Antonio Bautista
Encyclopedia
Antonio M. Bautista was a Filipino
pilot
of the Philippine Air Force
.
Colonel Antonio "Tony" Bautista was a pilot of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and died in action in 1974. In the early 1960s, known as the PAF's Glory Days, he was squadron commander to one of the PAF's aerial acrobatic teams, the Golden Sabres. His skills and sheer audacity with the F-86 Sabre
jets, delighted fans and audiences anywhere his group put up an air show. He also became a member of the famed Blue Diamonds (aerobatic team)
, the Philippine's own International Aerial Acrobatic Team.
Antonio Bautista is most famous for his final combat flight against a rebel uprising on January 9, 1974.
As Commander of the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 5th Fighter Wing, he had already flown over 200 successful combat missions for the Air Force, when his squadron was ordered to provide close air support to government ground forces engaged in anti-insurgent operations in Jolo
. As was his nature, he personally led a fighter strike mission against a thousand armed insurgents, who had launched a fanatical attack against besieged government forces in Parang
, Jolo.
In order to effectively break the spearhead of the rebel assault, Lt. Colonel Bautista had to fly his plane as close to the ground as possible to execute accurate and effective strafing attacks. He knew he risked being targeted by high-powered assault rifles, but with clinical precision, he began his attack runs. With each pass, he flew his F-86 Sabre Jet through a fusillade
of hot lead bullets. Ignoring the increasing number of warning lights blinking steadily on his instrument panel, Lt. Col Bautista continued his assault, sustaining more and more damage with each pass. Only after two effective bombing runs and five successful strafing passes had depleted his ammunition, did he break off and try to save himself. He turned his burning plane toward friendly territory in Jolo.
Realizing he would never be able to land his plane, he flew his jet away from populated areas, radioed in his last position to the command base, and finally ejected over a contingent of government troops just before his plane exploded in mid-air. Unfortunately, strong winds pushed his parachute
back over enemy turf. Marine units were dispatched from the nearby airbase in a frenetic effort to mount a rescue. Lt. Colonel Bautista's last radio transmissions from the field reported that rebel forces had marked his area and were preparing to attack and overrun his position. Outnumbered and outgunned, Colonel Bautista never gave up, and he engaged the rebel troops in a valiant gunfight. Government marine troops rushing to the scene could hear the gunfire and were a few hundred meters from Lt. Colonel Bautista's position when they heard the deafening silence. Moments later they arrived on the scene and secured Bautista's body.
For his uncommon bravery and tenacity in the face of overwhelming odds, the Armed Forces of the Philippines
posthumously awarded Bautista the Distinguished Conduct Star
on April 29, 1974. His widow, Alice Jane Rigor received the awards on behalf of her fallen husband from then Philippine President, Ferdinand Marcos
. In addition, the air base at Puerto Princesa, Palawan
(island) was named after him: Antonio Bautista Air Base, when it opened on 21 March 1975. It is now home for the Air Force's 570th Composite Tactical Wing.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
of the Philippine Air Force
Philippine Air Force
The Philippine Air Force is the air force of the Republic of the Philippines, and one of the three main services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas....
.
Colonel Antonio "Tony" Bautista was a pilot of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and died in action in 1974. In the early 1960s, known as the PAF's Glory Days, he was squadron commander to one of the PAF's aerial acrobatic teams, the Golden Sabres. His skills and sheer audacity with the F-86 Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
jets, delighted fans and audiences anywhere his group put up an air show. He also became a member of the famed Blue Diamonds (aerobatic team)
Blue Diamonds (aerobatic team)
The Blue Diamonds is the national aerobatic team of the Philippine Air Force, based at Basa Air Base, in Floridablanca, Pampanga.-History:The team was formed in 1953 by First Lieutenant Jose Gonzalez and his air group. It first used P-51D Mustangs before jet aircraft were acquired. As the Air Force...
, the Philippine's own International Aerial Acrobatic Team.
As Commander of the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 5th Fighter Wing, he had already flown over 200 successful combat missions for the Air Force, when his squadron was ordered to provide close air support to government ground forces engaged in anti-insurgent operations in Jolo
Jolo
Jolo may refer to:* Jolo Island* Jolo, Sulu* Jolo, West Virginia* Jolo is also the nickname of Swedish author Jan Olof Olsson....
. As was his nature, he personally led a fighter strike mission against a thousand armed insurgents, who had launched a fanatical attack against besieged government forces in Parang
Parang
Parang is a popular folk music originating out of Trinidad and Tobago, it was brought to Trinidad by Venezuelan migrants who were primarily of Amerindian and African heritage, something which is strongly reflected in the music itself. The word is derived from two Spanish words:'Parranda', meaning...
, Jolo.
In order to effectively break the spearhead of the rebel assault, Lt. Colonel Bautista had to fly his plane as close to the ground as possible to execute accurate and effective strafing attacks. He knew he risked being targeted by high-powered assault rifles, but with clinical precision, he began his attack runs. With each pass, he flew his F-86 Sabre Jet through a fusillade
Fusillade
A fusillade is the simultaneous and continuous firing of a group of firearms on command. It stems from the French word fusil, meaning firearm, and fusiller meaning to shoot....
of hot lead bullets. Ignoring the increasing number of warning lights blinking steadily on his instrument panel, Lt. Col Bautista continued his assault, sustaining more and more damage with each pass. Only after two effective bombing runs and five successful strafing passes had depleted his ammunition, did he break off and try to save himself. He turned his burning plane toward friendly territory in Jolo.
Realizing he would never be able to land his plane, he flew his jet away from populated areas, radioed in his last position to the command base, and finally ejected over a contingent of government troops just before his plane exploded in mid-air. Unfortunately, strong winds pushed his parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
back over enemy turf. Marine units were dispatched from the nearby airbase in a frenetic effort to mount a rescue. Lt. Colonel Bautista's last radio transmissions from the field reported that rebel forces had marked his area and were preparing to attack and overrun his position. Outnumbered and outgunned, Colonel Bautista never gave up, and he engaged the rebel troops in a valiant gunfight. Government marine troops rushing to the scene could hear the gunfire and were a few hundred meters from Lt. Colonel Bautista's position when they heard the deafening silence. Moments later they arrived on the scene and secured Bautista's body.
For his uncommon bravery and tenacity in the face of overwhelming odds, the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
posthumously awarded Bautista the Distinguished Conduct Star
Distinguished Conduct Star
The Distinguished Conduct Star, is the second highest military award of the Philippines, preceded in precedence only by the Medal of Valor. The award was established in 1939, by President Manuel L. Quezon...
on April 29, 1974. His widow, Alice Jane Rigor received the awards on behalf of her fallen husband from then Philippine President, Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
. In addition, the air base at Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
(island) was named after him: Antonio Bautista Air Base, when it opened on 21 March 1975. It is now home for the Air Force's 570th Composite Tactical Wing.