World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Robert M Polich, Sr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Crosby, Minnesota
Honored By
John Peterson
HE AND HIS CREW FLEW MANY MISSIONS IN THEIR B-17 FLYING FORTRESS BASED AT THE ROYAL AIR FORCE CHELVESTON BEING ASSIGNED TO THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 365TH BOMB SQUADRON, 305TH AIR MOBILITY WING, 305TH BOMB GROUP (HEAVY). ON THE 29TH MISSION, A BOMBING RUN ON THE LEONA OIL WORKS IN GERMANY, THEY WERE SHOT DOWN, SOON FINDING THEMSELVES AS PRISONERS OF WAR. HE WAS INJURED DURING HIS JUMP FROM THE BURNING PLANE AND WAS LATER AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL. AFTER BEING CAPTURED IN GERMANY, HE WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO A GERMAN HOSPITAL, THEN LATER CONFINED IN STALAG LUFT III. EARLY IN 1945 HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO STALAG VII-A, NEAR MOOSBURG, GERMANY. ON APRIL 29, 1945 THE CAMP WAS LIBERATED BY THE 14TH ARMORED DIVISION.