The Elbert County tribune., 1919-07-25


Jr. Oh yes 1t was presented with
proper ceremonies Mt the Arizona state capitol In
Phoenix by Brig Gen. FL. II. Hlckok, Governor
Campbell and other dlgnitaries. But the main
thing is TINT the medal awarded and is now
where is belongs And the fighting men of this
western country mixed in their feengs--d-
vlded between grief that they can no longer wish
their pet flyer "Happy Landings" and pride that
he 30 well represented them that he was the first
flying officer to get the Congressional Medal OF
Honor.
Moreover the mystery of Luke's fate that for
many months kept all the fighting men Of this
western country the lookout for news of him
In now solved. And these western fighting men
are now. doubly proud that their air hero died
with his boots on"-that his grand finale was At
tngly glorious and heroic was his whole
meteOrc career
Eighteen Hun planes and balloons in seventeen
days is pnrt Of Lukes official record. "And bal
loons!" Yes, balloons. Don't make the mistake
Of thinking lightly of aviator destroying
balloon. Regulars marines, national guards. ma
tonal army, doughboys, artierists, englneers-al
have their heroes But don't overlook the a1rmen
when apport1oning honors. And If there is any
war business more dangerous than combating
enemy airpanes 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 II balloon. And
maybe this is why strafing balloons The
chosen business and speciality of Frank Luke,
Here's glimpse of what Lieut.. Frank Luke's
10y Maoney 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
the lines. He with the famed Oath aero
squndron-Eddie Rickenbacker's own. He was
pressed for news" of his exploits
'We didn't do darn thing but can tell
you story about hero-a real hero, the bravest
man In the war;" said Maoney
"His Frank Luke, Jr., he lived in
Phoenix, Ariz, before the .and he prob
ably the most brilliant flyer we had.
"He would fly balloon officers and
drop note telling them he would knock down
q blimp at certain time-and at that time down
would come the bng.
"On Luke's last trip up he made the most
sensational flight In history. He had dropped
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 hand.
He saw two Fokkers knock down American
scout. so he went up and knocked down the
boches. On his way back he French
men trying to get 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 over the marching columns of boche troops
and turned his machine gun loose on them. know
ing he would be 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 Off
sWhen he died he had eighteen victories to
his credit and keeping Rick humping"
This is the Judgment of 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 man who commanded his
squadron in the fighting in which he took so bril-
limit a part. That man, Harold Il. Hartney. now
a lieutenant colonel and chief of Cunnery In the
air seryicc describes his first impression Of him
os Tint of "a youth keen and aQuiline, blue-eyed
. and fnIr with a strong jaw and hair brushed back
3 from a broad high forehead"
Luke was 20 years old when he entered the
s.rvice. He was trained at the University Oh