Phil Rasmussen

Philip M. Rasmussen (May 11, 1918 – April 30, 2005) was an Army Air Corps second lieutenant assigned to the 46th Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler Field on the island of Oahu during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. He was one of the few American pilots to get into the air that day.

Philip M. Rasmussen
Rasmussen beside damaged P-36 Hawk
Born(1918-05-11)May 11, 1918
Boston, Massachusetts
DiedApril 30, 2005(2005-04-30) (aged 86)
Fort Myers, Florida
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1940–1965
Rank Lieutenant colonel
Unit46th Pursuit Squadron
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsSilver Star with one oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross
Airman's Medal with three oak leaf clusters

Rasmussen was awarded a Silver Star for his actions. He flew many later combat missions, including a bombing mission over Japan that earned him an oak leaf cluster. He stayed in the military after the war and eventually retired from the United States Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 1965. He died in 2005 of complications from cancer and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Pearl Harbor attack

On the morning of December 7, Lt. Rasmussen had awakened in his barracks, when, looking out a window in purple pajamas, he saw a group of Japanese airplanes dropping bombs on the field. He strapped his .45 caliber pistol to the outside of his pajamas and ran to get an airplane.

Most of the planes were destroyed, but Lt. Rasmussen found an unscathed P-36 Hawk and taxied it to a revetment where he had it loaded with ammunition. During a lull in the bombing, he took off with three other pilots. They received orders by radio to fly to Kaneohe Bay on the north-east side of the island.

The American pilots subsequently engaged 11 Japanese aircraft. Despite having a jammed .30 caliber gun and only limited capability with his .50 caliber gun, Lt. Rasmussen managed to shoot down a Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Several other Japanese pilots attacked, including one who apparently tried to ram him. (The Japanese pilot, Iyozo Fujita, returned to the aircraft carrier, Sōryū, and survived the war.[1][2])

Rasmussen's plane was badly damaged and fell into an uncontrolled plunge into the clouds over the mountainous terrain. After passing through the clouds at about 5,000 feet he regained control of the aircraft and returned to Wheeler Field, where he landed with no brakes, rudder, or tailwheel.[3] Oral accounts of the number of bullet holes in the plane vary, but most give a figure of about 500.[4]

The opening exhibit of the World War II exhibit in the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton, Ohio features a mannequin of a pajama-clad pilot climbing into a P-36 Hawk. The exhibit details Lt. Rasmussen's exploits that day and is informally titled "The Pajama Pilot."

Later life

Rasmussen remained in the service where he had several assignments in the Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Lieutenant Colonel Rasmussen retired in 1965 as Chief of Operations, Eglin AFB. He retired to Florida where he died in 2005.[5] He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Images
  • In flight school
  • In New Guinea with P-400 Airacobra-Ia of 7th Fighter Command (Rasmussen on wing; others unidentified)
  • Curtiss P-36A Hawk in the markings of the aircraft flown by Rasmussen during the Pearl Harbor attack

Notes
  1. Rasmussen related this story at the 60th Anniversary Pearl Harbor reunion in Honolulu in 2001.
  2. Flight Journal, October 2002, David Aiken
  3. As recounted by Phil in "Myths of Pearl Harbor" documentary in 2004
  4. Personal recollection from Rasmussen is "over 500". Newspaper and other accounts range from 300 to 600.
  5. "Phillip Rasmussen Obiturary". 2005-05-01. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
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