Jack Lusby

Jack Lusby, RAAF.

John Vivian "Jack" Lusby (1913–1980) was an Australian cartoonist, journalist and short story writer who served as a pilot in the Royal Australian Airforce during World War II.

Career and works

Lusby's cartoons appeared in The Bulletin from around 1936 and he worked as cartoonist for Brisbane's The Courier Mail from 1945–51. He also contributed works to the Minties moments series.

His early short stories appeared in Smith’s Weekly and The Bulletin under the pseudonym, 'Freddie'. His stories were later republished in anthologies such as Coast to Coast,1959–60; The Bulletin Christmas Edition, 1958; The Penguin Book of Australian Short Stories (Vol 2); Selected Australian Stories (1963); Australian Short Stories, Second Series (1963); and Short Stories from the Second World War (1982).

War service

Lusby enlisted in the Royal Australian Airforce in 1941, was posted with the No. 3 Squadron RAAF to fight in North Africa and Middle East, and was 'loaned out' to No. 458 Squadron. Jack was the elder brother of radio pioneer Maurice Lusby, and trailblazing Australian Army Doctor Gwen (Lusby) Fleming. His younger brother Bob died as a PoW on the Burma Railway.

Selected works

• Jack's War: A Pilot's World War II Journal by Jack Lusby, published by Maria Simms, 2012
• Thumb’s Up by Jack Lusby, published in Sydney by Frank Johnson in 1941.
• Grin with Jack Lusby published in Sydney by Frank Johnson in 1945.
• The Penguin Book of Australian Short Stories (Vol 2)

External links

• Jack Lusby bio on Design & Art Australia Online.
• Jack Lusby on Trove