The PAF, aged 21 Years, and the jet age

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Part of Philippine Armed Forces Journal

Title: The PAF, aged 21 Years, and the jet age
Language: English
Source: Philippine Armed Forces Journal Volume IX (No. 6) April 1956
Year: 1956
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Fulltext: The PAF, Aged 21 Yea rs, and the. Jet Age By Aurelio Repato ' ' a•••T'•"' plane•, among them trainer plontl 01 appear o" photo ond •• ural purouil plan••· PAF P*~onnel how•••• dine;orded O>'erwhelmi~g odd1 ond mel Jop oir inr<Jdeu headlong ust 15, 1941 General Douglas MacAr- vastated by the first Japanese aerial th ur inducted the Philippine Anny Air attack on this field. Aircraft equipCorps into t he service of the United ment of the Primary and Basic flyStates Anny Forces in the Far ing school which were based at Zablan East. It was the first Filipino unit Field (named after the late Porfirio inducted into the USAFFE. Zablan, groomed to head the air force At the outbreak of World War II, but died in an aircraft accident while the P AAC was maintainin~r four undergoing training in America) in military airfields. Maniquis F ield Camp Murphy, under Major Edwin in Nueva Ecija, under the command Andrews, were also destroyed by the of then Major Pelagio A. Japanese bombardiers. Lahug Field Cruz, was h om e b a s e for in CC'bu City housed the 9th Obthe advanced f I yin g s c h o o I scrvation Squadron with a few retogether with the lOth Bombardment connaissance planes. The death of Squadron headed by Captain Pedro its base commander, Major Oscar Q. Molina. The trainer planes and Sales, in a crack-up on take off for Mar tin Medium bombers were de- reconnaissance at twilight on Decem· PHILlf'PINES A.RMED FORCRS JOURNA.L bcr 14, 1941 was a setback to this Captain Vi\Jamor led his fightec bo}'~ airfield before the Japanese planes to the air to engage the enemy fight· wrought havoc to its equipment in er escorts in one of the most sen !<tallations. sational dogfights during the last Among the four PAAC stations, wat·. While his comrades we1·e enonly Batangas Field was a fighter gaged in aerial combat at 12,000 base. Here, Captain Jesus Villamor feet above him, Lt. Cesar Basa, who commanded the 6th Pursuit Squad- was returning from a patrol with ron with its six Boeing P-26s. This 15-minute fuel left in his tank, soartype of planes was considered obso- ed to join the melee. With noses Jete as compared to the Japanese spitting hot lead, seven Zeros sent Zero fighters. On December 12, the his plane, bullet ridden, plumm~ting Japanese forces dispatched 54 twin- to the ground. Lt. Basa was the •·ngine bombers with 18 Zeros as es- fi rst Filipino pilot casualty in dog cort to destroy Batangas Field. Se- fight of the last war. For his galriously outnumben~d three to one, lantry in action, the United State~ , cc,.:leiJ t:tnd tlteir iMitud<>ts, during mt:tr~lng induction of PAAC info USAfff imm•dioltlr btf<>t• Pt:tcific wt:tr. Note pion• in for•gtound, one of 12 P-26 pu1$uif plont~, t:tnd lrt:tiner plan•• in bodgtt:tund. Pionttting in notion'• oir lorct, a fair numbtr of PC ollictu tmtrgtd os oir heroes P~oto woo tohn 1om• 35 1'"" ago ot Curlil A¥iation School. Standina fro,. ftfl Moj. Porlirio Zoblon ldtctoJtd!, u-U. Moriono Rutdo, U. Vidor leo/ ldtctoJtdl, tr. Col. !lomon S. Joiitz /hl.l, f•·U. 01mundo RomoJ, ond Moj. MorcoJ fstodo ldtctoJtdl. Sto!td in front ir Maj. Alonzo GotUJioo lleiJ. Standing in background art U. Col fduordo Mon• til/o /ht.J ond Maj. 8<uilio Ftrnondo ldtctoredl. Not rhown ore u-U. Modioldta ond Col. Moriono C. i,1., /hU. Thtu pionutJ o"n tht oir lorct ort worthy of