Edward Charles Plevak was born at Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 30, 1922. His parents were Charles Joseph Plevak (12 May 1890 – 25 Jul 1952) and Anna A. (Kovik) Plevak (27 Jul 1893 – 25 Aug 1979), both from the former Czechoslovakia. His father was born Carolus Plevák at Lysá pod Makytou, Czechoslovakia (now in Slovakia), and immigrated to America about 1907; his mother immigrated to America about 1912. He had a brother, Charles Stephen Plevak (14 Apr 1926 – 19 Aug 2000). In 1940 the family home was at 2966 North 5th Street in Milwaukee. His parents operated a local restaurant and tavern. He graduated from Marquette University High School in Milwaukee in 1939.

He registered for the draft at Evanston, Illinois on June 27, 1942 (so he might have been enrolled at Northwestern University). He was 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighed 200 pounds, and had brown eyes and brown hair. At that time his home address was his parents' address in Milwaukee, and he listed no employment. He completed 3 years of college and was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 21, 1942.

He completed Army Air Forces bombardier training in Class 44-1 at Childress Army Air Field, Texas, where he was commissioned in early 1944. He was assigned to the heavy bomber crew of Lt Raymond F. Jackson, and completed crew training in the States (probably B-17 training at Dyersburg Army Air Field, Tennessee). Lt Jackson's crew was assigned to the 836th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived at Station 137 by July 24, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe.

Lt Plevak and six of his crew mates were killed in action on September 30, 1944, when their aircraft, B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle', collided with B-17G 43-38154 'Heavenly Body' after bombs away over Bielefeld, Germany. Apparently B-17G 43-38154 'Heavenly Body', flying in the number 7 position of the Low Squadron, was caught in prop wash turbulence during the descending turn away from the target. This aircraft, piloted by Lt Harold E. Oesch, flipped over on its back and collided with B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle', piloted by Lt Jackson, who was flying in the number 9 position. (Note: This is based on an eyewitness account, and differs from the report in MACR 9422.) 'Liberty Belle' lost its outboard starboard wing, and both ships went down. Two men on Lt Jackson's crew survived. Only the bombardier on Lt Oesch's crew, Lt Zalneraitis, survived.

Lt Plevak's remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 28, 1949.

B-17G 43-38037 crew:
• Jackson, Raymond F – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Sherrill, Theodore I – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Franke Jr, John H – 2/Lt – Navigator – POW
• Plevak, Edward C – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• Nelson, Laverne W – S/Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Michael, George R – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – POW
• Rogers, Willie – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA
• Ballard, Bennie L – Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Harcq Jr, Benjamin W – S/Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA

Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com