Cesar Basa was a pilot and hero of World War II. He was one of the pioneer fighter pilots in the Philippine Air Force and was the first Filipino casualty during World War II.

CESAR BASA

Cesar Basa's fight took place at Batangas Field on the morning of 12 December 1941 when fifty-four Japanese bombers and fighter escorts raided the base.

Five Filipino fighter pilots, led by Captain Jesus Villamor, engaged the enemy in aerial combat at 12,000 feet. Lieutenant Basa arrived on the scene from an air patrol mission with only 15 minutes of fuel left in his tanks but attempted to join his comrades in the fight. Before reaching them, he was intercepted by seven Japanese fighters and shot down.

Although he bailed out, he was strafed with machine-gun fire. Captain Villamor and his fighters won the battle with the only casualty being Lieutenant Basa. In recognition of his heroism, Lieutenant Basa was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.

1915

to 12 December 1941