Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1919-07-26

wv OuSly awarded to Lieut.. Frank Luke,
Jr. Oh. yes, 1t presented with
proper ceremonies at the Arizona state capitol in
Phoenix by Brig. Gen. H. r. Hekok, Governor
Campbell and other dgnitaries. But the main
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-
vided between grief that they can no longer wish
their pet flyer Happy Landings and pride that
ne so 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 of this
western country the lookout for Of lin
Is now solved. And these western fighting men
are now doubly proud that their air hero died
with his boots on'-that his grand finale fit
tingly glorious and heroic his whole
meteorc career
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, artersts engneers-a
have their heroes. But don't overlook the airmen
when apportoning honors. And If there Is any
war business more dangerous than combating
enemy airpanes it Is destroying enemy observa-
ton balloons Inequality of the job is Indicated
by the German practice of creditng with two vic
tories every pilot who strafed balloon And
maybe this is why strafing balloons was he
chosen business and speciality of Frank Luke
Here's glimpse of what Lieut. Frank Lukc's
comrades think of his work: The other day ].
10y Maloney returned to the Chicago Tribune
staff. lie had pair of II. 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 9lth
squadron-Eddic Rickenbackers own. He was
pressed for news of his exploits
"Well, didn't do darn thing but | can tell
n about n hero fha hroy
man in the war;" said Maloney.
His name was Frank Luke. .'r. he lived in
Phoenix, Arz.. before the war and he was prob
ably the most brilliant flyer we had.
"He would fly our balloon officers and
drop note telling them he would knock down
"A blimp ut II certain time-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
note saying two German balloons would be crash
ed They were. and then his ali went bad and
he had to pump by hand which means handling
the stick, the gas and all the guns with one 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 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 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 of
"When 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-
liant 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 "a youth keen and aquiline. blue-eyed
and fair. with strong jaw and hair brushed back
from broad high forehead"
Luke was 90 years old when he entered the
service He was trained at the University OF