Legion of Merit
163-796: Jesús Antonio Villamor (November 7, 1914 – October 28, 1971) was a Filipino - American pilot, spy, and Medal of Valor awardee who fought the Japanese in World War II . Jesús Villamor was one of six children of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines , Ignacio Villamor (the judge who convicted Philippine Independence Leader Macario Sakay) of Bangued, Abra, and Mariquita Flores. He studied commerce at De La Salle College (now DLSU-Manila) in Manila , hoping to pursue
326-596: A B-25 Mitchell Bomber along with Nat Floyd of the New York Times and Col. Chi Wang, the Chinese military attaché to the Philippines. After arriving in Australia, Capt. Villamor had the opportunity to report to Gen. MacArthur and Pres. Manuel Quezon. He begged to be given aircraft for his squadron and return to the Philippines to continue with the fight. MacArthur only gave him his word that he will return to
489-830: A Cox-Klemin Aircraft at the Philippine Air Taxi Corp. in Grace Park that was located next to La Loma Cemetery . He earned his wings under PATCO's General Manager, Capt. William "Jitter Bill" Bradford, who was later to become the head of the "Bamboo Fleet" which served as the lifeline of the USAFFE during the Battle of Corregidor . Villamor also learned under Instructor Pilots and World War I aviator veterans Bert Hall , Charlie Heston, and Don Kneedler. After completing 20 hours of solo flying, Villamor proceeded to
652-476: A shootout with MILF rebels in Mamasapano delayed passage of the law. Growing public frustration with post- EDSA governance led to the 2016 election of populist Rodrigo Duterte , whose presidency saw the decline of liberalism in the country albeit largely retaining liberal economic policies. Among Duterte's priorities was aggressively increasing infrastructure spending to spur economic growth;
815-473: A 17th-century war against the Dutch , 18th-century British occupation of Manila , and conflict with Muslims in the south. Administration of the Philippines was considered a drain on the economy of New Spain, and abandoning it or trading it for other territory was debated. This course of action was opposed because of the islands' economic potential, security, and the desire to continue religious conversion in
978-531: A 33-year chapter in the history of Selfridge came to an end. The 94th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron prepared to move to Wurtsmith Air Force Base near Oscoda, Michigan, and elements of the 1st Combat Support Group were re-designated the 4708th Air Base Group on 1 January 1970. The Michigan Air National Guard's 127th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing moved its entire operation from Detroit Metropolitan Airport near Romulus to Selfridge in December, 1970. The 127th became
1141-642: A Japanese attacker, and was forced to bail out. Upon landing, he was rescued by civilians. Lt. Manuel Conde also suffered the same, but was able to land his P-26 in Zablan Field. However, his aircraft exploded moments after he exited and took cover from the onslaught of Japanese strafing. At the conclusion, the Japanese lost two bombers, while the PAAC lost 3 aircraft. The 6th Pursuit Squadron returned to Nichols Airfield on December 13 with 4 remaining P-26s, and on
1304-612: A P-26 Fighter Airplane in the 6th Pursuit Squadron, Philippine Army Air Corps, attached to the Far East Air Force , in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces on 10 December 1941, during an air mission over Batangas , Philippine Islands. In the face of heavy enemy fire from strong air forces, Captain Villamor led his flight of three pursuit planes into action against attacking Japanese planes. By his conspicuous example of courage and leadership at great personal hazard beyond
1467-504: A black driver. Following the incident, accusations of several other improper occurrences at the base including misappropriation of government property, procurement of unlawful transfers and exchange of goods for transfers. Colman was found guilty of careless use of firearms after a court martial and demoted to captain. However, he was acquitted of 23 other charges that included authorizing illegal transfers, accepting bribes and theft of government property. The 477th Bombardment Group (Medium)
1630-500: A business career. During summer, he and his family went to Baguio and stayed in one of the government houses on Hogan's Alley, which are now assigned to Justice of Court of Appeals, just below Cabinet Hill along Leonard Wood Road. One of his playmates during this time was Roberto Lim, son of Brigadier General Vicente Lim . Roberto would later learn under Villamor in a Stearman plane. Villamor would also sign Lim's first civilian license. Jess (as one of his friends would call him), at
1793-402: A claim on eastern North Borneo . In 1965, Macapagal lost the presidential election to Ferdinand Marcos . Early in his presidency , Marcos began infrastructure projects funded mostly by foreign loans; this improved the economy, and contributed to his reelection in 1969 . Near the end of his last constitutionally-permitted term, Marcos declared martial law on September 21, 1972 using
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#17327919127091956-574: A cover story that he was to be transferred to the 91st Air Depot Group in Amberly. From August to December, Villamor now serving with the Allied Intelligence Bureau identified and trained with other Filipino officers in commando operations and espionage with Australian special operations units. During this period SWPA was also able to connect with guerrilla leaders, namely Lt. Col. Macario Peralta . On Christmas Day 1942, Villamor
2119-581: A major non-NATO ally. Under President Duterte , ties with the United States weakened in favor of improved relations with China and Russia . The Philippines relies heavily on the United States for its external defense; the U.S. has made regular assurances to defend the Philippines, including the South China Sea . Since 1975, the Philippines has valued its relations with China —its top trading partner, and cooperates significantly with
2282-576: A month of conducting initial surveys and contacts with guerillas in the Visayas, Villamor's Planet Party was able to establish a chain of direct communication from the Philippines with General Douglas MacArthur . Villamor would later coordinate the activities of various guerrilla movements in Luzon , Mindanao and the Visayas . Completing his mission Villamor returned to Australia . Villamor's reports from
2445-659: A more capable defense system. The Philippines has long struggled against local insurgencies , separatism , and terrorism . Bangsamoro 's largest separatist organizations, the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front , signed final peace agreements with the government in 1996 and 2014 respectively. Other, more-militant groups such as Abu Sayyaf and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters have kidnapped foreigners for ransom, particularly in
2608-469: A six-year term ) and the House of Representatives , the lower house , with members elected to a three-year term. Senators are elected at-large , and representatives are elected from legislative districts and party lists . Judicial authority is vested in the Supreme Court , composed of a chief justice and fourteen associate justices , who are appointed by the president from nominations submitted by
2771-427: A three-tier social structure: nobility, freemen, and dependent debtor-bondsmen. Among the nobility were leaders known as datus , who were responsible for ruling autonomous groups ( barangays or dulohan). When the barangays banded together to form a larger settlement or a geographically looser alliance, their more-esteemed members would be recognized as a " paramount datu ", rajah or sultan , and would rule
2934-399: A tropical maritime climate which is usually hot and humid. There are three seasons: a hot dry season from March to May, a rainy season from June to November, and a cool dry season from December to February. The southwest monsoon (known as the habagat ) lasts from May to October, and the northeast monsoon ( amihan ) lasts from November to April. The coolest month is January, and
3097-674: A tumultuous experience with democracy, which included the overthrow of a decades-long dictatorship in a nonviolent revolution . The Philippines is an emerging market and a newly industrialized country , whose economy is transitioning from being agricultural to service- and manufacturing-centered. It is a founding member of the United Nations , the World Trade Organization , ASEAN , the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and
3260-470: A typical year, usually from July to October; eight or nine of them make landfall . The wettest recorded typhoon to hit the Philippines dropped 2,210 millimeters (87 in) in Baguio from July 14 to 18, 1911. The country is among the world's ten most vulnerable to climate change . The Philippines has a democratic government, a constitutional republic with a presidential system . The president
3423-473: Is Quezon City . Both are within Metro Manila . Negritos , the archipelago's earliest inhabitants, were followed by waves of Austronesian peoples . The adoption of animism , Hinduism with Buddhist influence, and Islam established island-kingdoms ruled by datus , rajas , and sultans . Extensive overseas trade with neighbors such as the late Tang or Song empire brought Chinese people to
