The 447th Bombardment Squadron

The 447th Bombardment Squadron

Photos from Sgt. Robert R. Plutchak
Provided by his daughter, Lori Santy

Sgt. Robert Richard Plutchak in a classic WWII USAAF Photo.

447th Squadron; Sunday, 28 May 1944

447th BS Mission Summary, Group Mission # 313:

Four of our ships participated in a raid on Vado Viaduct, with Capt. Bounds leading the Group. Lt. Denman flying plane 564 was hit by flak and last seen flying up the Po Valley towards Bologna on one engine. No chutes were seen. Lt. Denman and crew reported as MIA. Lt. Spilko and S/Sgt. Roberts were both slightly wounded when hit by flak. Nine other ships were airborne but returned early when they couldn’t find the rest of the formation. Good concentration on N end of bridge with other bombs falling on center with a few short and to SW.

A/C No. 43-27564
Hit by flak over target (MACR-5373)
Pilot: Denman, John L., 2Lt
Copilot: Hueppchen, Merlin O., 2Lt
Bombardier: Wiley, William D., 2Lt
Engineer-gunner: Plutchak, Robert R., Sgt
Radio-gunner: Martin, Leo J., S/Sgt
Tail-gunner: Merrill, George D., Sgt

04

Despite months of uncertainty about Plutchak's fate as indicated by the above letters written to his mother by the USAAF concerning his whereabouts after his plane was shot down on the May 28, 1944, Robert Plutchak survived behind enemy lines with the help of Italian partisans.

447th Squadron; Saturday, 28 October 1944

The following enlisted men shot down 28 May 1944 returned to Squadron 26 Oct 1944 via AFHQ:

Martin, Leo J., T/Sgt, radio-gunner

Merrill, George D., S/Sgt, aerial gunner

Plutchak, Robert R., Sgt, engineer-gunner

447th Squadron; Saturday, 4 November 1944

1st Lt Merlin Hueppchen, 1st Lt John L. Denman, and 1st Lt William Wiley, who were listed as missing in action escaped from behind enemy lines and were rotated to the Zone of Interior.

Denman, John L., 2Lt, pilot

Hueppchen, Merlin O., 2Lt, pilot

Wiley, William D., 1Lt, bombardier

445th Squadron; Monday, 6 November 1944

Lt. Denman, escaped prisoner of war from another squadron, gave a lecture this afternoon to the combat crews on escape procedure.

"My father tells me he lived in a cave for 4 months behind enemy lines relying on the "locals" to bring him food. I can't imagine what that must have been like. I have seen my dad cry only once in my life and it was when his granddaughter interviewed him about what he did in the military. He told her there were days when no one returned and then he apologized to her and said he just didn't want to speak of it anymore. I wrote to Senator John Kerry (Democrat, MA) and he managed to find out what medals my father earned during his military service and he was kind enough to have them re-issued. The Senator went so far as to write a personal note to my dad thanking him for his service to our country. My dad often jokes to me saying, 'how do you think I learned to cook such good Italian food?' But that's dad, quite the character." Lori Santy

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