The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-07-31


proper ceremonies at the Arizona state capitol in
Phoenix by Brig Gen. II. r. HickOk, Governor
Campbell and other digntaries. But the main
thing is that the medal awarded and is now
where is belongs. And the fighting of this
western country mixed in their feelings-di-
vded between grief that they no longer wish
their pet flyer Happy Landings" and pride that
he so we'll represented them that he was the first
flying officer to get the Congressional Medal of
Honor.
Moreover, the mystery of Lukes fate that for
many months kept all the fighting of this
western country the lookout for news of him
is now solved. And these western fighting men
dOubly proud that their air hero died
with his boots On'-that his grand finale fit
dngly glorious and heroic his whole
IneteOric
Eighteen Hun planes and balloons in seventeen
days is part of Luke's official record. "And BAL
looms" Yes, balloons. Don't make the mistake
of thinking lightly of aviator destroying
balloon. Regulars, marines, national guards,
tiOnal army, dOughbOyS, artillerists, engneers-a
have their heroes. But don't overlook the airInen
when appOrtiOning hOnOrs. And if there is any
war business more dangerous than combating
enemy arplanes 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 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. 80 of which were over
the lines He with the famed oath aero
squadrOn-Eddie Rickenbacker's own. He
pressed for news" of his exploits.
well, 1 didn't do darn thing, but I can tell
YOU story about herO-a real hero, the bravest
man in the war;" said MalOney.
His name was Frank Luke, Jr, he lived in
Phoenix, Ariz., before the war and he was prob
ably the most brilliant flyer we had.
yOY1la HI- hoIla
drop q note telling them he would knock down
a blimp at a certain time-and at that time down
would the bag.
son 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 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 seven French
men trying to get a huge German triplane Luke
got the ship, but shrapnel stopped his motor.
Down he went. Below was 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 them, know
Ing he would be,a prisoner
But he killed eight men. then set his ship
down on the ground and whipped out his auto
matte. He init three boches when they came up
to capture him-and they bumped him off.
"When he died he had eighteen victories to
his credit and keeping Rick humping"
This is the judgment of a trained newspaper
man, used to getting facts. approaching their
value, and sizing up
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-
liant q part. That man. Harold e. Hartney now
a lieutenant colonel and chief OF gunnery in the
air service, describes his first impression of him
as that of "a youth keen and aquiline, blue-eyed
and fair, with strong jaw and hair brushed back
from q broad high forehead"
Luke was 20 years old when he entered the
service. He was trained at the University OF