Gilpin observer., 1919-07-24


proper ceremonies at the Arizona state capitol In
Phoenix by Brig Gen. II. R. Hckok Governor
Campbell and other dignitaries. But the main
thing is that the medal awarded and is now
where is belongs. And the fighting men Of this
western country mixed in their feelings-di-
vided between grief that they can no longer wish
their pet flyer Happy Landings" and pride that
he SO well represented them that he was the hrst
flying officer to get the Congressional Medal OF
Honor.
Moreover the mystery of Lukes fate that for
many months kept all the fighting men Of this
western country the lookout for news Of him
is now solved. And these western fighting men
doubly proud that their air hero "ded
with his boots on'-that his grand finale was At
tngly glorious and as heroic as was his whole
meteoric career
Eighteen Hun planes and balloons In seventeen
days Is part Of Lukes official record "And bal
looms !" Yes, balloons Don't make the mistake
Of thinking lightly of aviator destroying a
balloon. Regulars marines, national guards.
tional army. doughboys, artilerists, engneers-all
have their heroes. But don't overlook the armen
when apportioning honors. And II there is any
war business more dangerous than combating
enemy nrplanes 1t is destroying enemy observa-
ton balloons. The quality of the Job is indicated
by the German practice of crediting with two vic
tories every pilot who strafed balloon And
maybe this is why strafing balloons was the
chosen business and speciality Of Frank Luke.
Here's a glimpse of what Lieut.. Frank Luke's
comrades think of his work: The other day J.
10y Maloney returned to the Chicago Tribune
staff. He had pair of r. NJ. A. wings and three
gold overseas service chevrons and his pilot book
shows $50 hours in the air. $50 of which were over
the lines. He was with the famed Oath aero
sQuadron-Eddie Rickenbacker's own. He was
pressed for news" Of his exploits.
"Well. didn't do n darn thing, but can tell
you a story about hero-a real hero the bravest
man In the war" said Maloney.
His Frank Luke, Jr., he lived in
Phoenix, Ariz. before the and he was prob
ably the most brilliant flyer we had.
"He would fly over balloon officers and
drop note telling them he would knock down
blimp at n certain tme-and at that time down
would come the bag
"On Luke's last trip up he made the most
sensational flight In history. He had dropped a
note saying two German balloons would be crash
ed They were, and then his air went bad and
he had to pump by hand, which means handling
the stick. the gas and all the guns with one hand.
He two Fokkers knock down an American
scout, 80 he went up and knocked down the
boches. On his way back he seven French
men trying to get a huge German triplane Luke
got the ship, but shrapnel stopped his motor.
"Down he went Below Germany and
German troops That 20 year old kid dove the
ship the marching columns of boche troops
and turned his machine gun loose on them, know
ing he would be n prisoner.
"But he killed eight men. then set his ship
down on the ground and whipped out his auto-
matte. He hit three boches when they came up
to capture him-and they bumped him on
"when he died ne had eighteen victories to
his credit and keeping Rick humping"
This IL the judgment Of a trained newspaper
man, used to getting facts, appreciating their
value. and sizing up men,
Perhaps nobody is better able TO tell the truth
about Luke than the who commanded his
squadron in the fighting In which he took 80 bril-
liant u part. That man, Harold t. Hartney now
a lieutenant colonel and chief Of gunnery In the
air service, describes his first impression Of him
as that of IN youth keen and aqune, blue-eyed
and fair with strong jaw and hair brushed back
from broad, high forehead"
Luke was 20 years old when he entered the
service. He was trained at the University OF