Colonel Jesús A. Villamor
Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC)

Background
Jesús Antonio Villamor was born November 7, 1914 as one of six children of parents Ignacio Villamor and Mariquita Flores. Nicknamed "Jess". He studied commerce at De La Salle College (DLSU-Manila) in Manila.

At a young age, Villamor became interested in flying and learned how to fly a Cox-Klemin plane at the Philippine Air Taxi Corporation flying from Grace Park near Manila. After flying solo and logging 20 hours, he applied for a private pilot license but failed the test. Instead, he traveled to the United States to attend Dallas Aviation School in Dallas, Texas and earned his Transport Pilot License then returned to the Philippines but was unable to find employment as a private pilot.

During 1936, he applied for a slot in the first batch of cadets of the newly formed Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) and was accepted and attended flying school and learned to fly the Stearman Model 73 taught by Lt. William Lee. Afterwards, he was sent via Japan to the United States for further training at Randolph Field and learned to fly the Boeing P-12 and graduated on June 9, 1937 and was commissioned as a 3rd Lieutenant. He was assigned to Selfridge Field assigned to the 94th Pursuit Squadron flying the P-26 Peashooter under World War I ace Eddie Rickenbacker and met pilots John R/ Allison and Philip Cocran who later became World War II aces.

In 1938, he returned to the Philippines and was assigned as stage commander at Zablan Field and became the director of flight training and was an instructor for Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lt. Col. Richard Sutherland. In 1939 promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He also learned to fly the B-17 Flying Fortress. Next, assigned to the 6th Pursuit Squadron at Nichols Field.

Wartime History
On December 8, 1941 although the Philippines was alerted to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu hours before, they were surprised when Japanese planes from Formosa (Taiwan) attack the Philippines.

On December 10, 1941 at 11:30am, took off from Nichols Field leading five P-36 Peashooters on a mission to intercept Japanese bombers and fighters over Zablan Field and Pasig. Dogfighting with Zeros, he dove low over the Marikina Valley to evade one fighter then pulled up and head on fired on another plane and claimed it shot down as the first aerial victory claim by the PAAC. In total, the P-26s four victories: one bomber and three fighters.

On December 11, 1941 Villamor and the 6th Pursuit Squadron move to Batangas Airfield.

On December 12, 1941 took off from Batangas Airfield leading a formation of P-26 Peashooters to intercept Japanese bombers and fighters in the vicinity. At noon, from higher altitude they dive into the enemy formation. Villamor claimed a Type 96 Nell / G3M shot down, his second aerial victory claim before they were intercepted by Zeros. Although the Peashooters were obsolete, their aggressive harassing tactics minimized the damage the airfield. For his actions, he later earned an oak leaf cluster for his Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).

On February 9, 1942 took off piloting a Stearman Model 75 biplane with observer Sgt. Juan V. Abanes on a mission to search for and photograph Japanese artillery emplacements at Ternate escorted by P-40E Warhawks. During the mission, the planes were spotted by a Ki-46 Dinah over Limay then intercepted by Ki-27 Nates over the Bataan Peninsula. The Stearman was damaged but was able to complete the mission and land safely.

Awards
Villamor earned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for actions on December 10, 1941, and an Oak Leaf Cluster for his actions on December 12, 1941. Villamor is the only Filipino to receive the DSC twice.

Memorials
Villamor Philippine Military Air Base at Manila Airport (Nino Aquino Airport, Nichols Field) is named in his honor.

A memorial with a statue and plaque dedicated to Villamor is located at the Philippine Air Force Museum.

References
They Never Surrendered (1968) by Jesus Villamor
Doomed At The Start (1995) pages 310-313 (February 9, 1942), 318, 324, 502 (index Villamor)
PAF Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base - official webpage via Wayback Machine November 30, 2017

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