THE first Filipinos to actually undergo flight training were 10 Philippine Constabulary officers and 23 men from the National Guard. Trained in the Curtiss School of Aviation-run facility at Camp Claudio in Parañaque, these recruits from the military showed their flying skills in an air exhibition in June, 1920. The following month, saw the establishment of the Philippine Air Service, whose pilots ferried mail and passengers between Manila and the ports of Cebu, Iloilo, and Zamboanga. The service folded its wings a year later for lack of funds.
In the next 14 years the only aircraft that traversed Philippine skies were piloted by foreigners. Then came the Philippine Constabulary Air Corps (PCAC) on January 1, 1935. The PCAC became the Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) when the PC was incorporated as a unit of a newly created Philippine Army. Before war broke out in 1941, the PAAC was inducted into the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). Training flights were cut short with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The Japanese also attacked Clark Field, wiping out practically all USAFFE aircraft in the Philippines.
The PAAC’s 6th Pursuit Squadron, based in Batangas and led by Capt. Jesus Villamor, survived the attack. Flying six obsolete Boeing P-26 fighters and overmatched in number, speed, and firepower, the squadron nevertheless managed to stall the Japanese air offensive in two dogfights over Manila and Batangas, shooting down two enemy fighters and one bomber. The courage exhibited by Capt. Villamor was to set the example for many other Filipino aviators who were to be recruited into the Philippine Air Force, the unit established on July 1, 1947, to replace the PAAC.
The Philippine Air Force is celebrating its 59th Foundation Day with the theme: "Revitalizing Core Competence for a Better-Equipped, Skilled, and Trained Air Force." The celebration started last month when personnel and civilian employees donated blood to the Philippine National Red Cross at the Air Force Gymnasium, to start the series of blood donation activities to be conducted in all PAF bases during the month. A special Air Power Information Campaign was launched on June 8 to reinforce the awareness and appreciativeness of Air Force community of the PAF Modernization and Capability Upgrade Program as well as other PAF projects for national development and progress. A week-long exhibit of memorabilia opens today at the Air Force Museum. There will be the presentation of awards to outstanding PAF units, officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees.
We congratulate the men and women of the Philippine Air Force headed by Lt. Gen. Jose L. Reyes Jr., Commanding General, its other Officials and Staff, on the occasion of their 59th Foundation Anniversary.
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