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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_J._Baggett
Owen John Baggett (August 29, 1920 – July 27, 2006)[1] was a second lieutenant in the United States 7th Bomb Group based at Pandaveswar, in India, during the Second World War.
Baggett was born in Graham, Texas in 1920.[1] He graduated from Hardin–Simmons University in 1941, where he was the band's drum major.[1][2][3][4] He found employment on Wall Street after graduation.[5]
Baggett enlisted in the Army Air Corps (which was renamed the Army Air Forces in February 1942) and graduated from pilot training on July 26, 1942, at the New Columbus Army Flying School.[6]
On March 31, 1943, while stationed in British India, Baggett's squadron, part of the 7th Bombardment Group, was ordered to destroy a bridge at Pyinmana, Burma.[4] Before reaching their target, the 12 B-24s of 7th BG were intercepted by 13 Ki-43 fighters of 64 Sentai IJAAS.[7] Baggett's plane was severely damaged and was set on fire by several hits to the fuel tanks. The crew was forced to bail out, escaping the crippled B-24 only seconds before it exploded. The Japanese pilots then began attacking U.S. airmen as they parachuted to earth. Two of the crewmen were killed in the air, though contrary to some reports that the pilot, Lloyd K. Jensen was "summarily executed", Jensen did survive the war.[8]) Baggett, who had been wounded, decided to play dead, hoping the enemy pilots would ignore him. Nevertheless, one Ki-43 fighter flew close to Baggett and slowed to make sure. Baggett saw the pilot open his canopy and decided to take a chance. He drew his .45 caliber M1911 pistol and fired four shots at the pilot. He then watched as the plane stalled and plunged toward the ground.[9][10][11]
Baggett later gained fame as the only person ever to shoot down an aircraft using a pistol,[1][4][12][13][14] though this is contradicted by Japanese wartime records,[7] which indicate that no Japanese planes were lost during this action. Presumably, the Japanese pilot (wounded or not) regained control of his aircraft and flew it back to his airfield.[15]
Baggett landed and was immediately captured by Japanese soldiers on the ground. He remained a prisoner of the Japanese for the rest of the war.[1][3][16] Baggett and 37 other POWs were liberated at the war's end by eight OSS agents who parachuted into Singapore.[17]
While he was assigned to Mitchel Air Force Base, Baggett was noted for his work with children, including sponsoring a boy and a girl to be commander for a day.[18] Baggett retired from the Air Force as a colonel and later worked as a defense contractor manager for Litton.[2][4][19]
Owen John Baggett (August 29, 1920 – July 27, 2006)[1] was a second lieutenant in the United States 7th Bomb Group based at Pandaveswar, in India, during the Second World War.
Baggett was born in Graham, Texas in 1920.[1] He graduated from Hardin–Simmons University in 1941, where he was the band's drum major.[1][2][3][4] He found employment on Wall Street after graduation.[5]
Baggett enlisted in the Army Air Corps (which was renamed the Army Air Forces in February 1942) and graduated from pilot training on July 26, 1942, at the New Columbus Army Flying School.[6]
On March 31, 1943, while stationed in British India, Baggett's squadron, part of the 7th Bombardment Group, was ordered to destroy a bridge at Pyinmana, Burma.[4] Before reaching their target, the 12 B-24s of 7th BG were intercepted by 13 Ki-43 fighters of 64 Sentai IJAAS.[7] Baggett's plane was severely damaged and was set on fire by several hits to the fuel tanks. The crew was forced to bail out, escaping the crippled B-24 only seconds before it exploded. The Japanese pilots then began attacking U.S. airmen as they parachuted to earth. Two of the crewmen were killed in the air, though contrary to some reports that the pilot, Lloyd K. Jensen was "summarily executed", Jensen did survive the war.[8]) Baggett, who had been wounded, decided to play dead, hoping the enemy pilots would ignore him. Nevertheless, one Ki-43 fighter flew close to Baggett and slowed to make sure. Baggett saw the pilot open his canopy and decided to take a chance. He drew his .45 caliber M1911 pistol and fired four shots at the pilot. He then watched as the plane stalled and plunged toward the ground.[9][10][11]
Baggett later gained fame as the only person ever to shoot down an aircraft using a pistol,[1][4][12][13][14] though this is contradicted by Japanese wartime records,[7] which indicate that no Japanese planes were lost during this action. Presumably, the Japanese pilot (wounded or not) regained control of his aircraft and flew it back to his airfield.[15]
Baggett landed and was immediately captured by Japanese soldiers on the ground. He remained a prisoner of the Japanese for the rest of the war.[1][3][16] Baggett and 37 other POWs were liberated at the war's end by eight OSS agents who parachuted into Singapore.[17]
While he was assigned to Mitchel Air Force Base, Baggett was noted for his work with children, including sponsoring a boy and a girl to be commander for a day.[18] Baggett retired from the Air Force as a colonel and later worked as a defense contractor manager for Litton.[2][4][19]
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The Pilot who shot down a Plane with a Pistol while Parachuting
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Thank you, my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that August 29 is the anniversary of the birth of second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps Owen John Baggett
The Pilot who shot down a Plane with a Pistol while Parachuting
"In this episode we examine the claim that a pilot shot down an enemy fighter plane with a pistol while he was parachuting."
