Villamor, fearless

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) headquarters in Pasay City was named after him – Jesus Antonio Villamor.

Villamor may be the greatest Filipino airman having led his squadron with four kills – three Japanese A6M “Zeroes” fighters and one G3M bomber – during the battle to save Batangas Airfield.

Two of the four kills were by Villamor himself, who joined the Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) Flying School in 1936 before training in the United States.

Villamor flew B-17s in the US before being sent back to the Philippines to lead the 6th Pursuit Squadron prior to Japan’s invasion of the Philippines.

Villamor is acknowledged to be the only Filipino to twice receive the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Award of the US for actions on Dec. 10 and 12, 1941.

He later served as an intelligence officer in the fight against the Japanese and died on Oct. 28, 1971 with a rank of colonel.