Phil Rasmussen

Phil Rasmussen

Philip M. Rasmussen was an Army Air Corps second lieutenant assigned to the 46th Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler Field on the island of Oahu during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. He was one of the few American pilots to get into the air that day.

Rasmussen was awarded a Silver Star for his actions. He flew many later combat missions, including a bombing mission over Japan that earned him an oak leaf cluster. He stayed in the military after the war and eventually retired from the United States Air Force as a colonel in 1965. He died in 2005 of complications from cancer and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Pearl Harbor Attack

On the morning of December 7, Lt. Rasmussen had awakened in his barracks, when, looking out a window, he saw a group of Japanese airplanes dropping bombs on the field. He strapped his .45 caliber pistol to the outside of his pajamas and ran to get an airplane. (A reproduction of the scene is the opening exhibit of the World War II section of the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio.)

Most of the planes were destroyed, but Lt. Rasmussen found an unscathed P-36 Hawk and taxied it to a revetment where he had it loaded with ammunition. During a lull in the bombing, he took off with three other pilots. They received orders by radio to fly to Kaneohe Bay on the north-east side of the island.

The American pilots subsequently engaged 11 Japanese aircraft. Despite having a jammed .30 caliber gun and only limited capability with his .50 caliber gun, Lt. Rasmussen managed to shoot down a Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Several other Japanese pilots instantly attacked, including one who was having mechanical trouble and—thinking himself doomed—tried to ram him. (The Japanese pilot made it back to his aircraft carrier and survived the war. [Rasmussen related this story at the 60th Anniversary Pearl Harbor reunion in Honolulu in 2001.] )

Rasmussen's plane was badly damaged, so he dove into a cloud to escape—a dangerous maneuver considering the mountainous terrain. He returned to Wheeler Field, where he landed with no brakes, rudder, or tailwheel. Oral accounts of the number of bullet holes in the plane vary, but most give a figure of about 500 [Personal recollection from Rasmussen is "over 500". Newspaper and other accounts range from 300 to 600.] .

The opening exhibit of the World War II exhibit in the National Museum of the United States Air Force features a mannequin of a pajama-clad pilot climbing into a P-36 Hawk. The exhibit details Lt. Rasmussen's exploits that day and is informally titled "The Pajama Pilot."


=

External links

* [http://www.25idl.army.mil/Tropic%20Lightning%20Museum/OnlineExhibits/TheWayItWas/December7/Rasmussen,%20Phil.pdf The way it was] - Story as told to audience at U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, edited by Adam Elia.
* [http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=1657 National Museum of the United States Air Force] - Fact sheet on Lt. Phillip (sic) Rasmussen and his P-36A.

Notes


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Rasmussen — The surname Rasmussen (sometimes Rasmusen) is a Danish and Norwegian surname, meaning Rasmus son . The first name Rasmus , from which it is derived, is itself a contraction of Erasmus the name of a famous 16th Century philosopher and theologian.… …   Wikipedia

  • Phil Housley — Données clés Nationalité  États Unis Né le 9 mars 1964, Saint Paul (États Unis) Taille …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Dennis Rasmussen — For the Maryland politician, see Dennis F. Rasmussen. Dennis Rasmussen Pitcher Born: April 18, 1959 (1959 04 18) (age 52) Los Angeles, California …   Wikipedia

  • List of World War II topics (P) — # P 15 Termit # P 59 Airacomet # P 61 Black Widow # P 80 Shooting Star # P 4 class torpedo boat # P. G. Wodehouse # P. O. Box 1142 # P. Y. Saeki # P107 # Paavo Berg # Paavo Nurmi # Paavo Yrjölä # Pablo de Escandón y Barrón # Pacific Fighters #… …   Wikipedia

  • Live Kreation — Infobox Album Name = Live Kreation Type = Live album Artist = Kreator Released = June 23, 2003 Recorded = November 24, 2001 September 1, 2002 Genre = Thrash metal Length = 1:43:09 Label = Steamhammer Records/SPV Producer = Mille Petrozza Reviews …   Wikipedia

  • Curtiss P-36 Hawk — P 36 Hawk/Hawk 75/Mohawk Role Fighter Manufacturer Curtiss Wright Corporation Designer …   Wikipedia

  • Death Valley Driver Video Review — URL http://www.deathvalleydriver.com Commercial? No Type of zine Professional wrestling Registration No Available language(s): English …   Wikipedia

  • Minnesota gubernatorial election, 2010 — 2006 ← November 2, 2010 → 2014 …   Wikipedia

  • Creigh Deeds gubernatorial campaign, 2009 — Deeds for Virginia Campaign Virginia gubernatorial election, 2009 Candidate Robert Creigh Deeds Virginia State Senator (Since 2001) Virginia General Assemblymen (1992 2001) …   Wikipedia

  • Tea Party movement — This article is about the movement. For the protest events themselves, see Tea Party protests. For the U.S. Congressional caucus, see Tea Party Caucus …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”