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The Philippine Defense Act of 1935 had created the Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC). There was much excitement and optimism by Filipinos when the legislation was passed. The Philippine Commonwealth was moving towards independence from the United States. With independence came the responsibility of national defense. The act required obligatory military service for young Filipinos.
The Philippine Defense Act of 1935 also created the position of the Office of the Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government (OMACG). This position was the driver and developer of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the PAAC.
General Douglas MacArthur was selected for the office by President Manuel Quezon of the Philippines and President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States. Since General MacArthur had served several tours in the Philippines over the years, he was highly regarded by Filipinos.
Most Filipinos thought that a leader like Douglas MacArthur was the ideal man to guide the Philippines to military independence. They thought that the development of the Philippine Army should be smooth and painless with General MacArthur in command.
Within six years, the optimism of 1935 creating a developed Philippine military that could deter a foreign aggressor like Imperial Japan was shattered. On August 15, 1941, the PAAC was transferred to the Far East Air Force, which was under the United States Armed Forces in the Far East. The development of the Philippine military was regressing not progressing.
During 1935 to 1941, Imperial Japan was progressing significantly more than the Filipinos and Americans in the Philippines. The Japanese war machine was aggressively conquering territory after territory in Asia and Southeast Asia. They appeared to be unstoppable. The reports from American military intelligence clearly showed that the Philippines and other parts of the South China Sea were the next target for Imperial Japan.
On July 26, 1941, General Douglas MacArthur was recalled to active duty. He had retired from the United States Army and had accepted a Field Marshal commission in the Philippine Commonwealth military. He still served as the military advisor.
General MacArthur’s first task was to consolidate American and Filipino forces in the Philippines. He created and commanded the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). The aviation assets of USAFFE were placed under the Far East Air Force (FEAF).
On August 15, 1941, only three weeks after General MacArthur was recalled to active duty, the resources of the PAAC were transferred to FEAF. There was a transfer ceremony at Zablan Field in a hangar at Camp Murphy, which honored the service of PAAC and the future of FEAF.
Unfortunately, the future of FEAF was bleak. Imperial Japan destroyed most of the newly arrived B-17 bombers and P-40 fighter aircraft on December 8, 1941.
Dennis Edward Flake is the author of three books on Philippine-American history. He is a Public Historian and a park ranger in interpretation for the National Park Service at the Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg, PA. He can be contacted at: [email protected]
