The Coconino sun., 1918-11-01
LIEUT.. FRANK LUKE, ARIZONA BORN ACE,
 REPORTED MISSING

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY NORTHWEST OF VERDUN, Oct. 2S. Lieut.. Frank Luke of Phoenix, one of the most daring of the American aviators, has been missing since the night of October 20. On that night he started out on a bombing expedi- tion and so far has failed to return.
 Lieut.. Luke was born twenty-one years ago, in May, in Phoenix. The young aviator, by blood has three fourths German and Prussian at that. His father was born in Germany, brought to America when he was 2 years old. His mothers father, by name Liebenow, also was German, but his mothers mother was French, from the very Alsace that now is be- ing redeemed and restored by the force of American arms. But Frank knew neither German nor French and never was notable for philosophizing over anything. He was simply big, husky Arizona boy, full of the joy of living and keen for the upholding of his country's flag, no matter how high a flight it takes or how great the dangers involved.
 High School Graduate.
 Frank got through the Phoenix High School in the early summer of 1917, with a record that distinguished him more in the lines of athletic and boyish pranks than for scholarship. His first work was at Ajo, whence he went, a member of party of eight, to get into mechanical aviation ser vice at San Diego. When they arrived there was no place for them as me chanics, so it was suggested that they enter the aviation training school As at least high school diploma was required, it happened that Luke was the only one qualified in the way of education. The others enlisted in the ordinary way and one since has died on the field in France.
 In the beginning young Luke rather preferred the navy. But he had an attack of pleurisy about the time he presented himself to the recruiting officer and was advised that salt wa ter would probably be found too damp for him. So, after two rebuffs in other branches, he finally dropped into the niche in which he seems to have so exactly fitted.
 He trained first at North Island San Diego. then at the ground school at Austin, Tex, and then again at North Island, from which he was graduated in February of this year as an exceptionally skillful recruit pilot. He came home for a few days and then sailed May 8, for France, on his great adventure.
 Splendid Record.
 Just what the Arizona lad has been doing latterly is a matter that has been chronicled entirely by official and press reports.
 | A checking up of press reports shows he destroyed fourteen German sausage balloons, his principal meat and eight airplanes that happened to be met with casually in the course of the days job. The number may be 1 less, but is likely to be even more. Luke was the fifth of family of nine, his parents being Arizonans for 1 forty years. A brother, Edward, aged 28. is at Fort Sill, Okla. lieutenant under training as an aerial artillery observer, after passing through an of | ficers' school at Camp Funston Charles, 27, now at Aio. has been ap- pointed to an artillery officers school A sister, Mrs. Eva Wurst, left a few days ago for Alexandria, La., for a Red Cross hospital as nurse. ouali- fled by three years of hospital train ing. exporting to be sent over seas within a few weeks. The family had just made public news of Franks en: agreement to Miss Marie Rapson. a senior student in the San Diego High