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#17327919127093586-494: Is head of state and head of government , and is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces . The president is elected through direct election by the citizens of the Philippines for a six-year term. The president appoints and presides over the cabinet and officials of various national government agencies and institutions. The bicameral Congress is composed of the Senate (the upper house , with members elected to
3749-685: Is a founding and active member of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and a member of the East Asia Summit , the Group of 24 , and the Non-Aligned Movement . The country has sought to obtain observer status in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation since 2003, and was a member of SEATO . Over 10 million Filipinos live and work in 200 countries , giving the Philippines soft power . During
3912-796: Is a priority hotspot for biodiversity conservation ; it has more than 200 protected areas , which was expanded to 7,790,000 hectares (30,100 sq mi) as of 2023 . Three sites in the Philippines have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List: the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River , and the Mount Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary. The Philippines has
4075-697: Is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan , near Mount Clemens . Selfridge Field was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the United States entry into World War I in April 1917. The host organization is the 127th Wing (127 WG) of the Michigan Air National Guard , but a variety of Air Force Reserve , Navy Reserve , Marine Corps Reserve , Army Reserve , Army National Guard , and active duty Coast Guard units use
4238-575: The Reconquista . The Spanish–Moro conflict lasted for several hundred years; Spain conquered portions of Mindanao and Jolo during the last quarter of the 19th century, and the Muslim Moro in the Sultanate of Sulu acknowledged Spanish sovereignty. Philippine ports opened to world trade during the 19th century, and Filipino society began to change. Social identity changed, with
4401-535: The 2022 election . Marcos's renewal of a pro-US foreign policy, however, has been viewed as a reversal of Duterte's cordiality with China, and territorial disputes in the South China Sea have since escalated. The Philippines is an archipelago of about 7,641 islands , covering a total area (including inland bodies of water) of about 300,000 square kilometers (115,831 sq mi). Stretching 1,850 kilometers (1,150 mi) north to south, from
4564-603: The 8th and 9th Aero Squadrons , and Captain Byron Q. Jones was the first commander at Selfridge. Actual pilot training began on 16 July 1917, three months after war was declared. Some of these students, a few of them from Mount Clemens area, were given a few flights and then, within two weeks, whisked overseas for advanced training and to meet the enemy. During the summer of 1917, 72 men won aviator ratings and, combined, logged over 3,700 flying hours. From that time on, hundreds of young men passed through Selfridge Air Pilot School for
4727-576: The Batanes Islands (where they built stone fortresses known as ijangs ) and northern Luzon . Jade artifacts have been dated to 2000 BC, with lingling-o jade items made in Luzon with raw materials from Taiwan. By 1000 BC, the inhabitants of the archipelago had developed into four societies: hunter-gatherer tribes, warrior societies, highland plutocracies , and port principalities. The earliest known surviving written record in
4890-593: The Bureau of Aeronautics to apply for his pilot license, but flunked the test. The Bureau's director, Capt. Russell Maughan , commented that Villamor's flying was unsafe and told Bradford that Villamor should never fly again. Hall on the other hand was in disgust over Maughan's rejection of Villamor. A few days later, Hall encouraged Villamor's mother to send him to the Dallas Aviation School in Texas . On
5053-609: The CH-47 Chinook . The on-base Selfridge Military Air Museum is operated by the Michigan Air Guard Historical Association, exhibits photos and artifacts of military aerospace history, and has an outdoor Air Park of over 30 aircraft. Selfridge Air National Guard Base is named after 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge . He was detailed for aeronautical duty in April 1908 after being an assistant to Professor Alexander Graham Bell , who
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5216-684: The Coral Triangle ecoregion, Philippine waters have unique, diverse marine life and the world's greatest diversity of shore-fish species. The country has over 3,200 fish species (121 endemic). Philippine waters sustain the cultivation of fish, crustaceans, oysters, and seaweeds. Eight major types of forests are distributed throughout the Philippines: dipterocarp , beach forest, pine forest, molave forest, lower montane forest , upper montane (or mossy forest ), mangroves , and ultrabasic forest. According to official estimates,
5379-498: The East Asia Summit ; it is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement and a major non-NATO ally of the United States. Its location as an island country on the Pacific Ring of Fire and close to the equator makes it prone to earthquakes and typhoons . The Philippines has a variety of natural resources and a globally-significant level of biodiversity . During his 1542 expedition, Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos named
5542-450: The Far East Air Force was tasked by MacArthur to conduct an aerial photography mission over Ternate, Cavite and search out the artillery placement of Maj. Toshinori Kondo. George tasked Capt. Villamor for this mission. On February 9, 1942, Capt. Villamor conducted a reconnaissance mission over occupied Cavite in a PT-13 escorted by four American P-40 Warhawks . Capt. Villamor was on the student-pilot seat, while Sgt. Juan V. Abanes from
5705-513: The Judicial and Bar Council . Attempts to change the government to a federal , unicameral , or parliamentary government have been made since the Ramos administration . Philippine politics tends to be dominated by well-known families , such as political dynasties or celebrities , and party switching is widely practiced. Corruption is significant , attributed by some historians to
5868-672: The Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio , Taguig , which is located about two kilometers from the Philippine Air Force Headquarters which bears his name . For his bravery as a pilot and ingenuity as an intelligence officer, President Ramón Magsaysay awarded Lieutenant Col. Villamor the Medal of Valor , the highest Philippine military bravery decoration, on January 21, 1954. In addition, Villamor
6031-594: The Michigan Air National Guard is a combined Air Combat Command (ACC) and Air Mobility Command (AMC) gained organization that was established at Selfridge ANG Base on 1 April 1996, by consolidating the former 127th Fighter Wing and the 191st Airlift Group . The flying units which previously flew the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the C-130 Hercules , converted their flying missions per 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) action. Today,
6194-482: The Moro Gulf and in 1990 on Luzon . The Philippines has 23 active volcanoes ; of them, Mayon , Taal , Canlaon , and Bulusan have the largest number of recorded eruptions. The country has valuable mineral deposits as a result of its complex geologic structure and high level of seismic activity. It is thought to have the world's second-largest gold deposits (after South Africa), large copper deposits, and
6357-657: The Philippine Army was incorporated into the United States Army Forces in the Far East . Following this, PAAC was inducted into the Far East Air Force on August 15, with 141 pilots, 17 ground officers, 1,200 enlisted men, and 64 aircraft, with Maj. Basilio Fernando as its Commanding Officer. No less than Gen. MacArthur himself was the inducting officer. Gen. MacArthur forecasted that Japan will commence with its attack in April 1942, and event at
6520-726: The Philippine–American War . The war resulted in the deaths of 250,000 to 1 million civilians, primarily due to famine and disease. Many Filipinos were transported by the Americans to concentration camps , where thousands died. After the fall of the First Philippine Republic in 1902, an American civilian government was established with the Philippine Organic Act . American forces continued to secure and extend their control of
6683-601: The Republic of the Philippines , is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia . In the western Pacific Ocean , it consists of 7,641 islands , with a total area of roughly 300,000 square kilometers, which are broadly categorized in three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon , Visayas , and Mindanao . The Philippines is bounded by the South China Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to
