Lt. Col. Francis C. Lozito

January 22, 1919 – October 6, 2017

Frank Lozito, age 98, passed away on October 6, 2017. He was born in Newport, R.I. on January 22, 1919 to the late Paul and Catherine Lozito. Preceding him in death are his loving wife, Beverly Ann (Stobbs) Lozito, his sister and only sibling, Salvatrice Pennacchi and his lifelong friendand B-24 crewmate, Ned Helms.

Left to cherish his memory are his children Paul (Kathy) and Nancy (Charlie); grandchildren Jeff (Nadine), Brett (Kristin), Lauren (Gabe) andElizabeth (Dave); great-grandchildren Olivia and Cayden; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Frank was a lifelong Catholic and served as an altar boy at the Cenacle Convent in Newport. He graduated from Rogers H.S. in Newport and the Rhode Island State College, Kingston with a B.S. in Agriculture. In 1948 he graduated from the Air Force Institute of Technology,Dayton, Ohio, with a B.S. in Industrial and Engineering Administration. The Air Force enrolled him at the University of California, U.C.L.A.for further career training.

After graduation from Rhode Island State College, he was a police officer in Newport, R.I. prior to being drafted into the Army in 1942. He trained with the Army Air Corps becoming a B-24 Bomber pilot and was stationed in Venosa, Italy with his crew.

On August 10, 1944, the "Miss Fitz" bomber and her crew flew a mission to the Astro Romano oil refinery in Ploesti, Romania. Their plane was hit by German anti-aircraft fire over Ploesti, losing three of the four engines and most of the fuel. The mortally wounded plane flew as far as Yugoslavia where the crew parachuted to the ground. Yugoslav Partisans rescued the crew amidst enemy firing from the ground.  The crew eventually made it back to Italy thanks to the daring partisans. He earned a Purple Heart among other medals.

After the war, he was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Field in Dayton for several years where he met his future wife, Beverly.  They married at the Chapel at Wright-Patterson.

He was transferred to Wiesbaden, Germany briefly, then to The Hague in Holland for 3 years. He was stationed at the Pentagon for 5 years, then to Albuquerque for 4 years with the Atomic Energy Commission Weapons Office and finally back to the Pentagon. He later retired and worked for 17 years at Honeywell as a manager for the Air Force/NASA Program Analysis Aerospace and Defense Group.

After retiring from Honeywell, he and his wife ran an antique/folk art shop, Recollections, in Clifton, Va. As enthusiastic antiquers, he and his wife became close friends with the Shakers at Sabbathday Lake, Maine; he served on the board for the United Society of Shakers.

His interests included sailing, stamp and coin collecting, antiquing and traveling. He was an avid photographer for several decades and anenthusiastic animal lover with many pets and horses surrounding him and his family.

As the pilot, Frank was the last to jump from his mortally wounded B-24 plane and the last of his crew to forever soar in the heavens. Fly with the Angels!

There will be a viewing at the Colonial Funeral Home Of Leesburg between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm on Wednesday, October 18, 2017.

Frank will be buried with full military honors. Services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a date and time to be determined.

Memorial contributions may be made to DAV Charitable Service Trust (Veterans) or to the Equine Rescue League www.equinerescueleague.org