaraz, Ramon (17 December 1941). "December 17, 1941". The Philippine Diary Project. The Philippine Diary Project. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ Baclagon, Uldarico (1980). Filipino Heroes of World War II. Agro Printing & Publishing House. p. 310.
- ^ Alcaraz, Ramon (7 January 1942). "January 7, 1942". The Philippine Diary Project. The Philippine Diary Project. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-61251-062-0.
- ^ Morton, Louis. "US Army in WWII: Fall of the Philippines [Chapter 27]". www.ibiblio.org. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ISBN 9781163381984.
- ISBN 978-1481969253.
- ^ Baugher, Joe (29 May 1998). "Boeing P-26 - Chapter 5: Service History". Archived from the original on 29 April 1999.
Bibliography
- Anido, Alberto (July 2000). "Le Philippine Army Air Corps dans la tourmente japonaise (1941–1942)" [The Philippine Army Air Corps in the Japanese Turmoil (1941–1942)]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (88): 6–10. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Bruno, Henri (October 2000). "Courrier des Lecteurs" [Readers' Letters]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (91): 4. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Morton, Lewis (1993). The War in the Pacific: The Fall of the Philippines. United States Army in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army. LCCN 53063678. Retrieved 4 November 2014.