tmu/otion. government awarded him (posthu· a dramatic rescue of his fallen commously) the Silver Star. Basa Air radc undet· a hail of enemy machine Base in Pampanga is named in ho-- gun rire. To the air fot-ce, for its nor of him. Another casualty dur- historic resistance in Aglaloma, goes ing "t,his raid was Lt. Salvador Man- the nation's tribute, as well as to lunas who was hit by a bomb shrap- Lts. Setzer and Paulino and the rest nel while directing anti-aircraft rna- of the men who gave up their lives \ ch~~t~ui~ f~l:nes destroyed or perfo~~~v~on°: :,~:r a~~ ~~~n:~YBataan manently grounded for lack of spare and Corregidor, due primarily to the parts, the PAAC regrouped to form air superiority of the Japanese, an the 1st Provisional Infantry Batta- air force man, Captain Jesus Villalion. Dubbed the "flying irfantry" mor, with radiographic orders from by their nt>ighbor units, the air corps Southwest Pacific Area Command, boys made a heroic stand at Agla- organized the Allied Intelligence Buloma Point in the Western part of reau. Later headed by Colonel EdBataan. In an engagement with the win Andrews, this unit gathered in. enemy in this sector, Captain Eus- formation about the enemy, through tacio D. Orobia was wounded serious- thousands of underground operatives ly in the left hip. In complete throughout the archipelago, and disregard of his personal safetY, transmitted them to SWPAC by subCaptain Pedro Q. Molina performed marine or radio. These informations 'Z-:.~!', r.::JM .(\ Their plone• deslroytd in lifll>l, undaunted P/I.A.C pt<lonntl rtgro11pt9 lo form lot Pro~ioiono/ lnfantrr lotlolion, dubbed rhe "Firing lnlonlry", and joined ground forcu, mo~ ing o httoi( !fond ol A.glolomo Poinr, lcnoon, dutirg !Itt torlr pltoot of war late1· became important intelligence ment and air-evacuation were also which were used by General Mac- rendered for ground troops. InterArthur in employing his frog-jump views of surrenderers in the latest tactics to liberate this country. operations against Kamlon and,' his After lib('ration in 1945, the PAAC die--hard followers which were conwas reorganized and later redesig- ducted by Intelligence personnel of nated Philippine Air Force. JOTAF, revealed that the continuous Peace and Order Campaign bombing, strafing, and pin-down The rise of a recalcitrant group, missions launched by elements of popularly known as the Huks or the Sulu Air Group (SATAG), un· HMBs and other lawless elements in der Major Jose L. Rancudo, along the early part of 1946, necessitated with tRe relentless pursuit of ground the employment of air power in sup· troops had forced them to port of ground troops to establish into the folds of the law. '· peace and order throughout the land. "We can fight ground troops but Aside from the punitive airstrikes what chance have we against the conducted by fighter pilots in such devil planes that come swooping military operations as Fowr Roses, and dropping deadly explosives Gumamela, Columbus, Smile, Mila· amidst our lairs?" More surrendegrosa, Omaha, and Kamlon, airlift rers confessed. As a result of the and airdrop of supplies and equip- bombing and strafing in this latest ~· ' ' major'operations, SATAG chalked on and volcanic eruptions, conduct of its scoreboard 30 outlaws verified relief work demands the fastest means killed, 17 verified wounded, 25 forced of transportation to bring food and to surrender, 9 captured, 35 vintas medicines on time to save the people destroyed, 27 huts burned, 7 smug- in grief-stricken areas from hunger gler kumpits captured, and 1 Tai- and diseases. Delay in this kind of wanese vessel apprehended. While work might prejudice many precious employment