Baggett was a drum major at Abilene High School, and attended Hardin Simmons University, class of 1941. There he majored in music theory and composition and was the drum major for the cowboy band.
After graduation he went to flight school where he was trained to fly the B-24 bomber.
Baggett was co-pilot on a B-24 assigned to 10th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group 9th Bombardment Squadron. On March 31, 1943 he took part in a six plane mission against the Pyinmana Railroad Yards in Madalay. Before reaching the target, the formation was attacked by a greatly superior number of Japanese fighters. During the intense air battle that followed the plane was fatally damaged and crashed. Five members of the crew were killed, either in the plane or by being strafed by enemy fighters as they descended in their parachutes.
Bagget was grazed on the arm by one of the Japanese bullets, and decided to play dead in the hopes he'd be left alone long enough to make it to the ground. One fighter pilot opened his canopy and flew in to take a closer look at Baggett. As he approached within feet of the chute, nose up on the verge of a stall, Bagget raised his .45 and fired four shots at the cockpit. The plane stalled and spun in. Baggett and three others made it to the ground alive and became prisoners of war. It was revealed by Japanese soldiers that they had found the crashed wreckage of the fighter plane, along with the dead pilot, with a wound to the head.
Baggett spent over two years at the Changi prison camp in Rangoon Burma.
After retiring from the Air Force he worked as a defense contractor.
After graduation he went to flight school where he was trained to fly the B-24 bomber.
Baggett was co-pilot on a B-24 assigned to 10th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group 9th Bombardment Squadron. On March 31, 1943 he took part in a six plane mission against the Pyinmana Railroad Yards in Madalay. Before reaching the target, the formation was attacked by a greatly superior number of Japanese fighters. During the intense air battle that followed the plane was fatally damaged and crashed. Five members of the crew were killed, either in the plane or by being strafed by enemy fighters as they descended in their parachutes.
Bagget was grazed on the arm by one of the Japanese bullets, and decided to play dead in the hopes he'd be left alone long enough to make it to the ground. One fighter pilot opened his canopy and flew in to take a closer look at Baggett. As he approached within feet of the chute, nose up on the verge of a stall, Bagget raised his .45 and fired four shots at the cockpit. The plane stalled and spun in. Baggett and three others made it to the ground alive and became prisoners of war. It was revealed by Japanese soldiers that they had found the crashed wreckage of the fighter plane, along with the dead pilot, with a wound to the head.
Baggett spent over two years at the Changi prison camp in Rangoon Burma.
After retiring from the Air Force he worked as a defense contractor.
Baggett was a drum major at Abilene High School, and attended Hardin Simmons University, class of 1941. There he majored in music theory and composition and was the drum major for the cowboy band.
After graduation he went to flight school where he was trained to fly the B-24 bomber.
Baggett was co-pilot on a B-24 assigned to 10th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group 9th Bombardment Squadron. On March 31, 1943 he took part in a six plane mission against the Pyinmana Railroad Yards in Madalay. Before reaching the target, the formation was attacked by a greatly superior number of Japanese fighters. During the intense air battle that followed the plane was fatally damaged and crashed. Five members of the crew were killed, either in the plane or by being strafed by enemy fighters as they descended in their parachutes.
Bagget was grazed on the arm by one of the Japanese bullets, and decided to play dead in the hopes he'd be left alone long enough to make it to the ground. One fighter pilot opened his canopy and flew in to take a closer look at Baggett. As he approached within feet of the chute, nose up on the verge of a stall, Bagget raised his .45 and fired four shots at the cockpit. The plane stalled and spun in. Baggett and three others made it to the ground alive and became prisoners of war. It was revealed by Japanese soldiers that they had found the crashed wreckage of the fighter plane, along with the dead pilot, with a wound to the head.
Baggett spent over two years at the Changi prison camp in Rangoon Burma.
After retiring from the Air Force he worked as a defense contractor.
After graduation he went to flight school where he was trained to fly the B-24 bomber.
Baggett was co-pilot on a B-24 assigned to 10th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group 9th Bombardment Squadron. On March 31, 1943 he took part in a six plane mission against the Pyinmana Railroad Yards in Madalay. Before reaching the target, the formation was attacked by a greatly superior number of Japanese fighters. During the intense air battle that followed the plane was fatally damaged and crashed. Five members of the crew were killed, either in the plane or by being strafed by enemy fighters as they descended in their parachutes.
Bagget was grazed on the arm by one of the Japanese bullets, and decided to play dead in the hopes he'd be left alone long enough to make it to the ground. One fighter pilot opened his canopy and flew in to take a closer look at Baggett. As he approached within feet of the chute, nose up on the verge of a stall, Bagget raised his .45 and fired four shots at the cockpit. The plane stalled and spun in. Baggett and three others made it to the ground alive and became prisoners of war. It was revealed by Japanese soldiers that they had found the crashed wreckage of the fighter plane, along with the dead pilot, with a wound to the head.
Baggett spent over two years at the Changi prison camp in Rangoon Burma.
After retiring from the Air Force he worked as a defense contractor.
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