Arizona republican., 1918-11-26
International Red Cross Informs Father In This City That Report of Famous Young Aviator's Death From Out of Germany Almost Ger tainly Correct; Last Time the Premier Air Man Was Seen Was On the Evening of September 29, When He Flew Away Alone After Hun Balloons.

coping against hope that he had been aptured by the Germans and now was prisoner, word was received yeSter- lay by Frank Luke, the father, from he bureau of communication of the American Red Cross stating that his on, Frank Luke, Jr., the famous young Phoenix aviator and scourge of the Huns, had been killed in action on September %.
 There is still some slight hope that he report may prove untrue and that he brilliant ace of the air who has brought such great credit to himself, 1is family and city may yet be found dive in some prison camp, but the Red Cross is compelled to admit that that nope is very slight
 The letter to the father received in his city yesterday and which brought he sad news that had been long-feared, s as follows:
 Father is Informed
 Washington, D. C., Nov. 20, 1918.
 My Dear Mir. Luke:
 "l am very sad to have to tell you that the International Red Cross reports, out of Germany, that Lieutenant Frank Luke, Jr- your son, was killed in action on Sep tember 29.
 we have found almost invar- iably that these reports coming out of Germany are to be trusted, but our office in Paris, nevertheless, cables that they are vigorously continuing their investigation for verification of this report. This word was sent by my office in Par is at the request of Mr. Brcphy.
 If this report should prove true, as ] fear there is every reason to think it must, we send you the very sincere sympathy of the Red Cross. We know that you will always be proud of tho fact that your son gave his life so finely and in such splendid cause.
 Sincerely yours,
 "W. R. CASTLE, Director
 Last Time Seen
 The last time Franw Luke, IT,. was seen by his fellow airmen was on the late afternoon of September 29 when he left the field of the 18th aero squadron to go alone to destroy Hun observation balloons.
 Luke had done this repeatedly, some . times coming home after dark and making precarious landings py the afu of rockets and flares, sometimes crip- bling his machine in so doing.
 But on that night he failed to return. The rockets and flares of his comrades were ready, but the hours wore on and no signal came from the daring aviator who was known as the Premier Ar Man of the American AYiatorS
 To speak Luke's name in aviation haunts was to elicit instant word of praise for the boy who became an American leader in balloon destruction in a few days following the smash of the Americans at St. Mihiel. Many To His Credit Ten official and four still uncon- firmed conquests had been written into Luke's record before he went out for the last time. He announced on thai occasion that he was going to drop : certain balloon. and observer saw the huge sausage fall in flames half ar hour later
 Because there were said to have beer no German airmen out az that time 1T the evening, it long had been hoped that k0ke had been captured and no killed. A recent letter to Luke's par. ents in this city told of his last exploi' and of the sincere hope that he theI was a prisoner in a Hun camp. The most talked-of American aviato was Frank Luke Jr, the young Phoe nix boy whose exploits during his brie career in the service set the country ol fire with praise and wonder at his dar ing. Many, fearing his extreme daring almost to recklessness, expected ever, day to hear of his death at the hand of Hun airmen.
 Only Boy But 19 years old, Frank Luke was mere boy when he entered the servic to train as an aviator. As student a the Phoenix high school he was one c the most modest, unaSSuming of th boys of that school.
 After having received bis commissie as a flyer and declared competent t drive his machine against the best c the Hun ayiatorS, Luke was sent over seas and attached to the 18th aer squadron. Within six weeks he was recorded 'ace" and his name was her aided all over France, England and tn United States as one of the wonders c the air.
 Luke's speciality, that which mad him famous, was in the destruction C German observation balloons, an as that required more daring. more ski and better judgment than in attackin Aiuli ssi PioAico- IL lc4uASQ 6NOOpiI down near the earth, of slowing hi machine so that accurate attack coul be made. In this Luke became tn most proficient of all in the America army of aviators..
 These to His Credit
 In the short time of five and one half months after Luke joined the 25t squadron, he had the following to hi credit:
 August Is at Chateau Thierry, ail plane.
 September 12, at Marleuiles, balloo
 September IA, at Bienville, balloon II September 15, near Chaumont, ba loon
 September Is, at ReviI1e, balloon. , September IT, at Romagne, balloon September IS, at Laleuville, balloon September IS, at I4aleuville, Halbei stadt plane.
 September IS, at Laleuville, Fokk |. plane.
 . September IS, at Laleuvifle, balloon 2 September 19. at Laleuville, Fokk s plane.
 ! September 20, at Cansennoye. balloo September 24, at Bantheviile. Fol ker plane.
 l September 2S, balloon.
 September 29, airplane.
 Modest in Bearing
 Luke early in his career on the wes r ern front became lone airman.