Owen John Baggett
Born(1920-08-29)August 29, 1920
Graham, Texas
DiedJuly 27, 2006(2006-07-27) (aged 85)
New Braunfels, Texas
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1942–1973
RankColonel
Unit9th Bomb Squadron
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War
AwardsPrisoner of War Medal

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.

Early life

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] After graduation, he was employed as a defense contractor on Wall Street.[5]

Military service

Baggett enlisted in the Army Air Forces 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 (1920–1994) 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 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 or the event never took place;[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 in 1973 and later worked as a defense contractor manager for Litton.[2][4][19]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Owen John Baggett". San Antonio Express-News. 30 June 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  2. 1 2 Bethel, Brian (29 July 2006). "Owen Baggett, 85: friend of many, good drummer, one heck of a WWII tale". Abilene Reporter-News. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  3. 1 2 Hayes, Harry H., ed. (April 1943). "Owen Baggett Missing In Action". Hardin-Simmons University Bulletin. p. 1. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Britt Yates, Jones, ed. (April 2007). "A War, A Legend, and Forgiveness". Range Rider. Hardin-Simmons University: 50–51. Archived from the original on 2015-06-10.
  5. ↑ "Keeping Up With the Exs". Hardin-Simmons University Bulletin. August 1941. p. 3. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  6. ↑ "Keeping Up With the Exs". Hardin-Simmons University Bulletin. October 1942. p. 3. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  7. 1 2 Edward M. Young, 2012, B-24 Liberators vs Ki-43 Oscars, Botley UK, Osprey, p. 57.
  8. ↑ The sources regarding Lloyd K. Jensen include Baggett's own statements in the book Guests of the Emperor (p. 187) and the National Archives and Records Administration, World War II Prisoners of War Data File, 12/7/1941 - 11/19/1946.
  9. ↑ Thompson, Leroy (2011). The Colt 1911 Pistol. Osprey Publishing. p. 42. ISBN 978-1849084338.
  10. ↑ Pictorial history of the 7th Bombardment Group/Wing, 1918-1995. 7th Bombardment Group(H) Historical Foundation. 1998. p. 286. ISBN 096604620X.
  11. ↑ Kelly, Andy (2004). Magellan And I. AuthorHouse. pp. 174–175. ISBN 1418496456.
  12. ↑ Frisbee, John L. (1966). "Valor: David and Goliath". Air Force Magazine. 79 (7).
  13. ↑ "The M1911 Gets a Zero". The American Rifleman. National Rifle Association. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  14. ↑ Campbell, Robert K. (2011). Gun Digest Shooters Guide to the 1911. Gun Digest Books. p. 24. ISBN 978-1440218941.
  15. ↑ Christopher Shores (2005). Air War For Burma. p. 76.
  16. ↑ Bourjaily, Phil (3 June 2011). "Best Shot with a 1911. Ever". The Gun Nut. Field & Stream. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  17. ↑ Dorr, Robert F. (1997). 7th Bombardment Group/Wing, 1918-1995. Turner Publishing Company. p. 195. ISBN 1563112787.
  18. ↑ Army, Navy, Air Force Journal. 91: 156. 1953. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ↑ Missiles and Rockets, Vol. 14. American Aviation Publications. 1964. p. 142.
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