ZUKOWSKI, ROBERT JOHN REMAINS IDENTIFIED 10/30/96 AIR FORCE MAJ. ROBERT J. ZUKOWSKI OF CHICAGO; LOST FEB. 11, 1969, LAOS. THREE JOINT FIELD ACTIVITIES IN 1993 AND 1996 RESULTED IN THE RECOVERY OF "AIRCRAFT AND CREW RELATED DEBRIS, AS WELL AS HUMAN REMAINS." DEFENSE POW/MIA WEEKLY UPDATE - OCTOBER 30, 1996 Name: Robert John Zukowski Rank/Branch: O2/US Air Force Unit: 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron Date of Birth: 30 October 1943 Home City of Record: Chicago IL Date of Loss: 11 January 1969 Country of Loss: Laos Loss Coordinates: N170700 E1060300 Status (in 1973): Missing In Action Category: 3 Acft/Vehicle/Ground: F105D Other Personnel in Incident: Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project and the P.O.W. NETWORK 27 March 1992 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews, family approved obituary. REMARKS: SYNOPSIS: The F105 Thunderchief (or "Thud") performed yoeman service on many diversified missions in Southeast Asia. F105s flew more combat missions over North Vietnam than any other USAF aircraft and consequently suffered the heaviest losses in action. They dropped bombs by day and occasionally by night from high or low altitude and some later versions (F105D in Wild Weasel guise) attacked SAM sites with their radar tracking air-to-ground mis- siles. This versatile aircraft was also credited with downing 25 Russian MiGs. On February 11, 1969, Major Zukowski led a mission of two F-105D aircraft from Takhli Air Base on a mission over Laos. It was during the attack on a heavily defended area that his plane was shot down. Major Zukowski was placed in a missing in action status at that time. On January 15, 1979, his status was changed by the Department of Defense to presumed killed in action. For Zukowski, death seems a certainty. For hundreds of others, however, simple answers are not possible. Adding to the torment of over 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing in Southeast Asia is the certain knowledge that some Americans who were known to be prisoners of war were not released at the end of the war. Others were suspected to be prisoners, and still others were in radio contact with would-be rescuers when last seen alive. Many were known to have survived their loss incidents, only to disappear without a trace. Prior to Major Zukowski's military service he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Detroit College of Engineering and Architecture. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of American Military Engineers. He enthusiastically participated in intramural sports and was an active member of the Air Force Reserve Officers Traing Corps throughout his college years. Major Zukowski began his Air Force career with flight training after being commissioned a Second Lieutenant on October 16, 1966. The following year, he was awarded the aeronautical rating of Pilot, and received his wings at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas on October 21, 1967. His foreign service tour of duty commenced on June 12, 1968 as a pilot with the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Air Base, Thailand. During the next seven months, Major Zukowski flew one-hundred twenty-two combat missions in support of military opera- tions in Southeast Asia. He earned the following awards: Distinquished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Medal with First thru Seventh Oak Leaf Cluster; Purple Heart; Vietnam Service Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Longevity Service Award Ribbon. Major Zukowski is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Frank Zukowski; and three brothers, Thomas, Raymond and Michael. ********************************************************** Daily Southtown Fallen pilot laid to rest Family buries son 27 years later by Stephanie Gehring Staff Writer A pallbearer dressed in full mid military uniform lifted the folded American flag above his head with his white-gloved hands, then slow Iy lowered it to chest level before' placing it into a triangular wooden box. The boxed flag was given toAnthony Zukowski with a salute from another pallbearer. Zukowski clutched it tightly. It was for the son he had lost so long ago. Eyes turned upward as four military planes flew over Resurrection Cemetery in Justice. They flew in formation until one suddenly broke away. The pilot pointed his plane upward and disappeared into Friday's grey sky. The others flew on without him. A military honor guard from Scott Air Force Base in downstate Illinois fired a 21-gun salute. Taps were played. Air Force fighter pilot Maj. Robert John Zukowski, who grew up in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood, was laid to rest in a dramatic ceremony with full military honors-27 years after his F-105D fighter plane was shot down in Laos during the Vietnam War. Thomas Zukowski, Robert's older brother, said his father and the rest of the family felt a sense of closure. "It means a lot to him-to every member of the family. We're a pretty close-knit family," Thomas Zukowski said "Not knowing for sure is always something we lived with." His remains and some of his personal effects were returned to the United States last month after U.S. military personnel worked with Laos officials to find the plane wreckage and excavate the site. The major was classified as missing in action from Feb. 11, 1969, until 1979 when the U.S. government changed his status to killed in action because of the circumstances surrounding his death. He was 25 at the time his plane went down, during his 122nd combat mission for the Air force. But Laotian officials were slow to allow American personnel in, so years dragged on before the family would really know for sure of the major's fate and the highly decorated pilot would receive the military burial he deserved, Anthony Zukowski said. "It would have been sooner if Laos would have acknowledged them sooner," Anthony Zukowski said. Thomas Zukowski said it was the family's understanding that American personnel were not allowed in Laos to see the crash site until 1993. It wasn't until early this year that they performed the first 30-day excavation. In April another excavation was conducted. The remains of eight other military men have already been shipped in or will be shipped in by the end of this month. The major's youngest brother Michael Zukowski, flew to Travis Air Force Base in California to personally escort his brothers' remains back to the Chicago area. The remains had been positively identified at the U.S. Army's Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii. Now the family, which moved to Burbank 10 years ago, has more than just memories to hold onto. The excavations also recovered two dog tags, a wristwatch and a St. Christopher medal along with other military items and his blood chit, a fiber document with an American flag printed on it and a dec laration that whoever helps Zukowski back to safety would be rewarded, Thomas Zukowski said. The family used the St. Christopher medal returned to help them explain to his mother, Stella, what had happened. Stella Zukowski suffers from Alzheimer's disease. "We showed her the St. Christopher medal and we let my mother touch it," Thomas Zukowski said. "She started to cry. We think she understands." Thomas Zukowski said he hoped they were right. She took Bob's death 27 years ago very hard," Thomas Zukowski said. "I'm sorry she couldn't be here." Thomas Zukowski said his brother was wearing the wristwatch at the time of the crash. The major had purchased his watch along with one for his father and each of his three brothers, Thomas, Raymond and Michael, while on leave one day. Each watch had the man's name engraved on it. "We all still have the watches he gave us before he left," Thomas Zukowski said. The major was buried with his. The family decided to keep one of the dog tags, the St. Christopher medal and the major's blood chit. The other items collected from the crash site were fondly placed in the grey and silver casket Friday morning before it was taken to Resurrection Cemetery, Thomas Zukowski said. Many of the family gathered for the private services were nieces and nephews who vaguely remembered their uncle or never knew him. But Thomas' son, Greg Zukowski, 26, who was born after his uncle died said the burial was good for the whole family. "I never met him," Greg Zukowski said. "So it's hard to connect with him. But we're looking for closure for the family. It's hard having something always in the back of your head."