Bisbee daily review., 1918-11-28
FRANK LUKE IS DEAD, OPINION
 OF kR. BROPHY
Investigation of Report of His Death Emanating From Germans, Shows Nothing to Cast Doubt

PHOENIX, Ariz., Nov. 27.-Frank Luke, jr., has been killed in action. After many weeks of uncertainty, of hoping against hope that he had been captured by the Germans and now was a prisoner, word was received yester- day by Frank Luke, the father, from the bureau of communications of the American Red Cross stating that his son, Frank Luke, ir., the famous young Phoenix aviator and scourge Of the Huns, had been killed in action on September 29.
 There is still some slight hope that the report may prove untrue and that the brilliant ace of the air who has brought such great credit to himself, his family and city may yet be found Red Cross is compelled to admit that that hope is very slight.
 The letter to the father received in this city yesterday and which brought the sad news that had been long, feared, is as follows:
 Father is Informed
 Washington, D. C.,
 November 20, 1918. My Dear Mir. Luke:
 ''I am very sad to have to tell you that the International Red Cross re- ports, out of Germany, that It. Frank Luke, jr., your son, was killed in ac- tion on September 29.
 We have found almost invariably that these reports coming out of Ger many are to be trusted, but our of flee in Paris, nevertheless, cables that they are vigorously continuing their investigation for verification of this report This word was sent by my office in Paris at the request of MT. Brophy
 If this report should prove true, as I 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 the fact that your son gave his life so finely and in such a splen- did cause
 Sincerely yours,
 "W. R. CASTLE, Director"
 Last Time Seen
 The last time Frank Luke, jr, was seen by his fellow airmen was on the late afternoon of September 29 when he left the field of the 25th aero squa- dron to go alone to destroy Hun obser vation balloons.
 Luke had done this repeatedly, sometimes coming home after dark and making precarious landings by the aid of rockets and flares, some times crippling his machine in so do ing.
 But on that night be failed to re- turn. 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 Air Man of the American Aviators
 To speak Lukes name in aviation haunts was to elicit instant word of praise for the boy who became an tion 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 that occasion that he was going to drop a certain balloon, and an obser- yer saw the huge sausage fall in flames half an hour later.
 Because there were said to have been no German airmen out at that time in the evening, it long had been hoped that Luke had been captured and not killed A recent letter to Luke's parents in this city told of his last exploit and of the sincere hope that he then was a prisoner in Hun camp
 Tho most talked-of American avla-