Owen J Baggett

[Jamie.270]

Second Lieutenant, 7th Bomb Group during WWII.
An unusual man with a unique story.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_J._Baggett

On March 31, 1943, when they were stationed in British India, Baggett's squadron was ordered to destroy a bridge at Pyinmana, Burma. But before reaching their target, the B-24 bombers were intercepted by Japanese fighter planes. Baggett's plane was badly hit, and the crew were ordered to bail out. The Japanese pilots then attacked U.S. airmen as they parachuted to earth. Two of Baggett's crew members were killed, and Baggett, though wounded, played dead, hoping the Japanese would ignore him. One Zero approaching within several feet of Baggett, then nose-up and in an almost-stall, the pilot opened his canopy. Baggett shot at the pilot with his .45 calibre pistol. The plane stalled and plunged to the earth, with Baggett becoming legendary as the only person to down a Japanese airplane with a M1911 pistol. He survived and was captured by the Japanese. He would remain 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.

Just one more example of the kind of men and women that made up "The Greatest Generation."

[gitano]

Great story!

One more example of what a great firearm the 1911 is. :D

Paul