Victor Osias
Victor M. Osias | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines | |
| In office January 12, 1967 – August 15, 1967 | |
| President | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Preceded by | Ernesto S. Mata |
| Succeeded by | Segundo Velasco |
| Vice Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines | |
| In office July 12, 1966 – January 12, 1967 | |
| President | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Preceded by | Ismael Lapus |
| Succeeded by | Segundo Velasco |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Victor Manuel Osias y Cuaresma August 13, 1917 Manila, Manila, Philippines |
| Died | 1989 |
| Spouse | Pacita Mapua |
| Alma mater | Air University Philippine Flying School Philippine Military Academy |
| Awards | US Silver Star Medal US Bronze Star Medal Philippine Military Merit Medal US Presidential Unit Citation Badge w/ 2 Palm Leaves |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Philippine Air Force Philippine Army Air Corps |
Victor Manuel Osias (1917–1989), was a Philippine Air Force general who was chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from January 1967 to August 1967. He also was named as vice chief of staff prior being named to the top position of the Armed Forces. He is the second officer that came from the Air Force. He was a World War II veteran and a Bataan Death March survivor.
Background
[edit]Victor Manuel Osias y Cuaresma was born on August 13, 1917, to Camilo Osias and Ildefonza Cuaresma.[1] His father Camilo Sr is a public servant and legislature who was the resident commissioner to the US Congress in 1921, a delegate Philippine Constitutional Convention in 1934, and elected as senator in 1925, in 1947, and in 1961 where he was the Senate president.[2]
Victor took the entrance exam and passed in 1936 during the transition of the Philippine Constabulary Academy to Philippine Military Academy in Baguio. He attended and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1940 and commissioned as 3rd Lieutenant. He joined Philippine Army Air Corps during its formative years.[3] He graduated as a pilot of Philippine Flying School in Zablan Fields in Camp Murphy in 1941.[4] He was assigned to 6th Pursuit Squadron under Captain Jesus Villamor.[3]
World War II
[edit]When USAFFE was established in June 1941, Philippine Army and Philippine Army Air Corps were both absorbed and took an intensive training in air combat in preparation of Japanese invasion.[3] They were inducted to USAFFE on June 26, 1941, were they are the first unit to be inducted. When Japanese attacked Clark and Nichols Fields in during December 8, 1941, his unit went to action against all odds as they flew the obsolete P26 Boeing Peashooter. He was the nearest to Lt. Cesar Basa when he was strafed and killed by Japanese Zero when he descended from the air.[5] As the Japanese made a firm grip to the Philippines, Filipino pilots were forbidden to fly and was ordered to Bataan.[6] There they were organized to fight as infantry know PAAC Infantry Regiment under Major Pelagio Cruz. He was a POW after the Bataan Forces capitulation and endured the Bataan Death March along with other airmen in April 1942.[citation needed]
Upon released in August 1942, he joined underground movement against the Japanese. He rejoined Philippine Commonwealth forces upon General MacArthur's return to liberate the Philippines.[citation needed]
Post War
[edit]After the war he became an officer in the newly established Philippine Air Force. He was sent to Air University in Alabama, USA to further his leadership and command skills in 1953.[7] He was named deputy commander of Nichols Air Base in Pasay, Metro Manila. He was appointed as Deputy Commander of 5th Fighter Wing based on the air base of his colleague who died on his arm during World War II. He was an instructor at command and General Staff College. He was appointed as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations A3 at PAF Headquarters in Villamor Air Base. In 1964 he was appointed as Chief of Military Operations, SEATO in Bangkok, Thailand.
In 1966, he was named Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, In January 1967 he was named as chief of staff of the Armed Forces by President Ferdinand Marcos.[8] His father was a staunched critic of President Marcos and his rival in the senate prior elected as president. 8 months to his position, he was replaced as chief of staff and forced to retire.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Víctor Osías". 5 November 2023.
- ^ "Camilo Osías". 26 August 2024.
- ^ a b c "History of the Philippine Air Force". 9 February 2016.
- ^ Alcaraz, Ramon (15 August 1941). "August 15, 1941".
- ^ https://corregidor.proboards.com/thread/2534/discrepancy-2nd-sar-basas-death.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "December 15, 1941". 15 December 1941.
- ^ "International Honor Roll Inductees - 1947 to Present".
- ^ Farolan, Ramon (January 20, 2013). "AFP rites of renewal".
- ^ Farolan, Ramon (13 August 2012). "The story of Batch '36".
See also
[edit]- Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
- Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
- Camilo Osias