https://youtu.be/u5NAcHhI_Uc?t=45
Images:
1. 2LT Owen J Baggett.
2. Ribbons and Badges from Together We Served.
3. Owen J Baggett tombstone at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery - San Antonio, Texas
1. Background from com/person_bio.php?person_id=1034 [death information from several sources]
a. August 29, 1920 Owen Baggett was born in Graham, Texas, United States.
b. July 27, 2006 Owen Baggett passed away. Location of Interment: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery - San Antonio, Texas Wall/Plot Coordinates: Section 42 Site 436
"Owen John Baggett was born in Graham, Texas, United States in 1920. In 1941, he graduated from Hardin–Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. After a brief time working in New York, New York, United States, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps. In mid-1942, he graduated from the pilot training program at New Columbus Army Flying School. In Dec 1942, at the rank of second lieutenant, he was assigned to the 9th Bomb Squadron of the United States Army Air Forces 7th Bomb Group stationed at Pandaveswar Airfield in eastern British India, serving aboard B-24 Liberator bombers. On 31 Mar 1943, he participated on a mission to destroy a bridge at Pyinmana, Burma. En route, his bomber was fatally damaged by Japanese fighters, and the entire crew bailed out in their parachutes. The Japanese fighters circled back to fire on the descending survivors, killing two. When one of the Japanese fighters approached, Baggett fired at the cockpit with his .45 caliber M1911 pistol, claiming to have killed the pilot and to have destroyed the pilot's [Ki-43 Oscar] fighter. He reached ground safely, but was imprisoned by the Japanese. He was liberated in Singapore at the end of WW2. Post war studies of Japanese records revealed that he had misidentified the aircraft; the fighters that had attacked on that day were Ki-43 fighters of Japanese Army Air Force 64th Sentai. Furthermore, 64th Sentai's records showed that no pilots were lost on 31 Mar 1943. He remained in military service and retired at the rank of colonel. He passed away in 2006.
Last Major Revision: Jun 2017
Owen Baggett Timeline
29 Aug 1920 Owen Baggett was born in Graham, Texas, United States.
26 Jul 1942 Owen Baggett completed the pilot training course at New Columbus Army Flying School.
31 Mar 1943 Owen Baggett, while descending in a parachute over Burma after his B-24 bomber was fatally damaged, claimed to have used a M1911 handgun to kill the pilot of a Japanese A6M Zero fighter. Post war study of Japanese records would show that there were no A6M Zero fighters in the vicinity on that date, and the Japanese squadron present during the engagement suffered no pilot losses.
27 Jul 2006 Owen Baggett passed away."
2. Background from prabook.com/web/owen.john_baggett/2118649
"Owen John Baggett
Owen John Baggett was a second lieutenant in the United States 7th Bomb Group based at Pandaveswar, in India, during the Second World War.
Background
Baggett was born in Graham, Texas in 1920.
