Danilo S. Atienza (April 24, 1951–December 1, 1989) was a Filipino pilot in the

Philippine Air Force The Philippine Air Force (PAF) ( tgl, Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas, , Army of the Air of the Philippines) ( es, Ejército Aérea del Filipinas, , Ejército de la Aérea de la Filipinas) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Armed Forc ...

. Atienza started out as a Philippine Air Force cadet at

Basilio Fernando Air Base Basilio Fernando Air Base, or simply Fernando Air Base (formerly known as Lipa Air Base) is the site of the Philippine Air Force's (PAF) pilot training and education facilities located in the city of Lipa, Batangas, Philippines. It is named afte ...

in Lipa City, where he was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1974. After assignments with the 5th Fighter Wing at

Cesar Basa Air Base Cesar Basa Air Base, or simply Basa Air Base (formerly known as Floridablanca Airfield), is an airbase currently operated by the Philippine Air Force. It is located at Floridablanca, Pampanga about northwest of Metro Manila in the Philippines. ...

, Pampanga, Atienza became Squadron Commander of the 6th Tactical Squadron. On December 1, 1989, Air Force officers joined a coup attempt led by the Reform the Armed Forces Movement. Atienza turned his F-5 fighter against the rebels who established a stronghold at Sangley Field. In bombing and strafing runs, amid heavy rebel ground fire, he and two other combat pilots destroyed one

Sikorsky Sikorsky or Sikorski may refer to: * Sikorsky (comics), a Marvel Comics character * Sikorsky (crater), a lunar crater * Sikorsky Aircraft, an American aircraft manufacturer People with the surname * Brian Sikorski (born 1974), Major League Basebal ...

S-76 helicopter, seven T-28's and a fuel depot, depriving the rebel soldiers of air power. This action turned the tide of battle to the government's favor. However, Atienza was killed that day after his plane went down in unclear circumstances. President Corazon C. Aquino awarded him the Medal of Valor. On May 5, 1992, by an act of Congress, the airfield at Sangley Point Naval and Air Training Station was renamed

Danilo Atienza Air Base Danilo Atienza Air Base is a military base used by the Philippine Air Force, located on the northern end of the Cavite Peninsula in Manila Bay, Luzon Island, Philippines. It is adjacent to Cavite City, in Cavite Province. History On 1 Septemb ...

References

External links

Bio of Danilo Atienza on Philippine Air Force website
Military history of the Philippines Philippine Air Force personnel 1951 births 1989 deaths Aviators killed by being shot down Recipients of the Philippine Medal of Valor Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor Filipino aviators Filipino military aviators {{mil-hist-stub