Arizona republican., 1918-10-07
THEY TAKE CAP 0FF TO LIEUTENANT LUKE,
 THE PHOENIX 'ACE'

The fame of Lieutenant Frank Luke of Phoenix, the Arizona boy who has brought down eight enemy balloons to date, has gone all over the United States. Equally proud with Arizona people of the exploits of this young man, the newspapers of every state have been profuse in their praises of his daring work.
 The following interesting story of Luke is from a special cable by Fred ericll A. Smith in the Chicago Tri- bune:
 The First army has it's cap off to Frank Luke, who has brought down eight enemy observation balloons since the morning of the 12th. Luke volun- teered for probably the most perilous air work, going out on stunts aston ishing to his comrades, and also prob ably astounding to the enemy.
 I sought out this demigod of avia- ton who has become in few days the American ace of aces in balloon de- struction, and found him to be boy of 1e. whose blue eyes show ingenious surprise when he is asked about his exploits. His enterprises contribute to the fine record of American avia- tors in this offensive. Sixty-thre boche planes have been downed since Thursday nine of which are already officially recorded, and thirty balloons.
 Thorne c. Taylor son of Judge Fay Tor of Chicago, dropped one, adding to his already fine record. Eddie Ricken- packer, former auto racer, just out of the hospital after mastoid operation, added three to his string, two of which are official. giving him seven boche air men to date.
 When the offensive opened volun- teers were asked for balloon attacks. Luke and Joseph F. Wehner of Ever ett, Mass, stepped forward, although they had only been pilots at the front for few months. They started, but became separated; but each got a bal loon. That means they went singly far across the foes line and flew close to the ground under the fire of machine guns and aircraft guns, which. with flaming onions," were filling the air with fire The onions are balls of fire intended to ignite the plane.
 It is said that Luke in the Marne campaign followed boche ace far into German territory and dropped him. but there was no chance to confirm this for the official record. That was his first | blood. and he determined his next ac- complishment should be made official After dropping the balloon in flames Luke recrossed our lines. alighting neal an American observation balloon and getting an immediate written state ment from the observer, who saw the battle.
 
 | jed by Wehner, who. falling behind and reaching the other side of the German | front, was just in time to discover Luke l sending down balloon in flames un- conscious of the fact that seven Hun planes were right on his tail. Wehner rising, came down on the boche nearest Luke. sending down the Hun and say 1 ing his comrade. Wehner then crip- pied another boche. both then escap- ing Luke's plane was riddled, a bull | let hitting under the seat back of him | damaging the tank and cutting strut Saturday Luke went out with Jot Dawson, getting another balloon, bu he was piqued because the bag didn burn, and descended almost to tht ground, driving the anti-aircraft gun ners away from their pieces.
 | Phoenix. Ariz., to enter the war, cause: Germany loss of s7.000 for each bal loon dropped. in addition to valuabl, instruments and maps requiring months to make. On Monday evening Luk' and Wehner announed that they would get three, the first at 7:15, the secont at 7:30 and the third at 7:45. Observ CTS near the front saw the three fal almost exactly on schedule. The dar iRg flyers were forced to return afte dark, but were guided by rockets ant flares, and finally reaching home. botl wrecking their machines in alightina
 The Arizona boy on the night on re turning after bagging two more wa forced to land far away and was picke' up after walking some distance, sus pected as German in American uni form. He proved his identity, but va forced to wait until morning before re turning to his aerodrome.
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