Owen John Baggett (1920 – 2006) 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, while stationed in British India, Baggett’s squadron, part of the 7th Bombardment Group, was ordered to destroy a bridge at Pyinmana, Burma. Before reaching their target, the 12 B-24s of 7th BG were intercepted by 13 Ki-43 fighters of 64 Sentai IJAAS. Baggett’s plane was severely damaged and was set on fire by several hits to the fuel tanks, and the crew was forced to bail out. The aircrew escaped the crippled B-24 merely seconds before the bomber exploded. Japanese pilots then attacked U.S. airmen as they parachuted to earth. Two of Baggett’s fellow crew members were killed. (Contrary to sources stating that the pilot, Lloyd K. Jensen was "summarily executed", Jensen survived the war. Baggett, who was wounded, played dead, hoping that the Japanese pilots would ignore him. One Zero fighter approached close to Baggett, slowed and the pilot opened his canopy. Baggett drew his M1911 pistol, fired four shots at the pilot and watched as the plane stalled and plunged toward the ground.
While Baggett later achieved fame as the only person to shoot down an aircraft with a pistol, this was contradicted by Japanese wartime records, which indicate that no Japanese pilots were lost in that particular action. Baggett survived the descent and was captured by Japanese ground forces. He remained a prisoner for the rest of the war. Baggett and 37 other POWs were liberated at the war’s end by eight OSS agents who parachuted into Singapore.
![Owen John Baggett, second lieutenant, the only person to shoot down an aircraft with a pistol. March 31, 1943. [640x336]](https://i.redd.it/70j4ffx6d0e51.jpg)
rockystl
Owen John Baggett (1920 – 2006) 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, while stationed in British India, Baggett’s squadron, part of the 7th Bombardment Group, was ordered to destroy a bridge at Pyinmana, Burma. Before reaching their target, the 12 B-24s of 7th BG were intercepted by 13 Ki-43 fighters of 64 Sentai IJAAS. Baggett’s plane was severely damaged and was set on fire by several hits to the fuel tanks, and the crew was forced to bail out. The aircrew escaped the crippled B-24 merely seconds before the bomber exploded. Japanese pilots then attacked U.S. airmen as they parachuted to earth. Two of Baggett’s fellow crew members were killed. (Contrary to sources stating that the pilot, Lloyd K. Jensen was "summarily executed", Jensen survived the war. Baggett, who was wounded, played dead, hoping that the Japanese pilots would ignore him. One Zero fighter approached close to Baggett, slowed and the pilot opened his canopy. Baggett drew his M1911 pistol, fired four shots at the pilot and watched as the plane stalled and plunged toward the ground.
While Baggett later achieved fame as the only person to shoot down an aircraft with a pistol, this was contradicted by Japanese wartime records, which indicate that no Japanese pilots were lost in that particular action. Baggett survived the descent and was captured by Japanese ground forces. He remained a prisoner for the rest of the war. Baggett and 37 other POWs were liberated at the war’s end by eight OSS agents who parachuted into Singapore.
GarfieldVirtuoso
And people say that videogames are not realistic
qwer5r
Who took this picture?
notrylan
This photo is fake. Source:
https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/this-pilot-shot-down-an-enemy-fighter-with-his-1911