Lt. Cesar Basa

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 2):

JUNE 21, 1915

Lt. Cesar T. Basa (June 21, 1915 - December 12, 1941), a pilot and World War II hero, came from Isabela, Negros Occidental. 

His parents moved to Manila where he graduated Bachelor of Science, Major in Chemistry at the Ateneo de Manila. 

He joined the Philippine Army Flying School and graduated in 1940 and was given the rank of 2nd lieutenant as a fighter pilot. 

He was under the command of Capt. Jesus Villamor. On December 12, 1941, fifty-four Japanese bombers and fighter escorts raided Batangas Field. Capt. Villamor and five fighter pilots engaged the Japanese in aerial combat. 

Lt. Basa, who just arrived from a patrol mission joined his comrades. He was intercepted by seven Japanese A6M fighter planes and was shot down. He managed to bail out but was strafed by machine gun fire. 

The Filipinos won the battle with Basa as the only casualty. 

Lt. Cesar Basa was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Basa Air Base in Pampanga was named after him.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: Presidential Museum and Library