of air power to curb lives. The Philippine Air Force lawlessness in the southern exhemi· planes come in handy. In all rnaties of the country has demoralized jor disasters throughout the island, the enemies and facilitated their the Philippine National Red Cross sUrnmt;ler it has also bolstered the and the Social Welfare Administramorale of the ground troops besides tion hav{' realized the usefulness of affording excellent training and ex- PAF planes in accomplishing their perience to the fighter pilots of the mission of bringing relief to the PAF. people expeditiously. " Relief, l\liAsions When rats and pests invaded Co-Whenever disaster strikes in any tabato and other pro\•inces in Minof its horrible forms such as ty- danao, the Department of Agriculphoons, floods, ,fires, earthquakes, ture and Natural Resources employ Pr•••nf PAF ;, •ngog•d nof only in lighf ogoinll Huh, buf oloo, omong olh•,., in r•H•f miuio11 ••pui~:>lly wh•n (Oiomili•• 1frih in ony dirl~:>nf port of lh• counlry -PHIUPPINES ARMED FORCES JOURNAL ed PAF planes for spraying che- Nichols Air Rase. This marll:ed the micals to save the crops from total beginning of the transition of th<' destruction. PAF into th£' jet stage. In the brief The PAF has also participat('(] in time that th<>se jets haw• bt>t>n based search missions for fishing ve~seh in Clark Air Foret>. Rase for thf' lost at sea or pri,·ate planes and tra1ning of PAF fightt>r pilots, 28 commercial aircraft ion!!.' overdue at Filipino airmen graduated !tom the their destinations and t>ven Full- jf't transition cours._, and 12 from bri!l.'ht professors - Rohf'rt Conklin the jet familiarization course and Pittman - who were later found Out of these ~Taduates, 16 mu1·dered by hostile nati,·es of Kia- a r e now com p f' tent jet ngan in Mountain Pro,·inct'. pilot instructors three of whom a"rc Prest>nl PAF in America specializing in jet airToday the PAF has reached the craft operation. Along with these point for its shift to th€' jet propul- pilots, 28 airmen completed the jet sion stage. A historic. €'vent oc- maintenance course. Wh<'n the rpulcul'l'ed last August wht>n US Am- ti-million peso modernization of Rabas~adoJ· Homer Ferguson signed lht> .~a Ail· Base into a jet airfield is papers transfning si:.: T-33 jet train- finished, thP PAF will be l't>ady to ers to the Philippine ~0\'('rnment at 1·eceive 1ts jt"t fighter!< from thP Unitcu State.<: anrl ,tart n]terating- l< state~ that "tho· Philippint·s Will conjet squadrou a~nwd at absorbing- the tinut- to rt·cr·•w ,;ufficio·nt ccnnumit· init1al shO<"k ad ion of a futun• in- and military aids rommensural<' with '"arlt·r. it.~ ability to absorb tht•n•." Th1· •·ut A hitCh, hmn•vN, that thn:atcn,; to in tht· PAF budg-et ind1rcctly tlctiJ,;l"UJit tht· pnl.C:I"c.<:s of the PAF is clan:>.<: tht· inability of th(' Phihpth•· imnmwnt rut Ill it~ bucl.c:et b~· pint:< tn absorb jet:< from th1• Unitf"2 million. lf push••<i through, this cd States. Adhenn.c: to lh(' accl'ptcrl hudJ!•·t :<lash would h1• <.mou~h causo· fact that no country pn•paring fot for ahandonnwnt .,f tht• moril'1"1117.a- ad<.'quat .. ddcnst· can rln without a tion Jlmjcct of tht· PAF'. Tho· train- mod('l"IJitcd a•r force, .~mall fret· ui~r .<lf PAF 11ilnts alm11r with a1r A,;ian countries such as Tai\\"an, nwehaniC:< t" man jd ei]Uipnwut Thailand, Korea, and Pakistan ha\T ~hall ha\"o· lw•en a wa:<to· of time. taken full ad\'antagt• of tht· US mi moucy, and t·ffort aside fmm a loss Jitarr aid und..-1 tht· Mutual Ucfcmw uf • thl· j!O\'<'l"tlllltnt',;; . i!lY£'!'tnwnt on ~s~istancc P1ogram by abso1·bing th1· sevl·ral hutuln:d techn1eat men of the ]!'lS offercri them. PAF''s p1·c,;••nt ~trength. Speaking at th ... lith commt·ncC'A n:cent announcement from th(' mcnt exet·eises of the F'E:ATl ll1.