The Dolores star., 1919-07-25

W. ously awarded TO Lieut.. Frank Luke
Jr. Oh. yes, it presented with
proper ceremonies at the Arizona state capitol in
Phoenix by Brig. Gen. H. r. Hckok, Governor
Campbell and other dignitaries. But the nuin
thing is that the medal was awarded and is now
where is belongs. And the fighting men of this
western country mixed in their feelings-di-
yded between grief that they longer wish
their pot flyer Happy Landings" and pride that
he well represented them that he 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 on the lookout for news of him
is solved. And these western fighting men
are douby proud that their air hero died
with his boots on'-that his grand finale ft-
tingy glorious and heroic his whole
meteoric
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. ma
tional army, doughboys, artlerists, engineers-all
have their heroes. But don't overlook the armen
when apportioning honors. And If there IS any
business more dangerous than combating
enemy airplanes 1t is destroying enemy obs"rva-
tion balloons. The quality Of the job is indicated
by the German practice Of crediting with two vic
tories every pilot who strafed Il balloon. And
maybe this Is why strafing balloons .he
chosen business and speciality of Frank Luke.
Here's a glimpse OF Wnat 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 We're
the lines. He with the famed Oath aero
squaSron-Eddie Rickenbacker's He was
pressed for news" of his exploits.
well, didn't do darn thing but I tell
you story about hero-n real hero, the bravest
in the war" said Maoney
Tic INratN T,I-n "
Phoenix, Ariz., before the war and he prob
ably the most brilliant flyer had.
"He would fly balloon officers and
drop note telling them he would knock down
n bmp at certain time-and at that time down
would come the bag
"On Lukes 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 American
scout, so he went up and knocked down the
bocEes on his way back he seven French
men trying to get 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 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 the ground and whipped out his auto
matte. He hit three boches when they up
to capture hm-and they bumped him off.
"When he died he had eighteen victories to
his credit and was keeping Rick humping"
This is the Judgment Of a trained newspaper
man, useri to getting facts, nppreciating 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-
liant part. That man, Harold Z. Hartney, now
q lieutenant colonel and chief of eunnery In the
air service describes his first impression Of him
as .hat of "a youth keen and aquiline, bue-eyed
and fair, with strong jaw and hair brushed back
from u brond, high forehead
Luke was 20 years old when he entered the
service. He was trained at the University Of