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6846-643: The Selfridge Field was renamed Selfridge Air Force Base . The base grew steadily and soundly, acquiring impressive buildings and long concrete strips. In 1950, Headquarters for the Tenth Air Force , which was in charge of all Air Reserve records for a 13-state area in the Midwest, moved to Selfridge. It recalled and trained Air Reservists, and as an administrative group, the Tenth was the largest of
7009-529: The South China Sea to the Celebes Sea , the Philippines is bordered by the Philippine Sea to the east, and the Sulu Sea to the southwest. The country's 11 largest islands are Luzon , Mindanao , Samar , Negros , Palawan , Panay , Mindoro , Leyte , Cebu , Bohol and Masbate , about 95 percent of its total land area. The Philippines' coastline measures 36,289 kilometers (22,549 mi),
7172-545: The Taft Commission ; the 1934 Tydings–McDuffie Act granted a ten-year transition to independence through the creation of the Commonwealth of the Philippines the following year, with Manuel Quezon president and Sergio Osmeña vice president. Quezon's priorities were defence, social justice, inequality, economic diversification, and national character. Filipino (a standardized variety of Tagalog) became
7335-555: The Tejeros Convention , at which Bonifacio lost his position and Emilio Aguinaldo was elected the new leader of the revolution. The 1897 Pact of Biak-na-Bato resulted in the Hong Kong Junta government in exile. The Spanish–American War began the following year, and reached the Philippines; Aguinaldo returned, resumed the revolution, and declared independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. In December 1898,
7498-599: The VIII Interceptor Command on 19 January 1942 (transferred to Charleston AAF on 13 February, arrived RAF High Wycombe on 12 May). On 29 March 1943, the 332d Fighter Group of the Tuskegee Airmen completed its move to Selfridge. The commander of the Tuskegee's European and Mediterranean operations was Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr. , the first black officer to graduate from West Point in
7661-631: The Visayas and Mindanao area in a Stearman. In one occasion he would witness a Japanese aerial attack on a lone PT Boat in the waters off Bohol . After the Gen. Edward P. King surrendered the USAFFE in Bataan, Capt. Villamor would witness the last attempts at aerial counterattack in the Philippines on April 11 by the Royce Mission 's bombers. By April 14, Capt. Villamor was evacuated to Australia on
7824-427: The 176th Selfridge Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the auxiliary civilian arm of the US Air Force, as well as the headquarters of CAP's Michigan Wing . Selfridge is home to Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines and Marine Wing Support Group 47 (MWSG-47). The base is also home to Detachment 1, Company B, 3-238th General Support Aviation Battalion , which currently flies
7987-409: The 1990s, the Philippines began to seek economic liberalization and free trade to help spur foreign direct investment . It is a member of the World Trade Organization and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation . The Philippines entered into the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement in 2010 and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade agreement (FTA) in 2023. Through ASEAN,
8150-416: The 1st Pursuit Group to be moved to Kelly Field , Texas, shortly after its return. On 28 August 1919, following an order from Washington, all but 40 men left for Texas airfields. Finally reduced to a staff of only 14 civilians, Selfridge Field for all practical purposes ceased to exist for government officials. Until 1921, the government leased Selfridge Field from Henry B. Joy. That year, Joy offered to sell
8313-426: The 20th century, and later the first black Air Force general . Scandal hit Selfridge on 5 May 1943, when Colonel William Truman Colman, commandant of the base, was charged with shooting Private William MacRae, a black chauffeur who was assigned to drive him. Early reports stated that the incident occurred because Colman's regular driver was off-duty and a dispatcher was unaware of his standing order that he not have
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#17327919127098476-413: The 5th Photographic Squadron volunteered to sit in and operate the camera. No sooner, 6 Japanese Zeros appeared. Capt. Villamor's aircraft damaged but was still able to land it safely. One P-40 was lost at the cost of 4 Zeros. Capt. Villamor's mission proved to be a success, as the films were delivered, the information was collated with the ground observers, and counterbattery fire was put into effect. At
8639-451: The 6th Pursuit Squadron and the rest of the PAAC were ordered to destroy their aircraft inventory. Capt. Villamor and his unit were ordered to a strategic retreat to Bataan and transformed their mission to air defense . He would join Gen. MacArthur and Pres. Manuel L. Quezon on the ferry to Fort Mills on Corregidor Island on December 24, 1941. Capt. Villamor and his unit were still hoping to receive new aircraft from Australia. However,
8802-601: The 927 ARW has become an Air Force Reserve "Associate" wing to MacDill's 6th Air Mobility Wing , with both organizations flying the KC-135R PACER CRAG variant of the Stratotanker. NAF Detroit was established as a tenant activity at Selfridge ANGB in 1969 following the disestablishment of Naval Air Station Grosse Ile , Michigan. NAF Detroit remained operational until 1994, when it was closed and realigned due to BRAC action. An Echelon IV command of Naval Air Force Reserve, NAF Detroit hosted numerous Naval Reserve augmentation units supporting fleet commands and shore activities in
8965-547: The ACC-gained 107th Fighter Squadron flies the A-10C Thunderbolt II , also known as the A-10 "Warthog." The AMC-gained 127th Airlift Group was renamed the 127th Air Refueling Group and its 171st Air Refueling Squadron now flies the KC-135T Stratotanker . The 127th Wing was also home to the Air National Guard's now defunct 107th Weather Flight, which is operationally gained by the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). These specially trained Airmen collect weather data, develop forecasting products and direct forecasts to
9128-527: The Air National Guard's 127th Wing at Selfridge ANGB in 1991 and the Department of Defense became an official supporter of the STARBASE program in 1993. The United States Border Patrol Detroit Sector headquarters is located at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Detroit Sector area of responsibility includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. In March 2011, the United States Customs and Border Protection "formally opened its new Operational Integration Center on Selfridge". The first Air Show at Selfridge
9291-462: The Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, as well as three operational Reserve Force Aviation Squadrons (RESFORONs): Fleet Composite Squadron Twelve (VC-12) flying the A-4F Skyhawk II , Patrol Squadron 93 (VP-93) flying the P-3B Orion , and Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 62 (VR-62) flying the C-9B Skytrain II . NAF Detroit also hosted Marine Wing Support Group 47 (MWSG-47) of the Marine Air Reserve 's 4th Marine Aircraft Wing . On 15 July 2012, MWSG-47
9454-399: The Far East, General Orders No. 48 (1941) The President of the United States of America , authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Jesus A. Villamor (ASN: 0-888072), Philippine Army Air Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of
9617-592: The Japanese in turn only lost 7 aircraft in the two days of raids giving them practical air superiority over Northern Luzon. With the FEAF crippled, the 6th Pursuit Squadron at Nichols Airfield was one of the remaining units available to meet the enemy. At 11:30 am on December 10, while the unit was having lunch, general quarters was sounded, and the PAAC would have its baptism of fire . Capt. Villamor, along with Lieutenants Godofredo Juliano, Geronimo Aclan, Alberto Aranzaso, and Jose Gozar met another wave of Mitsubishi G3M bombers and Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters over
9780-474: The Muslim minority in the Philippines; concerns have been raised about domestic abuse and war affecting the approximately 2.5 million overseas Filipino workers in the region. The Philippines has claims in the Spratly Islands which overlap with claims by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The largest of its controlled islands is Thitu Island , which contains the Philippines' smallest town . The 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff , after China seized
9943-416: The PAAC. Prior to returning to the Philippines, Villamor was sent to Selfridge Field in Detroit , to join the 94th Pursuit Squadron , under World War I top ace, Eddie Rickenbacker , flying Boeing P-26 , along with World War II ace pilots John R. Allison and Philip Cochran . Returning to Manila in 1938, Villamor was assigned as Stage Commander of the PAAC in Zablan Field in Camp Murphy , and by 1939
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#173279191270910106-416: The Philippine Army Air Corps Flying School in 1936. He was joined with six other students, Lt. Antonio Alandy, Francisco Reyes, Ramon M.Zosa, Andres O. Cruz, Jacob Ouiranle, and Azarias M. Padilla. The first batch learned under Lt. William "Jerry" Lee on Stearman Model 73 . Villamor along with Francisco Reyes were later sent to Randolph Field in San Antonio , Texas for further training in 1936. Enroute to