~t1 JUSMAG, publi.shed in local dailies, tulc of Technolog)', on whi('h occa folopmo oor h•rou of leur wor wrol• w1th lh•~r blood •orly chapter. of Jllmng I'Af hulory Among them l•n pholo, ftom lefrl or• JoJo, Go:ror Mon/..,noJ, ~•co, Monoquu, feoleto, y..,)on, ond «:ore A~tf1eld• of Jome of the hetou were named offer them sion he was conferred a degree of no longer open to question. Aqtuallr Doctor of Science in Aeronautics it is ail· strength that is now con(honol'is causal, the PAF chief sidcred as the fir·st line of defense pointed out that in the event of among modern powers, for which reahostilities, the local air force will sons emphasis has been gradually have to shoulder the brutality of an shifted to its development in lieu of enemy initial shock action. He em- other services." Modernization, therephasized that the security of the fore, of the Philippine Air F'or·ce skies under· which defenders fight deserves the full support of the Fimust be insured because invasion by lipino people to insure tlre effectiveair·boi'Jle or· waterbome troops wi!l ness of our first line of defense. be undertaken with a substantial air Preparedness covering force. "All other forces An air for·ce cannot 1.>1' cr;ated earmarked against overt aggression overnight to face the enemy rn th., must assume a subordinate role," event of hostile aggr·ession. It is Gen. Cruz declared. necessary to insur·e that it is a wellAt the Pl\IA graduation early this trained and adequately-equq,pt-d ,_,r. month, Speaker Jose B. Laurel, Jr. ganization to be ready to cope with stressed, "Under modern concepts of the demands of modern warfare any warfare, with which I am familiar, time the enemy str·ikes. A high the indispensability of the air force is standat·d of training, therefor<', i.• "Tiley lok• to jel pion•• .,, ducks to woler" wo• ~ow on Am•ri<on pilol dt~orib•d filipino oirmen J~ifling lo i•l plonu under PAf progrom ol lron•ilion lo jel ''"9• worfor• demond• o modern oir Ioree PAf Jtri••• to meet d•mond. ,_ I'AF pilot• to fly 1 et planes train fellow piloiJ. filipino airmen, col· lege-educated and occuotomed to American tecl>nology, language and materials, ore on· ,ounud by ori9incd instr~tctors oo the eosiut lo leach omong Ation people~. the main task of an ail· fore(· in of aircraft seasom the profe.o:sional time of peace. skill of the airman keeps him TOday, the PAF is geared for this in constant readiness to caJTy nut grueilipg task of tJ·aining its per· his task effectively as a part of a sonnel both in the air and on the gTeat team. ground for emergency. Training in All an appeal to the Filipiuo peo the air force is a continuous process pie for support in the moderniza· of maintaining discipline at its high· tion of the Philippine Air Force, on est level and kee11ing pact: with ad- the occasion of its 21st anniw:tsa1·y, vancements of modern tt:ehniques in we quote a simple acknowledgement aerial warfare. No ai1·man, 110 mat of the impo1·tant role which air powter how experienced and well-train- t>1· plays in out· modern world by one cd he is, can say, at any time, that of the greatest statesman and milihe knows e_v~rything_ ~~~ ~is chosen tat·y leade1 · of today, Winston Chut· :~·:· f!~::11811!1e~~~~rt~~fi~:~:;1 ::~e~:~ ~hill·· "Fo1· good o1· ill air m_aste1·y tions is a twofold mission: that of 1s today the supreme e:x:Jn·ess1on of supporting the ground troops and militat·y power, and fleets and arthat of training. Maintenance of a mies, however n .. cessary, must acrlgular flight schedule in all types eept a subordinate rank."