| César Fernando Basa | |
|---|---|
Lt. César Basa |
|
| Born | 1915 Philippines |
| Died | December 12, 1941 (aged 25–26) Batangas, Philippines |
| Allegiance | Philippines |
| Service/branch | Philippine Army Air Corps |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | Battle of the Philippines |
| Awards | Silver Star |
César Fernando Basa (1915 – 1941) was a Filipino pilot and hero of World War II. Born in 1915, he was one of the pioneer fighter pilots in the Philippine Air Force and the first Filipino casualty during World War II.
Basa's fight took place at Batangas Field on the morning of December 12, 1941 when fifty-four Japanese bombers and fighter escorts raided the base. Five Filipino fighter pilots, led by Captain Jesús Villamor, engaged the numerically superior enemy in aerial combat at 12,000 feet (3,700 m). Lieutenant Basa arrived on the scene from an air patrol mission with only 15 minutes of fuel left in his tanks, but attempted to join his comrades in the fight. While still half the distance away, he was intercepted by seven Japanese fighters and shot down. Although he bailed out, he was strafed with machine-gun fire by the A6M Zero fighters. Captain Villamor and his pilots won the battle, with the only casualty being Basa. In recognition of his heroism, Lieutenant Basa was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga is named in his honor.