FL28FE

Leo Ferraguto’s addition to the T. Swanson crew story.

Letter dated Dec 23, 1993 from Leo Ferraguto

Thank you for sending the story of our crew by Ted Swanson. I read it when I first got it and again to day. It sure brought back a lot of memories, a few bad ones, a lot of good ones. Please send me a copy of Adam’s version. My mailing address is now 17 Oakdale St, Windermere FL, 34786.

Standing: Theodore Adamczyk, radio operator; Leo Ferraguto, flight engineer; Earl Longacre, co-pilot

seated: Ted Swanson, pilot on Jan 1942 flight to Java

At 50th reunion in Seattle 1992.

B-17, either in New Guinea or Mareeba Australia 1942.

B-17, on a mission Joe Hinze, Leo Furraguto, George Sweeder

Adam’s version of our story will be a lot different than some of the rest of us. On about our 6th or 7th mission out of Java, we bailed out on a small island (Amendia Island). My version reads about like this. We had bombed oil fields in Borneo and were heading home to Java. We met a bunch of Zero’s and had a fight. Shortly after I noticed smoke from #1 engine. To me we were hundreds of miles from nowhere, about half way between Borneo and Java over water. I always felt that God moved that island right under us so we could bail out on it. Two of us hit the silk and Swanson landed on the beach.

The reason I say Adam’s version will be different because he sprained or broke his leg going out of the plane. He landed on the edge of the island so we brought him back to the beached plane in a life raft. We all stayed fairly close to the plane and the natives sort of made a ring around us. In the evening they built a couple of fires and roasted corn. As the corn was done they would bring it to one of us and we ate it. We were hungry enough to think it was real good. That was Ted’s last mission with us.

Joe Ferraguto, “Our happy home in Mareeba, remember the good Aussie beer we got at the canteen...”

If you were here and we had a couple of beers I would probably tell you a couple more incidents of that bail out. Just in case you ever have to bail out of an airplane be sure you wear laced up shoes preferably something like GI shoes. George Sweeder who passed away several years ago (heart attack) was wearing a pair of moccasins and flying boots over them. When he hit the ground he was in his stocking feet. We had to walk through a swamp to get to the plane. George’s feet really got cut up.

Leo Farraguto, crew chief; Joe Hines, _____;Ted Swanson, pilot; Norman Forte, ball turret

One more and I’ll quit. Shortly after I hit the ground a couple of natives came up the path. I had my flap on my 45 unwrapped and was ready for a quick draw. But they didn’t act unfriendly. The leader cam up to me and said, “Japanese?” I said, “No American”. He said, “American!!” I said, “yes” and smiled. He came over to me and gave me a big hug.

We flew about 12 missions in Java and then went to Australia. We reformed our squadrons and worked on our airplanes and then went to Cloncurry. We flew a few missions out of Cloncurry and then to Mareeba. After Swanson and Longacre left we had just an enlisted crew. We flew with quite a few different pilots. Joe Hines, George Sweeder, Norman Porte and I finished up with about 25 missions and then headed to the states Dec 1942.

George Sweeder Chick Reynolds

Epilogue:

Joe Hines, gunner?; I really cant remember what he did after WW II. I tried to find him in Penn. I was told he had an auto accident and died.

Ted Adamczyk, radio operator-waist gunner; stayed in the Air Force and retired as M/Sgt.

George Sweeder, assistant crew chief-waist gunner; stayed in the Air Force and retired as a M/Sgt. He flew tail gunner in B-29’s.

Norman Forte, ball turret; I don’t know. Swanson tried to locate him in the 80’s but couldn’t make contact.

Earl Longacre, co-pilot; retired full Col.

O’Neal Reynolds, bombardier; we lost him shortly after getting back to the states.

Leo Ferraguto, crew chief-top turret gunner; after a year at Pyote I got promoted to T/Sgt and had a maintenance crew. George Sweeder and I put in for flying school. George blew it on the psychomotive test, but I stayed in and graduated as a 2nd Lt in May 1945. After being stationed at Wright Field I decided to get out in Aug 1946. Three years as a civilian and then I reenlisted as a S/Sgt. Soon I was in the Philippines. When the Korean war broke out we took four B-17’s to Japan and photo-mapped North Korea during the War. Then I was back in the top turret for another 12 combat missions. Shortly after returning to the Philippines I was recalled as a 2nd Lt. My final five years in the AF was a launch control officer. I retired as a Major in 1964.

Well how about that for an epistle. I’m enclosing a few snap shots. Please return if possible.

Merry Christmas

Leo.