10269-537: The Philippine Autonomy Act and the Jones Law . The official title "Republic of the Philippines" was included in the 1935 constitution as the name of the future independent state, and in all succeeding constitutional revisions. There is evidence of early hominins living in what is now the Philippines as early as 709,000 years ago. A small number of bones from Callao Cave potentially represent an otherwise unknown species, Homo luzonensis , who lived 50,000 to 67,000 years ago. The oldest modern human remains on
10432-474: The Philippines (AFP) consist of three branches: the Philippine Air Force , the Philippine Army , and the Philippine Navy . Civilian security is handled by the Philippine National Police under the Department of the Interior and Local Government . The AFP had a total manpower of around 280,000 as of 2022 , of which 130,000 were active military personnel, 100,000 were reserves, and 50,000 were paramilitaries . In 2023, US$ 477 million (1.4 percent of GDP)
10595-426: The Philippines and continue with the fight. Capt. Villamor approached another old friend in MacArthur's staff in Brisbane , Maj. Joseph Ralph McMicking, a Filipino-Scottish-American reserve officer with the PAAC. Capt. Villamor taught Maj. McMicking in Zablan, and both shared some time in the PAAC prior to the war. Maj. McMicking listened to Capt. Villamor, and agreed that he could become useful for another mission to
10758-547: The Philippines as soldiers and colonists. Spanish Manila became the capital of the Captaincy General of the Philippines and the Spanish East Indies in 1571, Spanish territories in Asia and the Pacific. The Spanish invaded local states using the principle of divide and conquer , bringing most of what is the present-day Philippines under one unified administration. Disparate barangays were deliberately consolidated into towns , where Catholic missionaries could more easily convert their inhabitants to Christianity , which
10921-431: The Philippines becoming ruled by the Crown of Castile, as part of the Spanish Empire , for more than 300 years. Catholic Christianity became the dominant religion, and Manila became the western hub of trans-Pacific trade . Hispanic immigrants from Latin America and Iberia would also selectively colonize. The Philippine Revolution began in 1896, and became entwined with the 1898 Spanish–American War . Spain ceded
11084-409: The Philippines during the 14th century, via the Indianized Hindu Majapahit Empire . By the 15th century, Islam was established in the Sulu Archipelago and spread from there. Polities founded in the Philippines between the 10th and 16th centuries include Maynila , Tondo , Namayan , Pangasinan , Cebu , Butuan , Maguindanao , Lanao , Sulu , and Ma-i . The early polities typically had
11247-473: The Philippines had 7,000,000 hectares (27,000 sq mi) of forest cover in 2023. Logging had been systemized during the American colonial period and deforestation continued after independence, accelerating during the Marcos presidency due to unregulated logging concessions. Forest cover declined from 70 percent of the Philippines' total land area in 1900 to about 18.3 percent in 1999. Rehabilitation efforts have had marginal success. The Philippines
11410-429: The Philippines has signed FTAs with China , India , Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The country has bilateral FTAs with Japan , South Korea, and four European states : Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The Philippines has a long relationship with the United States , involving economics, security , and interpersonal relations. The Philippines' location serves an important role in
11573-461: The Philippines is the early-10th-century AD Laguna Copperplate Inscription , which was written in Old Malay using the early Kawi script with a number of technical Sanskrit words and Old Javanese or Old Tagalog honorifics . By the 14th century, several large coastal settlements emerged as trading centers and became the focus of societal changes . Some polities had exchanges with other states throughout Asia. Trade with China began during
11736-518: The Philippines soon. A few days later Capt. Villamor received instructions to report to the 35th Fighter Group in Williamstown near Melbourne , where he would be assigned as Director of Ground Training and Senior Flight Instructor on Curtiss P-40 Warhawks . Here he would reconnect with an old friend and aviation maverick Paul "Pappy" Gunn , who was known to have made supply runs to Corregidor from Del Monte Airfield. Both men wanted to return to
11899-537: The Philippines. Rizal was executed on December 30, 1896, for rebellion, and his death radicalized many who had been loyal to Spain. Attempts at reform met with resistance; Andrés Bonifacio founded the Katipunan secret society, which sought independence from Spain through armed revolt, in 1892. The Katipunan Cry of Pugad Lawin began the Philippine Revolution in 1896. Internal disputes led to
12062-456: The Philippines. McMicking lead Villamor to an office and was introduced to Col. Allison Ind. Villamor then realized that this was the Allied Intelligence Bureau . Col. Ind knew who Capt. Villamor was, and told him of the need by the Allies to connect with the guerrillas in the Philippines, and brought him his superior, BGen. Charles Willoughby . Within that meeting, it was decided to give Villamor
12225-787: The Selfridge facility, plans were announced for the activation of the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, Detroit, at Selfridge. A new Wing Commander, Col. Kenneth E. Rosebush, also arrived in August from Headquarters, Pacific Command. In July, 1966, the Coast Guard moved to Selfridge Air Force Base as a tenant. From 1950 to 1974, the Selfridge AFB radar station , including a Missile Master Army Air Defense Command Post after 1960, provided ground-controlled interception coverage for interceptor aircraft and surface-to-air missiles . Selfridge
12388-483: The Selfridge's 13th Fighter-Intercepter Squadron of the 4708th Air Defense Wing won the Eastern Air Defense Force rocket gunnery championship; and on 10 May 1956, a Selfridge F-86D accidentally fired 22 Mighty Mouse rockets while on the ground. In November 1957, Air Defense Command (ADC) assumed control of Selfridge AFB. The inactivation of Tenth Air Force began in the fall of 1959, and it
12551-703: The Spanish colonial period's padrino system . The Roman Catholic church exerts considerable but waning influence in political affairs, although a constitutional provision for the separation of Church and State exists. A founding and active member of the United Nations, the Philippines has been a non-permanent member of the Security Council . The country participates in peacekeeping missions, particularly in East Timor . The Philippines
12714-713: The Spanish to refer to islands in the region before Spanish rule was established. During the Philippine Revolution , the Malolos Congress proclaimed it the República Filipina (the Philippine Republic ). American colonial authorities referred to the country as the Philippine Islands (a translation of the Spanish name). The United States began changing its nomenclature from "the Philippine Islands" to "the Philippines" in
12877-542: The Sulu Archipelago and Maguindanao , but their presence has been reduced. The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its military wing, the New People's Army (NPA), have been waging guerrilla warfare against the government since the 1970s and have engaged in ambushes, bombings, and assassinations of government officials and security forces; although shrinking militarily and politically after
13040-581: The United States' island chain strategy in the West Pacific; a Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries was signed in 1951, and was supplemented with the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement and the 2016 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement . The country supported American policies during the Cold War and participated in the Korean and Vietnam wars. In 2003, the Philippines was designated
13203-462: The United States, they had a stopover in Tokyo where they had the chance to examine a Mitsubishi A5M naval fighter. Reyes would later wash out from the class, but Villamor persisted in flying with the class, earning him the monicker ""Little Chief Oompah." He would qualify in a Boeing P-12 , and upon graduation on June 9, 1937, received the news that he was going to be commissioned as 3rd Lieutenant in
13366-458: The age of 14 to 15, was already an aviation bug. As his father and uncles were lawyers, his parents were not too keen over Villamor's desire to take up flying and encouraged him to follow the family tradition of the legal practice. After the death of his father, his mother relented and encouraged Villamor to take up flying. He was worried that because of his short height, he wouldn't pass the physical exam. Nevertheless, Villamor learned how to fly with
