World War II Honoree

Robert M. Polich, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Deerwood, Minnesota

Honored By

Kevin Rofidal

Relationship

Nephew

HE JOINED THE UNITED STATES ARMY AIR CORPS FROM CROSBY, MINNESOTA, BEGINNING AS AN ENLISTED MAN ASSIGNED TO THE COASTAL ARTILLERY IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. HE LATER BECAME A PILOT AND EARNED HIS WINGS IN OCTOBER 1943 AS HE WAS COMMISSIONED AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT. 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 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, 305TH AIR MOBILITY WING, THEN CALLED THE 305TH BOMB GROUP (HEAVY). ON THE 29TH MISSION, A BOMBING RUN ON THE LEONA OIL WORKS IN GERMANY, HE AND HIS CREW 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 PRISONER OF WAR CAMP WAS LIBERATED BY THE 14TH ARMORED DIVISION. HE RETIRED FROM THE AIR FORCE AFTER 22 YEARS OF SERVICE.