Education
He graduated from Hardin–Simmons University in 1941, where he was the band"s drum major. Baggett enlisted in the Army Air Corps (which was subsumed by the Army Air Forces in February 1942) and graduated from pilot training on July 26, 1942, at the New Columbus Army Flying School.
Career
He initially went to work on Wall Street after graduation. On March 31, 1943, while stationed in British India, Baggett"s squadron was ordered to destroy a bridge at Pyinmana, Burma. Before reaching their target, the B-24 bombers were intercepted by Japanese fighter planes.Baggett"s plane was badly hit, and the crew were ordered to bail out.
The Japanese pilots then attacked United States. airmen as they parachuted to earth. Two of Baggett"s crew members were killed. Baggett, though wounded, played dead, hoping the Japanese would ignore him. One Zero approached within several feet of Baggett.
The pilot then nosed up, almost stalling, and opened his canopy. Baggett shot at the pilot with his.45 caliber pistol. The plane stalled and plunged to the earth, and Baggett became legendary as the only person to down a Japanese airplane with an M1911 pistol. He survived and was captured by the Japanese. This account is not consistent with Japanese records - discussed in the book "B-24 Liberators vs Ki-43 Oscars" by Edward M Young on page 57.
This dogfight was between 13 Ki-43s of the JAAF 64th Sentai and around 12 B-24s of the 7th Black Gold. There were no Japanese pilot loses. Regarding his pistol, his obituary states he shot down the Zero with a revolver. The statement that his pilot, Lloyd K. Jensen was "summarily executed" which appears in some articles regarding this event is untrue. Lloyd Jensen survived as evidenced by Baggett"s own statements in the book "Guests of the Emperor" at page 187 and National Archives and Records Administration: "World World War II Prisoners of War Data File, 12/7/1941 - 11/19/1946".
He remained a prisoner for the rest of the war. Baggett and 37 other POWs were liberated at the war"s end by eight Office of Strategic Services agents who parachuted into Singapore. While he was assigned to Mitchel Air Force Base, Baggett was noted for his assignment working with children, including sponsoring a boy and a girl to be commander for a day. Baggett retired from the Air Force as a colonel and later worked as a defense contractor manager for Litton."
FYI SP6 Stephen RogersonSSgt Corwin WhickerCPT Paul Whitmer
1SG Steven ImermanSSG Samuel KermonSP5 Geoffrey Vannerson
Col Casey "Radio" G.SFC John LichSgt Jackie Julius SPC Margaret Higgins Cynthia Croft LTC Greg Henning SGT Gregory Lawritson SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) CWO3 (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
The Pilot who shot down a Plane with a Pistol while Parachuting
"In this episode we examine the claim that a pilot shot down an enemy fighter plane with a pistol while he was parachuting."
https://youtu.be/u5NAcHhI_Uc?t=45
Images:
1. 2LT Owen J Baggett.
2. Ribbons and Badges from Together We Served.
3. Owen J Baggett tombstone at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery - San Antonio, Texas
1. Background from com/person_bio.php?person_id=1034 [death information from several sources]
a. August 29, 1920 Owen Baggett was born in Graham, Texas, United States.
b. July 27, 2006 Owen Baggett passed away. Location of Interment: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery - San Antonio, Texas Wall/Plot Coordinates: Section 42 Site 436
"Owen John Baggett was born in Graham, Texas, United States in 1920. In 1941, he graduated from Hardin–Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. After a brief time working in New York, New York, United States, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps. In mid-1942, he graduated from the pilot training program at New Columbus Army Flying School. In Dec 1942, at the rank of second lieutenant, he was assigned to the 9th Bomb Squadron of the United States Army Air Forces 7th Bomb Group stationed at Pandaveswar Airfield in eastern British India, serving aboard B-24 Liberator bombers. On 31 Mar 1943, he participated on a mission to destroy a bridge at Pyinmana, Burma. En route, his bomber was fatally damaged by Japanese fighters, and the entire crew bailed out in their parachutes. The Japanese fighters circled back to fire on the descending survivors, killing two. When one of the Japanese fighters approached, Baggett fired at the cockpit with his .45 caliber M1911 pistol, claiming to have killed the pilot and to have destroyed the pilot's [Ki-43 Oscar] fighter. He reached ground safely, but was imprisoned by the Japanese. He was liberated in Singapore at the end of WW2. Post war studies of Japanese records revealed that he had misidentified the aircraft; the fighters that had attacked on that day were Ki-43 fighters of Japanese Army Air Force 64th Sentai. Furthermore, 64th Sentai's records showed that no pilots were lost on 31 Mar 1943. He remained in military service and retired at the rank of colonel. He passed away in 2006.