13529-446: The archipelago as well, which would also gradually settle in and intermix over the centuries. The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan , a Portuguese explorer leading a fleet for Castile , marked the beginning of Spanish colonization . In 1543, Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos named the archipelago Las Islas Filipinas in honor of King Philip II of Castile . Spanish colonization via New Spain , beginning in 1565, led to
13692-764: The call of duty his flight was enabled to rout the attacking planes, thereby preventing appreciable damage at his station. Captain Villamor's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Philippine Army Air Corps, and the United States Army Air Forces . Philippines in ASEAN (dark grey) – [ Legend ] Pinoy ( colloquial neutral ) Pinay ( colloquial feminine ) The Philippines , officially
13855-553: The capital city of Manila , is connected to Laguna de Bay (the country's largest lake ) by the Pasig River . On the western fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire , the Philippines has frequent seismic and volcanic activity. The region is seismically active, and has been constructed by plates converging towards each other from multiple directions. About five earthquakes are recorded daily, although most are too weak to be felt. The last major earthquakes were in 1976 in
14018-483: The chase thinking he hit the ground. Capt. Villamor then pulled up only to find himself being pounced by another Japanese Zero. He swung his aircraft on a vertical left bank, putting it on a stall but training his guns towards a face-to-face engagement with the enemy. The Japanese pilot was surprised by the maneuver, but Capt. Villamor was able to fire off first hitting the wings of the Zero and bursting it into flames. This
14181-596: The closure of NAF Detroit and its realignment as Naval Air Reserve Center Detroit (NAVAIRESCEN Detroit) with no operational flying units or activities. VR-62 was transferred in April 1994 to the former NAS South Weymouth , Massachusetts, until that base's closure in September 1996 due to BRAC 1995 action. Concurrent with that move, the squadron also transitioned from the C-9B to the C-130T Hercules . Transferring to
14344-698: The community. Population density is thought to have been low during the 14th to 16th centuries due to the frequency of typhoons and the Philippines' location on the Pacific Ring of Fire . Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in 1521, claimed the islands for Spain, and was killed by Lapulapu 's men in the Battle of Mactan . Unification and colonization by the Crown of Castile began when Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi arrived from New Spain ( Spanish : Nueva España ) in 1565. Many Filipinos were brought to New Spain as slaves and forced crew. Whereas many Latin Americans were brought to
14507-462: The country (3,500 of which are endemic), Philippine rain forests have an array of flora: about 3,500 species of trees, 8,000 flowering plant species, 1,100 ferns , and 998 orchid species have been identified. The Philippines has 167 terrestrial mammals (102 endemic species), 235 reptiles (160 endemic species), 99 amphibians (74 endemic species), 686 birds (224 endemic species), and over 20,000 insect species. As an important part of
14670-411: The country. Japan is the biggest bilateral contributor of official development assistance to the Philippines; although some tension exists because of World War II , much animosity has faded. Historical and cultural ties continue to affect relations with Spain . Relations with Middle Eastern countries are shaped by the high number of Filipinos working in those countries, and by issues related to
14833-554: The duration of the war were being discharged, and no new students were being trained. Beginning 27 June 1919, Selfridge became the home of the 1st Pursuit Group , currently the oldest combat group in the Air Force. The group was organized in France during World War I and like many others, was demobilized after the war then re-created in 1919. It remained based at Selfridge for approximately 20 years. Many notable names are included in
14996-711: The earliest January 1942. Eight hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor , December 8, 1941 10:00am PST, bombers and fighters of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy took off from Takao Airbase in Formosa and attacked sites around Baguio and Iba Airfield in Zambales , with the second wave attacking Clark Air Base and Naval Station Sangley Point . The following day, the FEAF's capabilities were crippled as it found half of its aircraft inventory destroyed,
15159-431: The east, and the Celebes Sea to the south. It shares maritime borders with Taiwan to the north, Japan to the northeast, Palau to the east and southeast, Indonesia to the south, Malaysia to the southwest, Vietnam to the west, and China to the northwest. It is the world's twelfth-most-populous country , with diverse ethnicities and cultures . Manila is the country's capital , and its most populated city
15322-581: The economy contracted by 7.3 percent annually in 1984 and 1985. On August 21, 1983, opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. (Marcos's chief rival) was assassinated on the tarmac at Manila International Airport . Marcos called a snap presidential election in 1986 which proclaimed him the winner, but the results were widely regarded as fraudulent. The resulting protests led to the People Power Revolution , which forced Marcos and his allies to flee to Hawaii . Aquino's widow, Corazon ,
15485-639: The enactment of the Bangsamoro Organic Law; an intensified crackdown on crime and communist insurgencies; and an anti-drug campaign that reduced drug proliferation but that has also led to extrajudicial killings . In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reached the Philippines, necessitating nationwide lockdowns that caused a brief but severe economic recession . Under a promise of continuing Duterte's policies, Marcos's son, Bongbong Marcos , ran with Duterte's daughter, Sara , and won
15648-684: The end of February 1942, orders were relayed that half of the PAAC and FEAF officers were to be evacuated from Bataan and Corregidor, and report to Del Monte Airfield in Bukidnon . Capt. Villamor was one of the selected officers, and they found themselves taking the SS Legaspi , which would run the Japanese blockade. Upon arrival in Mindanao, Capt. Gozar and the PAAC and FAEF officers reported to Del Monte Airfield. At Del Monte Airfield, Capt. Villamor continued to conduct reconnaissance missions in
15811-407: The end of World War I, the young base had 1,028 enlisted men and 200 officers. It had trained 72 pilots and 700 mechanics, and 1,002 men had attended gunnery school. The 1918 Armistice with Germany ended World War I. The end of the war, however, produced some major changes. From a training field producing mechanics and gunners, Selfridge became a pursuit (fighter) field, but men who had enlisted for
15974-520: The facility as well. In 1971, Selfridge ANGB became the largest and most complex joint Reserves Forces base in the United States, a position it held until surpassed by NAS JRB Fort Worth (former Carswell AFB ) in the late 1990s. U.S. Army Garrison-Selfridge serves the Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) supporting tank construction in the Detroit area. The airport is home to
16137-687: The field were met with indifference by some within the SWPA , but were later publicly lauded by President Eisenhower. After World War II, Villamor served with the Military Assistance Advisory Group in the State of Vietnam during 1951 and 1952, and once again in 1955. Ret. Col. Villamor died on October 28, 1971, in Georgetown University , Washington, D.C. , United States, and was buried with military honors at
16300-564: The flight as Capt. Villamor's wingman. Swooping from a higher elevation, the Capt. Villamor and the PAAC flight attacked the lead aircraft of the Japanese Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" bomber, scoring his second kill for the war. The Japanese Zeros pursued the defenders, and in the ongoing melee the PAAC relied on cloud cover and outmaneuvered the faster Zeros through tighter turns. Lt. Basa meanwhile kept on Capt. Villamor's tail, but
16463-407: The following day, Lt. Gozar in turn for the last time in the war was able scramble by himself to meet the Japanese raiders. Lt. Gozar was able to survive the encounter against three Japanese Zeros with one unconfirmed kill, and land his battered aircraft. While greatly outclassed and outnumbered, the accomplishment of the 6th Pursuit Squadron has become of a legend and a source of encouragement among
16626-565: The former NAS Brunswick , Maine, subsequent BRAC action in 2008 direct NAS Brunswick's closure in May 2011, resulting in VR-62 being transferred again in 2010 to its current home station of NAS Jacksonville , Florida. NAF Detroit became NAVAIRESCEN Detroit on 1 October 1994 and remained as a tenant command at Selfridge ANGB. It was renamed Navy Operational Support Center Detroit (NOSC Detroit) in 2006 and downgraded to an Echelon V command. CGAS Detroit
16789-514: The four weeks of training which qualified them for a commission. Then they were on their way as instructors to the front or to the other flying schools. being established throughout the country. Training units assigned to Selfridge Field were: Flying was considered impractical in Michigan during the winter months, so student pilots were sent to Gerstner Field at Lake Charles , Louisiana as well as to Chapman Field at Miami, Florida. Selfridge
