El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-10-23
LIEUT.. luke Of
GERMAN BLOOD
Prussian Blood at That,
But the Fact Won't Make
Huns Happy.

=
Phoenix. Ariz-. Oct. % Lieut..
Frank Luke ranked as the second
American ace" was born q years
ago, in May, in Phoenix The young
aviator, by blood. is three fourths
German, and Prussian at that. His
father was born in Germany, but was
brought to America when he was 2
years old.
His mothers father. by name Lie
benow. also was German, but his
mothers mother was French, from
Alsace.
But Frank knows neither German
nor French and never was notable for
philosophizing over anything. He is
4 big. husky Arizona boy, full OF the
joy Of living and keen for the up
holding Of his country's flag. no mat
ter how high a flight it takes or how
great the dangers involved
Ont Of High school in 1917.
Frank got through the Phoenix
high school in 1917. with 4 record
that distinguished him more in the
lines Of athletics and boyish pranks
than for scholarship. His first work
was at Ajo, whence he went as a
member Of 4 party Of eight, to get
into mechanical aviation service at
san Diego. When they arrived there
"
so there was a suggestion that they
enter the aviation training school
As at least a high school diploma was
required, Ii 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 10 the re-
cruiting officer and was advised that
salt water probably would be found
too damp for him So. arter two re-
Bluffs in other branches. he finally
dropped into the niche in which he
seems to have so exactly fitted.
His aviation training went from
North Island. san Diego, 10 the
ground school at Austin, Tex. and
then back TO North Island. from which
he was graduated in February Of this
year as an exceptionally skillful re-
cruit pilot He came home for n few
days and then sailed. May 3, for
France. on his great adventure.
Has Destroyed II Balloons.
Just what the Arizona lad has been
doing latterly is a matter that has
been chronicled entirely by official
and press reports He must be very
busy, for his proud family in Phoenix
has received no letter from him since
a German artillery barrage Ordi- I
narily he has been a good correspOn-
dent. writing home at least weekly. !
There has been a checking up from
press reports that he has destroyed I
Il German sausage balloons. his prin- I
cipal meat. and eight airplanes that /
happened to be met with casually in !
the course Of the days job. The num- !
Der may be less. but is likely 10 be !
even more. for there has been no re- /
port for several days OF the activi- I
ties Of Arizona's knight OF the air.
Luke is the fifth Of a family of /
nine. His parents have been Ari- !
zonans for 40 years. 4 brother. Ed /
ward. age IS. IS at Fort Sill. Okla (
noma. a lieutenant. under training l
as an aerial artillery observer after ]
passing through an officers school D
at Camp Funston. Charles. %. now I
Il Ajc, has been appointed to an ar I
-illery officers school A sister. Mrs I
Eva Wurst, left 4 few days ago for 4
Alexandria. Louisiana. to a Red Cross |
hospital as a nurse. qualified by three 4
Years % hospital training. expecting /
10 be sent overseas within a few /
weeks. The family has just made 4
public news Of Franks engagement I
10 Miss Marie Rapson. a senior stu
lent in the San Diego high school