Owen Baggett
On 31 March 1943, 2ndLt Owen J. Baggett flew as copilot of a B-24 Liberator on a bombing mission over Burma. The bomber group, based in India, was tasked with destroying key targets along a main Japanese supply route.
On the way to the target, Japanese fighter pilots intercepted the bombers and ripped through the formation. Machine gun fire cut through Baggett's Liberator, igniting a fire which spread rapidly through the aircraft. Baggett left the cockpit and futilely attempted to help extinguish the blaze. With enemy rounds still chewing up the plane, and fire engulfing the entire crew compartment, the pilot gave the order to bail out.
Baggett manned the top turret, defending the aircraft momentarily while other crew members donned their parachutes. Finally he put on his own chute and jumped through the open bomb bay. As he cleared the aircraft, he looked up to see open chutes for about half of his remaining crew members before the Liberator exploded.
A B-24 Liberator, like the aircraft flown by Owen Baggett and crew.
The surviving crew floated under their parachutes, watching the enemy fighters circle like sharks. Suddenly the Japanese pilots continued their attack, strafing the helpless men. Baggett looked on as several of his crew mates were struck and killed by a stream of bullets. One fighter turned back towards him and made a pass.
The figher screamed past at close range with guns firing. One round tore into Baggett's right arm, but he was otherwise unscathed. Thinking his chances of surviving a second pass to be slim, Baggett played dead. He went limp in his chute, wondering what the Japanese pilot would do next.
The pilot circled back to view the results of his strafe. He dropped down below Baggett's chute, then came back up with the top of the aircraft facing Baggett, nearly stalling the plane in order to slow his ascent. As he climbed, the pilot opened his canopy and passed mere feet from the parachute, looking out at Baggett's body.
Baggett looked into the open canopy as the fighter passed. Seeing an opportunity, he pulled his M1911 pistol out of its holster and fired into the cockpit. His shots miraculously hit home, killing the Japanese pilot. The fighter nosed over and spiraled to the ground.
Baggett landed safely on the ground, along with two of his crew mates. They were captured by the Japanese and spent over two years as prisoners of war.
Baggett remained in the Air Force, retiring as a Colonel, and retains the distinction of being the only US Airmen to shoot down a plane with a pistol. He passed away in 2006 at the age of 85.