16952-617: The ground forces and the civilians who witnessed their defense over the skies of Luzon . On December 15 Capt. Villamor, Capt. Colin Kelly, and Lt. Gozar were personally awarded by Gen. Douglas MacArthur the Distinguished Service Cross for their valorous defense of the airspace above Manila . Lt. Gozar's wingmate, Lt. Godofredo Juliano on the other hand received the Gold Cross. Upon activation of War Plan Orange ,
17115-420: The group's roster including George H. Brett , James "Jimmy" Doolittle , Carl A. Spaatz , Curtis LeMay , Frank O. Hunter , Emmett "Rosie" O'Donnell , Earle E. Partridge , Paul Wurtsmith and over 100 men who rose to the rank of Air Force general ("Home of Generals"). (Lieutenant LeMay was fined $ 50 for flying a biplane through Selfridge Hangar #6.) The uncertain future of Selfridge Field, however, caused
17278-403: The guerrilla forces in the Visayas, and their current situation, disclosing to him also his contention with Maj. Placido Ausejo, who recognized the authority of Lt. Col. Wendell Fertig . At this time, Fertig also promoted himself to General, and Abcede believed that this was unauthorized. Villamor felt that he needed to meet with the various factions and bring everyone under tactical unity. After
17441-487: The islands are from the Tabon Caves of Palawan , U/Th-dated to 47,000 ± 11–10,000 years ago. Tabon Man is presumably a Negrito , among the archipelago's earliest inhabitants descended from the first human migrations out of Africa via the coastal route along southern Asia to the now-sunken landmasses of Sundaland and Sahul . The first Austronesians reached the Philippines from Taiwan around 2200 BC, settling
17604-475: The islands of Leyte and Samar " Felipinas " after the Prince of Asturias , later Philip II of Castile . Eventually, the name " Las Islas Filipinas " would be used for the archipelago's Spanish possessions. Other names, such as " Islas del Poniente " (Western Islands), " Islas del Oriente " (Eastern Islands), Ferdinand Magellan's name, and " San Lázaro " (Islands of St. Lazarus), were used by
17767-481: The islands were ceded by Spain to the United States with Puerto Rico and Guam after the Spanish–American War. The First Philippine Republic was promulgated on January 21, 1899. Lack of recognition by the United States led to an outbreak of hostilities that, after refusal by the U.S. on-scene military commander of a cease-fire proposal and a declaration of war by the nascent Republic, escalated into
17930-639: The islands, suppressing an attempted extension of the Philippine Republic , securing the Sultanate of Sulu , establishing control of interior mountainous areas which had resisted Spanish conquest, and encouraging large-scale resettlement of Christians in once-predominantly-Muslim Mindanao. Cultural developments in the Philippines strengthened a national identity, and Tagalog began to take precedence over other local languages. Governmental functions were gradually given to Filipinos by
18093-497: The largest flying unit on the base, and Air National Guard jets dominated the Selfridge skies. On 1 July 1971, Selfridge Air Force Base was transferred to the Michigan Air National Guard , becoming the first major active Air Force base to come under control of the Air National Guard . At Selfridge Air National Guard Base, the 127th Wing (127 WG) is the host wing to more than 30 tenant units representing every branch of
18256-552: The late Tang dynasty , and expanded during the Song dynasty . Throughout the second millennium AD, some polities were also part of the tributary system of China . With extensive trade and diplomacy, this brought Southern Chinese merchants and migrants from Southern Fujian , known as "Langlang" and "Sangley" in later years, who would gradually settle and intermix in the Philippines. Indian cultural traits such as linguistic terms and religious practices began to spread in
18419-475: The local area. The base was quick to render aid to its distressed neighbors, providing emergency medical care, sending vehicles to help clear away the debris and furnishing emergency shelters for those made homeless by the storm. In 1965, the Strategic Air Command announced that the 4045th Air Refueling Wing was to be discontinued beginning in 1966. In the continually changing pattern of uses of
18582-497: The military – active duty (to include the Coast Guard), Reserve and National Guard. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations Northern Region and Great Lakes Air and Marine Branch are also based at Selfridge as well as CBP's U.S. Border Patrol Detroit Sector. Collectively, these organizations compose what is known "Team Selfridge," one community with synergistic goals and missions. The 127th Wing (127 WG) of
18745-551: The national language, women's suffrage was introduced , and land reform was considered. The Empire of Japan invaded the Philippines in December 1941 during World War II , and the Second Philippine Republic was established as a puppet state governed by Jose P. Laurel . Beginning in 1942, the Japanese occupation of the Philippines was opposed by large-scale underground guerrilla activity . Atrocities and war crimes were committed during
18908-445: The necessary road and rail access to the site. Within a month, the newspaper was reporting that 1,000 men were at work at the field constructing hangars, barracks, supply depots, machine shops and a school building. On 9 July, the first training aircraft, a Curtiss JN-4D , arrived at the new airfield, and the base was gearing up to train men in flying, bombing, radio, and photography for the war effort. The first pilots were members of
19071-577: The next 20 years. In 1922, Selfridge was declared a permanent installation under command of Maj. Carl "Tooey" Spaatz, who later became Chief of Staff for the Air Force. Air races at Selfridge from 1922 through the 1930s included the first John Mitchell Trophy Race (named for John L. Mitchell and last held in 1936 at Selfridge ), the Pulitzer Trophy Race , and the Curtiss Trophy Race and Boeing Trophy. Charles A. Lindbergh
19234-532: The opening of a new gunnery school at the airport. Instructors were borrowed from the French, British, and Canadian flying corps. By July 1918, Selfridge had reached its peak performance in gunnery training. Over 250 students were enrolled at one time, and on one occasion 52 planes were in the air over the field simultaneously. Classes were so filled that 150 Lewis air guns, 60 Lewis ground guns, 80 Marlin air guns, 90 camera guns and 10 aerial cameras were in use daily. By
19397-539: The property for $ 190,000, a price government appraisers felt was too high. But when the National Aeronautics Advisory Committee pointed out the field's proximity to the mechanical and industrial centers of Detroit, the price was paid. The field sprang back to life on 1 July 1922, when the 1st Pursuit Group, which had gone from Kelly Field to Ellington Field outside Houston, Texas, in 1921, returned to make Selfridge its home for almost
19560-634: The region. The colony survived on an annual subsidy from the Spanish crown averaging 250,000 pesos, usually paid as 75 tons of silver bullion from the Americas. British forces occupied Manila from 1762 to 1764 during the Seven Years' War , and Spanish rule was restored with the 1763 Treaty of Paris . The Spanish considered their war with the Muslims in Southeast Asia an extension of
19723-683: The return of democracy in 1986, the CPP-NPA, through the National Democratic Front of the Philippines , continues to gather public support in urban areas by setting up communist fronts , infiltrating sectoral organizations, and rallying public discontent and increased militancy against the government. The Philippines ranked 104th out of 163 countries in the 2024 Global Peace Index . Selfridge Air National Guard Base Selfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB ( IATA : MTC , ICAO : KMTC , FAA LID : MTC )
19886-413: The same. The following day, the 6th Pursuit Squadron moved to Batangas Airfield north of Batangas City . Around noon time of December 12, a force of 27 bombers and 17 fighters targeted Batangas Airfield. The PAAC flight group of 5 P-26s headed by Capt. Villamor scrambled to meet the closer flight of enemy bombers heading south. Lt. Cesar Basa two hours prior was sent on a reconnaissance mission, joined
20049-715: The shipment of the Pensacola Convoy never came through. For leading his squadron, Villamor was twice cited by the United States Army for bravery, receiving the Distinguished Service Cross for actions on December 10, 1941, and an Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a second award of the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for actions on December 12, 1941. Villamor is the only Filipino to receive the DSC twice. Gen. Harold Huston George , head of
20212-456: The shoal from the Philippines, led to an international arbitration case which the Philippines eventually won; China rejected the result, and made the shoal a prominent symbol of the broader dispute. China has rejected new Philippine maritime laws aimed at strengthening sovereignty in the South China Sea, stating they infringe on Chinese territorial claims and vowing to defend its interests in contested areas. The volunteer Armed Forces of
