105-Year-Old Rescue Squadron Member Served In Philippines

The Florida Wing of the Commemorative Air Force recently honored 105-year-old WWII veteran Fred LaPonzina with a special flight in the Wing’s T-34 Mentor. Fred was a member of the 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron, an Army Air Corps unit that flew PBY Catalinas on dangerous recovery operations in the Philippines.

CAF Col. Joel Lonky, leader of the Florida Wing, piloted the flight. He said, “Today I had the honor and privilege of taking Fred LaPonzina for a flight. Fred is 105 years old and a World War II veteran with the U.S. Army Air Corps.”

During the war, LaPonzina was first stationed in Colorado where he worked on aircraft, fueling and servicing trainers. He then went to the Pacific Theater where he was assigned to the rescue unit.

On board the Catalina rescue aircraft and B-24 bombers, he manned guns, loaded bombs, and pulled his fellow airmen to safety while he was occasionally under enemy fire. He said his memories were of long missions, island rescues, Japanese air attacks, and negotiating supplies for his men.

On the PBY he was a blister window gunner, placing him square in the sights of enemy fire. He helped retrieve downed airmen, but it was typically not a happy job. One Wing member said, “It’s hard for Fred to talk about. Most of the men they rescued were already gone when they reached them.”

LaPonzina turned 105 in September and the occasion was celebrated at the Port Orange VFW Post 3282. And a few days later he went up in the air again with the CAF.

The team said, “We were able to get Fred into the CAF’s T-34 airplane, and he did great… even flew the plane!” Col. Lonky added, “This is what we are all about.”

In his interview that’s posted on the Florida Wing’s website, Fred reflected on his experiences during the war and those who served with him. He closed out by saying, “Thank you [Commemorative Air Force] for being there for me and getting me to express some of the things that I have gone through and what some of the boys have gone through. I can only [now] speak for them.”

FMI:  www.caffl.org/