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Frank Luke

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Frank Luke, Jr.
;
Frank Luke, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient
Nickname(s)"Arizona Balloon Buster"
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1917-1918
RankSecond Lieutenant
Battles / warsWorld War I
AwardsMedal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross (USA)
Croice de Guerra (Italian)

Frank Luke Jr. (May 19, 1897 in Phoenix, Arizona – September 29, 1918 near Murvaux France) was an American fighter ace, ranking second among U.S. Air Service pilots to Eddie Rickenbacker in number of aerial victories during World War I.[1] Frank Luke is a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Biography

Luke's family emigrated from Germany to America, and in 1873 Frank Luke Sr. settled in Arizona. His fifth child, Frank Jr., grew up an active, hardy youngster who excelled at sports, worked the copper mines, and entered bare-knuckle boxing matches. Following America's entry into World War I, he enlisted in the United States Army on September 25, 1917 and received flight training in Texas and California. Commissioned a Second Lieutenant, in March he went to France for further training and in July was assigned to the 27th Aero Squadron.[2]

Luke was simultaneously admired and disliked for his aggressive tendency to fly alone. But the 27th was under standing orders to destroy German observation balloons, and Luke partnered with Lt. Joseph Frank Wehner. They began a remarkable string of victories but Wehner was killed in action on September 18 1918. That same day Luke shot down his 13th "official" kill - a Halberstadt C type observation plane of FA 36.[3]

Between September 12 and September 29, Luke was credited with shooting down 14 German balloons and four airplanes.[4]

Luke met his fate in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Under threat of arrest for going AWOL, Luke took off in a SPAD XIII fighter without authorization and flew to the front. He shot down three observation balloons but was wounded in the shoulder by antiaircraft fire. He landed in German-held territory in the churchyard of the small village of Murvaux next to a stream that led to the Meuse River. Surrounded, Luke pulled out his Colt 1911 and opened fire before he was killed. He was found a day later with an empty gun and a bullet hole in his chest with 7 dead Germans in front of him. He was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor in 1921 after his body was identified and statements from the village people had been collected confirming his heroism.

Rickenbacker said of Luke: "He was the most daring aviator and greatest fighter pilot of the entire war. His life is one of the brightest glories of our Air Service. He went on a rampage and shot down fourteen enemy aircraft, including ten balloons, in eight days. No other ace, even the dreaded Richthofen, had ever come close to that."

Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. with his SPAD XIII.
File:Armydistinguishedservicecrossmedal.jpg
DSC

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 27th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, Air Service. Place and Date: Near Murvaux, France, 29 September 1918. Entered Service At: Phoenix, Ariz. Born: 19 May 1897, Phoenix, Ariz. G. O. No.: 59, W.D., 1919.

Citation:

After having previously destroyed a number of enemy aircraft within 17 days he voluntarily started on a patrol after German observation balloons. Though pursued by 8 German planes which were protecting the enemy balloon line, he unhesitatingly attacked and shot down in flames 3 German balloons, being himself under heavy fire from ground batteries and the hostile planes. Severely wounded, he descended to within 50 meters of the ground, and flying at this low altitude near the town of Murvaux opened fire upon enemy troops, killing 6 and wounding as many more. Forced to make a landing and surrounded on all sides by the enemy, who called upon him to surrender, he drew his automatic pistol and defended himself gallantly until he fell dead from a wound in the chest.

Other Aces

Luke is often cited as the second-ranking American ace of World War I but that ignores American citizens who flew in other air arms. (It is also noteworthy that 17 of Luke's 18 victories were assessed as destroyed versus only 11 of Rickenbacker's 26.) Americans flying with the British who exceeded Luke's score were Frederick W. Gillet (20, all destroyed) and Wilfred Beaver (19, 12 destroyed.) One who matched Luke's tally was William C. Lambert (18, 10.5 destroyed).

The Stand

In the decades since Luke's death, controversy and rumors have flown right and left about the young American ace between historians and authors. Some have said that Luke was killed upon crash landing, and the story about the daredevil killing 7 Germans before being shot in turn was and is nothing more than a heroic tale (much like the tales the French popularized about Georges Guynemer after his disappearance on September 11,1917). Several historians have brought documents to light which state that Luke was never in danger of being placed under arrest for going AWOL because it simply never happened, though authenticity of these documents has yet to be confirmed.

Most agree, however, that Luke most likely did in fact crash land and make a fighting stand.

Recognition

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Top 10: World War I Aces". Airman Airforce Heritage. United States Air Force. Retrieved 2006-07-16.
  2. ^ 27th Fighter Squadron at afhra.maxwell.af.mil
  3. ^ http://www.earlyaviator.com/archive/w/images/FLJ_germanwreck.jpg
  4. ^ Frank Luke - The Aerodrome - Aces and Aircraft of World War I at www.theaerodrome.com

References

  • "Frank Luke". Aces and Aircraft of World War I. The Aerodrome. Retrieved 2006-03-14.

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