Former Philippine Air Force pilot launches book on history of aviation in the Philippines

The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney hosted the book launching of Wings Over the Philippines, a history on aviation in the Philippines written by Tony Dedal, a former Philippine Air Force pilot who migrated to Australia in 1971.

Dedal, a fighter pilot in the Philippine Air Force’s 5th Fighter Wing during the 1950s, narrates a history that began with the first exhibition flights in the Philippines by American aviator James “Bud” Mars in February 1911, the establishment of the first flight school at Fort McKinley in 1912, the training of the first Filipino pilots in 1918, and the 1919 flight of Ruth Law as the first woman to fly over Manila.

Dedal’s Wings Over the Philippines relates the rise of the first commercial airlines in the country, such as the Philippine Air Taxi Company (PATCO) in 1930 and Iloilo-Negros Air Express Company (INAEC) founded in 1932 by Eugenio H. Lopez Sr., and the beginnings of the US military flight operations in the Far East from the Philippines in the 1920s. The book also details the formation of the Philippine Army Air Corps in 1937, the air battles over the Philippines during the Second World War, the beginnings of the Philippine Air Force in 1947.

Consul General Maria Theresa P. Lazaro commended Dedal for his initiative and labor in writing the book, which gives tribute to the hundreds of people who were the movers of that angle of Philippine history. Dedal was in his late 60s when he started writing the book and collaborated with other retired Filipino pilots for this work.

The Blue Diamonds aerobatics team

In 1951, 2nd Lt. Regino Masias was leading 2nd Lt. José Gonzales on a routine flight when he decided to take a sharp turn without warning him. To Masias’ surprise, Gonzales stayed on his wing. He then tried a whole series of abrupt maneuvers, only to find that Gonzales kept up with him every time. Another pilot, 2nd Lt. Oscar Alejandro spotted them and decided to join in. Gonzales became very enthusiastic at the idea of an aerobatics team, and decided to realize the project. In 1952, some first attempts were refused official approval, but by early 1953, Gonzales was given the blessing of Maj. Rancudo, 6th FS’s Commanding Officer. The team was quickly formed with pilots from the 6th Fighter Squadron.

Tony Dedal recalls: “One guy I really respected was José Gonzales. He could fly the Mustang like nobody else. I flew wingman with him maybe twice in 1957, when he visited us at Nichols Fields as he was already at Clark flying F-86s. He would practice his proficiency in the Mustang, which was revealing to me with his masterly touch. His maneuvers were always tight and smooth. He would hang by the propeller and still pull enough Gs that you could not put him in your gunsights. It is difficult enough not to stall when following him. Some flight leaders I have flown with used more muscles on the controls but were in fact easier targets.”

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