Owen J. Baggett

Col. Owen J. Baggett United States Air Force
Born	August 29, 1920
Died	July 27, 2006(2006-07-27) (aged 85)
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Unit	9th Bomb Squadron
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Prisoner 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.

On March 31, 1943 the squadron was instructed to destroy a bridge at Pyinmana, but before reaching their target the B-24 bombers were attacked by Japanese fighter planes. Baggett's plane was badly hit, and the crew were ordered to bail out. As the B-24 exploded, the Japanese pilots attempted to shoot the US airmen as they parachuted to earth, one plane approaching Baggett within feet, and then, nose-up and in an almost-stall, the pilot opened his canopy. Baggott claims to have shot the Japanese pilot with his pistol, becoming legendary as the only person to down a Japanese airplane with a .45 handgun. He was later captured by the Japanese, and held for over two years.

References

1. ^ [1]

• Sight M1911

United States Air Force portal

Persondata
Name	Baggett, Owen J.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	August 29, 1920
Place of birth
Date of death	July 27, 2006
Place of death