Last Major Revision: Jun 2017
Owen Baggett Timeline
29 Aug 1920 Owen Baggett was born in Graham, Texas, United States.
26 Jul 1942 Owen Baggett completed the pilot training course at New Columbus Army Flying School.
31 Mar 1943 Owen Baggett, while descending in a parachute over Burma after his B-24 bomber was fatally damaged, claimed to have used a M1911 handgun to kill the pilot of a Japanese A6M Zero fighter. Post war study of Japanese records would show that there were no A6M Zero fighters in the vicinity on that date, and the Japanese squadron present during the engagement suffered no pilot losses.
27 Jul 2006 Owen Baggett passed away."
2. Background from prabook.com/web/owen.john_baggett/2118649
"Owen John Baggett
Owen John Baggett was a second lieutenant in the United States 7th Bomb Group based at Pandaveswar, in India, during the Second World War.
Background
Baggett was born in Graham, Texas in 1920.
Education
He graduated from Hardin–Simmons University in 1941, where he was the band"s drum major. Baggett enlisted in the Army Air Corps (which was subsumed by the Army Air Forces in February 1942) and graduated from pilot training on July 26, 1942, at the New Columbus Army Flying School.
Career
He initially went to work on Wall Street after graduation. On March 31, 1943, while stationed in British India, Baggett"s squadron was ordered to destroy a bridge at Pyinmana, Burma. Before reaching their target, the B-24 bombers were intercepted by Japanese fighter planes.Baggett"s plane was badly hit, and the crew were ordered to bail out.
The Japanese pilots then attacked United States. airmen as they parachuted to earth. Two of Baggett"s crew members were killed. Baggett, though wounded, played dead, hoping the Japanese would ignore him. One Zero approached within several feet of Baggett.
The pilot then nosed up, almost stalling, and opened his canopy. Baggett shot at the pilot with his.45 caliber pistol. The plane stalled and plunged to the earth, and Baggett became legendary as the only person to down a Japanese airplane with an M1911 pistol. He survived and was captured by the Japanese. This account is not consistent with Japanese records - discussed in the book "B-24 Liberators vs Ki-43 Oscars" by Edward M Young on page 57.
This dogfight was between 13 Ki-43s of the JAAF 64th Sentai and around 12 B-24s of the 7th Black Gold. There were no Japanese pilot loses. Regarding his pistol, his obituary states he shot down the Zero with a revolver. The statement that his pilot, Lloyd K. Jensen was "summarily executed" which appears in some articles regarding this event is untrue. Lloyd Jensen survived as evidenced by Baggett"s own statements in the book "Guests of the Emperor" at page 187 and National Archives and Records Administration: "World World War II Prisoners of War Data File, 12/7/1941 - 11/19/1946".
He remained a prisoner for the rest of the war. Baggett and 37 other POWs were liberated at the war"s end by eight Office of Strategic Services agents who parachuted into Singapore. While he was assigned to Mitchel Air Force Base, Baggett was noted for his assignment working with children, including sponsoring a boy and a girl to be commander for a day. Baggett retired from the Air Force as a colonel and later worked as a defense contractor manager for Litton."
FYI SP6 Stephen RogersonSSgt Corwin WhickerCPT Paul Whitmer
1SG Steven ImermanSSG Samuel KermonSP5 Geoffrey Vannerson
Col Casey "Radio" G.SFC John LichSgt Jackie Julius SPC Margaret Higgins Cynthia Croft LTC Greg Henning SGT Gregory Lawritson SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) CWO3 (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
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