20375-542: The site pointed out the advantages of the field's proximity to the auto capital of the nation and the availability of the lake for practice bombing. In May 1917, it was announced that Joy Aviation Field would be included as a training Camp as part of the expansion of the Air Service, becoming one of only nine military airfields in the country at the time. The United States Army leased the 640 acres (260 ha) of land, and construction commenced immediately to provide
20538-513: The skies of Zablan Airfield and Pasig with their Boeing P-26 Peashooters . Capt. Villamor was first to take off and meet the attackers, only to find himself greatly outclassed by the better Japanese fighters. A Japanese Zero gave chase, and Capt. Villamor maneuvered his aircraft to shake off his opponent. He dove his P-26 and hugged the tree tops of the Marikina Valley and even flew under high-tension wires . The Japanese pilot gave up
20701-594: The specter of communism and began to rule by decree ; the period was characterized by political repression , censorship , and human rights violations . Monopolies controlled by Marcos's cronies were established in key industries, including logging and broadcasting; a sugar monopoly led to a famine on the island of Negros . With his wife, Imelda , Marcos was accused of corruption and embezzling billions of dollars of public funds. Marcos's heavy borrowing early in his presidency resulted in economic crashes , exacerbated by an early 1980s recession where
20864-674: The tenant units at Selfridge. From 1947 to 1970, the base hosted three successive Cold War aircraft units: the 56th Fighter Wing (28 July 1947 – 1952), which conducted the first west-to-east jet fighter transatlantic crossing (US to Scotland via Greenland, 1948); the 4708th Defense (later Air Defense) Wing from 1952 to 1956; the 439th Fighter-Bomber Wing (1952–7); and the 1st Fighter Wing (Air Defense) from 1956 to 1970. The units' Selfridge aircraft were F-51 Mustangs (439th, 1953–4), Lockheed P-80 Shooting Stars (439th 1953–6, 56th), F-84 Thunderstreaks (439th), North American F-86D Sabres (1st), and F-102 Delta Daggers (1st). In April 1954,
21027-563: The term Filipino encompassing all residents of the archipelago instead of solely referring to Spaniards born in the Philippines . Revolutionary sentiment grew in 1872 after 200 locally recruited colonial troops and laborers alongside three activist Catholic priests were executed on questionable grounds . This inspired the Propaganda Movement , organized by Marcelo H. del Pilar , José Rizal , Graciano López Jaena , and Mariano Ponce , which advocated political reform in
21190-479: The territory to the United States, and Filipino revolutionaries declared the First Philippine Republic . The ensuing Philippine–American War ended with the United States controlling the territory until the Japanese invasion of the islands during World War II . After the United States retook the Philippines from the Japanese , the Philippines became independent in 1946. The country has had
21353-841: The test a success and proclaimed that similarly planes could be used to in Arctic regions. During the 1930s and 1940s, squadrons "from Selfridge [frequently] performed maneuvers over Detroit, [causing delight to] local citizens." In 1935, Selfridge became part of the top-level General Headquarters (GHO), Air Force, along with five other strategically located installations: Mitchel Field in New York, Langley Field in Virginia, Barksdale Field in Louisiana, March Field in California and Hamilton Field in California. A large expansion program
21516-673: The urging of Packard president Henry B. Joy , who took a great interest in aviation and led the company to begin developing aircraft engines for use in aircraft engaged in World War I combat in Europe. In the spring of 1917, lobbying began in Washington to locate a military airfield at the site of the Joy Aviation Field on Lake St. Clair . The United States had just officially entered World War I on April 7. Proponents of
21679-488: The war, including the Bataan Death March and the Manila massacre . The Philippine resistance and Allied troops defeated the Japanese in 1944 and 1945. Over one million Filipinos were estimated to have died by the end of the war. On October 11, 1945, the Philippines became a founding member of the United Nations . On July 4, 1946, during the presidency of Manuel Roxas , the country's independence
21842-678: The warfighters on the ground, sometimes going ahead of a main operation to prepare soldiers with weather data for the success of the mission. Pursuant to Base Realignment and Closure, 2005 , the Air Force Reserve Command 's 927th Air Refueling Wing (927 ARW) that was previously based at Selfridge was directed to transfer its 4x KC-135T Stratotanker aircraft to the Michigan Air National Guard and relocate to MacDill AFB , Florida in August 2007 as verified by Selfridge's Public Affairs Office. At MacDill,
22005-613: The warmest is May. Temperatures at sea level across the Philippines tend to be in the same range, regardless of latitude; average annual temperature is around 26.6 °C (79.9 °F) but is 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) in Baguio , 1,500 meters (4,900 ft) above sea level. The country's average humidity is 82 percent. Annual rainfall is as high as 5,000 millimeters (200 in) on the mountainous east coast, but less than 1,000 millimeters (39 in) in some sheltered valleys. The Philippine Area of Responsibility has 19 typhoons in
22168-405: The way to the United States, Villamor became acquainted with fellow students, Augsto Luciano and Rafael Roces Jr. Villamor would later earn his "Transport Pilot License" at the Dallas Aviation School. Upon returning to Manila, Villamor found that PATCO nor its competitor, Far Eastern Air Transport (FEATI) , would have slots for him. Villamor then applied for a slot in the first batch of cadets of
22331-463: The world's fifth-longest , and the country's exclusive economic zone covers 2,263,816 km (874,064 sq mi). Its highest mountain is Mount Apo on Mindanao, with an altitude of 2,954 meters (9,692 ft) above sea level. The Philippines' longest river is the Cagayan River in northern Luzon, which flows for about 520 kilometers (320 mi). Manila Bay , on which is
22494-466: The world's largest deposits of palladium . Other minerals include chromium , nickel , molybdenum , platinum , and zinc . However, poor management and law enforcement, opposition from indigenous communities, and past environmental damage have left these resources largely untapped. The Philippines is a megadiverse country , with some of the world's highest rates of discovery and endemism (67 percent). With an estimated 13,500 plant species in
22657-447: Was a two-time recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross , and one-time recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Star . The Philippine Air Force 's principal facility in Metro Manila which was first known as Nichols Field , then later Nichols Air Base, was renamed Col. Jesús Villamor Air Base in his honor. Service: Foreign Battalion: 6th Pursuit Squadron , Division: Philippine Army Air Corps Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in
22820-469: Was assigned to Selfridge in 1927, returned in July 1927 (his transatlantic aircraft, Spirit of St. Louis , was escorted by 22 1st Pursuit Group planes)m and returned again 10 November 1927 to become a member of the 1st Pursuit Group and complete his reserve training. In 1925, planes equipped with ice skids left Selfridge for Camp Skeel in Oscoda, Michigan to determine the usefulness of airplanes in harsh winter. Squadron commander Thomas Lamphier declared
22983-410: Was at 42°35′55″N 82°49′9″W / 42.59861°N 82.81917°W / 42.59861; -82.81917 . The 3d Battalion, 517th Artillery manned the Nike facilities. On 29 October 1969, the Secretary of Defense announced Project 703, a program calling for a reduction of military forces as a result of budgetary cuts. As a result, the 1st Fighter Wing was inactivated on 31 December, and
23146-404: Was completed by July 1960. At that time, the 5th Air Force Reserve Region was established at Selfridge. Also added as a tenant in July was the 4045th Air Refueling Wing , Strategic Air Command (SAC). On 8 May 1964, disaster struck the area north of the base. A tornado cut a wide swath along the shores of Lake St. Clair, causing some damage to the base and bringing injury, death and destruction to
23309-418: Was conducting aeronautical experiments in Nova Scotia. Selfridge was killed on 17 September 1908 while flying as a passenger with Orville Wright at Fort Myer , Virginia. He was the first person to be killed in a crash of a powered aircraft. The origins of Selfridge Air National Guard Base date to 1916, when a large tract of land on Lake St. Clair , Michigan was acquired by the Packard Motor Car Company at
23472-504: Was deactivated from service. VC-12 was transferred to NAS Oceana , Virginia, in 1975 and was redesignated as Fighter Composite Squadron 12 (VFC-12) in 1988, where it currently flies the F/A-18 Hornet as a Reserve adversary squadron. VP-93 was disestablished on 30 September 1994 due to (1) retirement of the P-3B from the U.S. Navy inventory and a transition to an all P-3C force, (2) a reduction in active and Reserve VP squadrons as part of post-Cold War drawdown, and (3) BRAC action directing
