Boeing P-26 Peashooter
Stamps were issued to honor Lt. Cesar Fernando Basa and Lt. Jose Gozar, pilots of the Philippine Army Air Corps, the forerunner of the Philippine Air Force. Lt. Gozar was personally awarded by Gen. Douglas MacArthur the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in aerial combat against enemy forces on December 10, 1941. Lt. Basa was the first Filipino fighter pilot casualty of World War II and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal.
The Lt. Jose Gozar issue was released on October 20, 1955, with 20-centavo (Scott #C78) and 50-centavo (Scott #C80) stamps. The Lt. Cesar Fernando Basa issue was released on December 12, 1955, with 30-centavo (Scott #C79) and 70-centavo (Scott #C81) stamps. The four stamps show the P-26 Peashooter and a portrait of the respective issue's featured pilot.
The P-26 Peashooter, designed and built by Boeing, is the first American production all-metal fighter aircraft and the first pursuit monoplane to enter squadron service with the United States Army Air Corps. It was in use with the U.S. Army Air Corps as late as 1941 in the Philippines. Thirty-one were sold to the Philippine Army Air Corps between 1937 and 1941.
Boeing P-26 Peashooter and Mitsubishi A6M Zero
Stamps were issued to honor Col. Jesus Villamor, a pilot of the Philippine Army Air Corps. He is credited as the first Philippine Army Air Corps pilot to have shot down a Japanese aircraft at the start of World War II. He shot down two Mitsubishi A6M Zero with his outclassed P-26 Peashooter. He was personally awarded by Gen. Douglas MacArthur the Distinguished Service Cross extraordinary heroism in aerial combat against Japanese forces on December 10, 1941. He received a second Distinguished Service Cross (Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster) for another act of extraordinary heroism on December 12, 1941, when he led six pursuit planes against 54 Japanese bombers. He also received the Legion of Merit medal from the United States Armed Forces. President Ramon F. Magsaysay awarded him the Medal of Valor on January 21, 1954, for his bravery as a pilot and his work as an intelligence officer during World War II.
The Col. Jesus Villamor issue was released on April 9, 1973, in denominations of 10 sentimo (Scott #1186) and 2 piso (Scott #1187). Both stamps feature the same design, featuring a portrait of Col. Jesus Villamor, a P-26 Peashooter, and two Mitsubishi A6M Zero. The only difference between the two stamps is the background color of the portrait.
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long-range, carrier-based fighter aircraft manufactured by the Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It served with the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945 and 
played a significant role during Japan’s invasion of the Philippines, where it was one of the primary aircraft deployed by Japanese forces.
played a significant role during Japan’s invasion of the Philippines, where it was one of the primary aircraft deployed by Japanese forces.On March 25, 1974, the 10-sentimo stamp was overprinted and surcharged to a value of 15 sentimo (Scott #1230) in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Lions Clubs International in the Philippines.
North American F-86 Sabre and Curtiss JN-4 Jenny
Two stamps were issued on May 2, 1960, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force. Denominated at 10 centavos (Scott #C83) and 20 centavos (Scott #C84), both stamps feature the same design, depicting the Philippine Air Force logo alongside a Curtiss JN-4 Jenny and an F-86 Sabre. The stamps differ only in color.
The Philippine Air Force traces its origin to the Philippine Constabulary Air Corps, which was created with the passage of Commonwealth Act 1494 on January 2, 1935, and later redesignated as the Philippine Army Air Corps on January 11, 1936, when it was placed under the control of the newly established Philippine Army. The Philippine government reorganized the armed forces after World War II. The Philippine Air Force was formally established as a separate major service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on July 1, 1947.
The Curtiss JN-4 Jenny is a biplane built by the Glenn Curtiss Aeroplane Company, later the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. It was used to train early Filipino military pilots.
The F-86 Sabre is a transonic, jet-powered fighter aircraft manufactured by North American Aviation.
The Philippine Air Force received its first F-86 Sabre in 1957 as its principal interceptor and marked the major transition into the jet age. It was in service into the late 1970s.
The 10-centavo stamp was overprinted and revalued to 6 centavos (Scott #847) on November 30, 1961, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation.
- Stamps are shown at actual size.
- Only Philippine stamps depicting a military aircraft are included in this list.
- Scott Catalogue numbers are provided when available. When no country is specified, the Scott Catalogue number refers to a Philippine stamp.
- Created: 10 August 2026.
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