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Submit- Full
name
CUSICK, Francis M - Date of
birth
3 August 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island -
Hometown
South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-717601 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Radar Operator -
Unit
729th Bombardment Squadron,
452nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
2 January 1945 - Place of
death
Bitburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| F | 1 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James J. Cusick (father)
Ellen T. Cusick (mother)
Joseph J. Cusick (brother)
James F. Cusick (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38921 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Ehrang, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yards
MACR: 11225
More information
1st Lt Francis M. Cusick attended Notre Dame University.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve Keesler Field, Biloxi, Mississippi on 29 February 1943.
About 1 minute before bombs away, the aircraft received a direct hit between #1 and #2 engines, bending back the outer wing panel which hit the rudder, sending the plane into a flat spin. In the spin on the way down, the plane broke apart. One crew reported seeing parachutes, alle the other crews reported no parachutes seen.
One crew member survived and was taken prisoner. The other eight crew members were killed.
He flew 20 missions.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.memorial.com, www.abmc.gov, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Indianapolis Star - 6 February 1945