File:US Army Air Force USAAF - WW2 May 1943 Staff Sergeant F T Lusic air gunner Eighth Air Force B-17 Protective clothing Flight Gear 03 fur lined jacket trousers.jpg

English: Staff Sergeant Frank T. Lusic, an air gunner of the Eighth Air Force in the United State Army Air Forces (USAAF), pictured beside a bomber and putting on protective clothing and flight gear in a series of photos taken as he prepared for a mission in May 1943. The bomber is the B-17 "Meat Hound" (Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress).

• WW II uncovered (Facebook):

Frank Tony Lusic, born in Gladstone, Michigan on the 16 March 1921, was employed as a driver for Armour and Company of Chicago when he was drafted into the Army on the 19 May 1942 at the age of 21 years old. Lusic trained as an air gunner and joined the 327th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group "Fame's Favoured Few" of the 8th Air Force.

In the feature photo taken in Thurleigh, England, Sergeant Lusic, is pictured in front of a B17 nicknamed Meat Hound. Frank was photographed by James Jarché for the cover and article in Illustrated Magazine's June 1943 issue. However, Frank Lusic was not a member of the B-17 Meat Hound crew.

After the war, Frank relocated to Milwaukee Wisconsin where he managed a restaurant and bar. Staff Sergeant Frank Lusic passed away on 2 September 1977 after a lengthy illness.

• American air Museum:

Frank Tony Lusic

Nationality: American

Service Number: 36339861

Highest Rank: Sergeant

Role/Job: Waist gunner

Assigned to 327BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down on 6-Sep-43 in B-17 42-30000.

Prisoner of War (POW).

Awards: AM (2OLC), POW, EAME, WWII Victory.

Waist gunner Staff Sergeant Frank Lusic, poses in front of B-17F-55-BO 42-29524 'Meathound' of 306th Bomb Group, 423rd Bomb Squadron. 1943.

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