23635-645: Was established in 1966 as a tenant command at Selfridge ANGB, operating the HH-52A Sea Guard helicopter in the Great Lakes region. Air Station Detroit transitioned to the HH-65A Dolphin in 1988 and continues to operate the MH-65D version of this aircraft in search and rescue, maritime safety, and other homeland security/homeland defense missions. Other activities located at Selfridge include STARBASE , an Air National Guard initiative that engages in activity-based science and math lessons. The program uses an aviation theme to allow local children to excel, regardless of their economic situation. STARBASE traces its roots to
23798-406: Was hosted by Filipino-Spanish mestizo Estanislao Bilbao. Villamor would leave Hinoba-an for Sipalay to identify a safe location for their radio station, hiking through the hills to avoid Japanese spies. He then tasked his guerilla liaison to contact the guerilla leader in the area, Maj. Salvador Abcede in the Tantauayan Mountain area of Cauayan . Abcede provided Villamor a thorough briefing of
23961-613: Was initially Syncretist . Christianization by the Spanish friars occurred mostly across the settled lowlands over the course of time. From 1565 to 1821, the Philippines was governed as a territory of the Mexico City -based Viceroyalty of New Spain; it was then administered from Madrid after the Mexican War of Independence . Manila became the western hub of trans-Pacific trade by Manila galleons built in Bicol and Cavite . During its rule, Spain nearly bankrupted its treasury quelling indigenous revolts and defending against external military attacks, including Moro piracy ,
24124-421: Was installed as president and a new constitution was promulgated. The return of democracy and government reforms which began in 1986 were hampered by national debt , government corruption, and coup attempts . A communist insurgency and military conflict with Moro separatists persisted; the administration also faced a series of disasters, including the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991. Aquino
24287-429: Was launched in 1939 to train four new pursuit groups at Selfridge for eventual assignment to other GHQ fields. Many of the temporary frame buildings still in use today were built at that time, when a $ 13.5 million construction program was started at Selfridge. The outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 again brought many changes to Selfridge Field. The 17th Pursuit Squadron , a member of the 1st Pursuit Group since June 1918,
24450-474: Was marked by economic growth, but was tainted by corruption and political scandals, including electoral fraud allegations during the 2004 presidential election . Economic growth continued during Benigno Aquino III 's administration, which advocated good governance and transparency. Aquino III signed a peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) resulting in the Bangsamoro Organic Law establishing an autonomous Bangsamoro region, but
24613-425: Was not considered official because the race judges were not yet in place. Four days later, on 18 October, Army Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell flew the same aircraft at 224.05 miles per hour, officially setting the new air speed record. Maughan's day was not in vain, however, as he would later go on to set new air speed records several times throughout the 1920s. Mitchell Air Races were also held at Selfridge in 1927 and for
24776-484: Was promoted to major . On December 27, 1942, Villamor and his team, now called Planet Party boarded the submarine USS Gudgeon at the Brisbane River docks, and sailed towards the Philippines, and arriving in Hinoba-an on the southwestern shores of Negros Island on January 27, 1943. The Planet Party initially made contact with Roy Bell on Negros . Villamor went on to work with Bell, who would then make contact with James M. Cushing in 1943. Villamor's party
24939-532: Was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and Director of Flight Training. Here he would have the opportunity to train Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower , who would be the first President of the United States with a pilot's license , and Lt. Col. Richard Sutherland . He also began flying B-17's as part of the US Army Air Forces Strategic Bombing Squadron. Villamor was assigned to lead the 6th Pursuit Squadron (now 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron) in Nichols Airfield . On July 26, 1941, by order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt ,
25102-520: Was reactivated as the 477th Bombardment Group (M) (Colored) at Selfridge on 15 January 1944 to train Tuskegee Airmen with Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters and North American B-25 Mitchell bombers. Following a reprimand of base commander Colonel William Boyd for segregating blacks, the Group relocated "without any prior warning or notification to its personnel to Godman Field , Kentucky, on 5 May 1944. After World War II , Selfridge expanded to its present size of 3,600 acres (1,500 ha), and in 1947
25265-416: Was reassigned to the Philippines. More Selfridge pilots left for the Pacific in a surprise move early in 1940, when 40 pilots and mechanics volunteered to serve with Gen. Claire Chennault and his Flying Tigers . They left for Rangoon early in the summer. Selfridge was a World War II army airfield of the First Air Force and the location where Colonel Lawrence P. Hickey headed a cadre that organized
25428-552: Was recognized by the United States with the Treaty of Manila . Efforts at post-war reconstruction and ending the Hukbalahap Rebellion succeeded during Ramon Magsaysay 's presidency, but sporadic communist insurgency continued to flare up long afterward. Under Magsaysay's successor, Carlos P. Garcia , the government initiated a Filipino First policy which promoted Filipino-owned businesses. Succeeding Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal moved Independence Day from July 4 to June 12—the date of Emilio Aguinaldo's declaration— and pursued
25591-401: Was soon pounced on by a Japanese Zero. His aircraft was damaged and wings broke off, but Lt. Basa was able to bail out of his P-26. Basa's bullet riddled body was later found, and according to Capt. Villamor's account, the former was shot up by Japanese fighters while parachuting down. Lt. Basa became the first Filipino casualty from aerial combat. Lt. Antonio Mondingo meanwhile was also shot by
25754-423: Was spent on the Philippine military. Most of the country's defense spending is on the Philippine Army, which leads operations against internal threats such as communist and Muslim separatist insurgencies; its preoccupation with internal security contributed to the decline of Philippine naval capability which began during the 1970s. A military modernization program began in 1995 and expanded in 2012 to build
25917-482: Was succeeded by Fidel V. Ramos , who liberalized the national economy with privatization and deregulation . Ramos's economic gains were overshadowed by the onset of the 1997 Asian financial crisis . His successor, Joseph Estrada , prioritized public housing but faced corruption allegations which led to his overthrow by the 2001 EDSA Revolution and the succession of Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on January 20, 2001. Arroyo's nine-year administration
26080-412: Was the 1922 Mitchell Air Races. During that event, both official and unofficial air speed records were set. Prior to the races officially starting – the pilots flew a measured course over Lake St. Clair and back to the base – Army Lt. Russell L. Maughan flew a Curtiss R-6 aircraft 248.5 miles per hours, more than 25 mph more than the fastest speed ever recorded to that point. However, Maughan's flight
26243-558: Was the 1950 location of the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB) 28th Air Defense Artillery Group for the Army's Detroit Defense Area, part of Army Air Defense Command . Beginning in 1955, the base also had Project Nike radars for dual launch sites on Selfridge AFB at 42°35′46″N 82°49′4″W / 42.59611°N 82.81778°W / 42.59611; -82.81778 with battery D-14 in service until February 1963 and co-located battery D-16 continuing until June 1971. The "shared" Selfridge integrated fire control (IFC) area
26406-415: Was the first confirmed kill by the PAAC. Despite the disadvantage, Villamor and his squadron was credited with four kills – one Mitsubishi G3M bomber and three Mitsubishi A6M Zeros . Two of them by Villamor himself. Upon landing his aircraft, Capt. Villamor was met by the Philippine Army Chief-of-Staff, Gen. Basilio Valdez , who asked of him if he was afraid the whole time, and Capt. Villamor confirmed
26569-483: Was transformed into a mechanics school for the winter months. 700 qualified mechanics were graduated from this school, which lasted until March 1918. Six squadrons from Kelly Field , Texas were sent to Selfridge for study in the shops. The training center suffered an early setback in March 1918, as the Clinton River flooded the entire site, and all personnel were evacuated to schools and churches in nearby Mount Clemens . On April 1, 1918, preparations got underway for
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