Lt. Jose Pepe Gozar- Philippine Aviator Hero

...... Lt. Jose "Pepe" P. Gozar, was born in Calapan,
Oriental Mindoro, on April 8, 1918; son of Juan Gozar and Calixta
Cangco. He completed his elementary schooling and graduated as
salutatorian from the Mindoro High School in March, 1936.

He enrolled at the University of the Philippines College of Commerce
and worked as a student assistant in the College. After completing
the required units, he enlisted in the Air Corps, Philippine Army,
in April, 1938; entered the Flying School in October, 1938 and
graduated in 1940. He served as instructor in the Flying School at
Zablan Air Field until the outbreak of the war on December 8, 1941.

With Captain Collin Kelly and Col. Jesus Villamor, he received a
citation from Gen. Douglas MacArthur for "his display of courage
and leadership," for shooting down two Japanese bombers during the
war. Together with a friend, also from the Air Corps, Lt. Gozar
joined the army in Bataan and Corregidor for the last stand of the
Philippine Army. He escaped the infamous "Death March"; tried to
reach Mindanao with the hope of reaching Australia by any means of
transportation*. The Japs placed a fabulous price on his head as an
army aviator...unsurrendered. At Bacolod, Negros Occidental, he
had misunderstandings with the guerillas who suspected him to be
a Japanese spy.

Sensing danger and liquidation, he left on a sailboat with two
friends. Caught by storm on the open sea, he abandoned the little
craft and swam to the shore with one of his companions. That was
the last heard of him as related by his companion who stayed in
the boat and survived. . . . as told by Virgilio G. Gozar, Calapan,
Or. Mindoro, cousin of Lt. Jose Pepe Gozar.

Note*- Unverified reports says that Jose Gozar is to fly back from
Australia, as directed by MacArthur piloting the P-51 Mustang, at
that time the latest war plane of the US Air Force during the war.

N.B. Text is a summary only. Full details of this hero to be published soon.

A project to set up a foundation for my uncle is in the process.
Any family member that may be interested to join this foundation
either as a director, donor or sponsor, please do email me.
For more info, do email me at ericgozar@yahoo.com or ericgozar@gmail.com so I could invite you to a newsletter that will update you on the creation of this foundation.

This blog is authored by Arch. Eric Gozar- Metro-Manila, Philippines- Cellfone 63-9228184926, email-ericgozar@yahoo.com.