Jose Gozar

Jose Protacio Cangco Gozar (April 8, 1918 – 1942) was a Filipino military aviator and a flight officer of the Philippine Army Air Corps, who was awarded at the outbreak of World War II the Distinguished Service Cross. Lt. Gozar was then assigned with the Philippine Army Aviation School as an instructor pilot, training the last batch of airmen before the outbreak of World War II.

Military career On December 8, 1941, despite receiving the news on the attack on Pearl Harbor early in the morning, the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) and its air component, Far East Air Force (FAEF), were caught by surprise by bombers and fighters of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy from Takao Airfield in Formosa. By the end of the day, the FAEF's aircraft inventory was reduced by half, with only a few squadrons surviving the initial raid, including the PAAC 6th Pursuit Squadron.

At 11:30 am on December 10, while the officers and men of the 6th Pursuit Squadron was having lunch, general quarters was sounded. Capt. Jesus Villamor, along with Lieutenants Godofredo Juliano, Geronimo Aclan, and Alberto Aranzaso of the 6th Pursuit Squadron met another wave of Mitsubishi G3M bombers and Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters over the skies of Zablan Airfield and Pasig with their Boeing P-26 Peashooters. Lt. Gozar only happened to be in Zablan Field that day, and commandeered an unmanned P-26 and joined the 6th Pursuit Squadron in the defense of Zablan Field.

In the ensuing dogfight, according to accounts and witnesses, Lt. Gozar's guns jammed and he then attempted aerial ramming of an enemy bomber. After a handful attempts by Lt. Gozar, the Japanese airman turned west and left the area. Lt. Gozar's wingman, Lt. Aclan, following the same tactic was also recognized with a Silver Star. Capt. Jesus Villamor in turn was credited for two kills.

The following day, the 6th Pursuit Squadron moved to Batangas Airfield, while Lt. Gozar was left behind with some of the men in Nichols Airfield. On December 12, a force of 27 bombers and 17 fighters targeted Batangas Airfield, and in this aerial battle the PAAC received its first casualty, Lt. Cesar Basa.

Upon activation of War Plan Orange, the 6th Pursuit Squadron and the rest of the PAAC were ordered to destroy their aircraft inventory. Lt. Gozar and his unit were ordered to a strategic retreat to Bataan and Fort Mills on Corregidor Island, and transformed their mission to air defense. Lt. Gozar and his fellow townmates, Lt. Salvador Encarnacion and Lt. Arnulfo Acedera who were left in Zablan, found themselves separated from their unit, and proceeded to Bataan on their own.

Legacy and memorials On October 26, 1955, the Bureau of Posts released issue of a set of two airmail stamps of Lt. Jose Gozar engraved by Waterlow and Sons.

On July 1, 1957, the Philippine Air Force began constructing Lt. Jose Gozar Air Station on Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro, and the radar station became fully operational on November 16, 1961, w ith the activation of the 582nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (ACWS). The unit's motto "Ne Quis Perrumpat" [That none breaks true]. On April 8, 2018, the City of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro through Sangguniang Panglungsod No. 505, recognized Lt. Gozar on his centennial birth anniversary as its Town Hero, and unveiled a marble bust at the Calapan city plaza. During the event, the Philippine Air Force's Air Education and Training Command based in Basilio Fernando Air Base, in Lipa City, Batangas, conducted a fly past and missing man formation. The Philippine Air Force Aerospace Museum in Pasay has inducted Lt. Gozar in its Wall of Heroes. Lt. Gozar's name is also listed in the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Akron, Ohio, US. A number of streets are named after Lt. Gozar. One in Calapan, another in Naujan, one at the Philippine Air Force's Headquarters at Villamor Air Base, and one at Armed Forces of the Philippines' General Headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo. There is also one barangay and two elementary schools on Lubang Island named after Lt. Gozar.

Quotations "Right now, we are part of God's children who ceaselessly roam because of the war. There are still a lot of people left on earth who wholeheartedly offer shelter to wanderes. So what have we to fear?" – Quote from the last letter of Lt. Gozar to his family in Mindoro.