New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-07-25

Jr. Oh. yes, IL was presented Win
proper ceremonies at the Arizona state capitol In
Phoenix by Brig. Gen. II. r. Hlckok. Governor
Campbell and other dlgnitaries. But the n,ain
thing is that the medal was awarded and Is now
where is belongs. And the fighting men OF this
western country are 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 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 now solved. And these western fighting men
are now doubly proud that their mir hero "dled
with his boots on"-that his grand finale was fit
tingly glorious and as heroic as was his whole
meteoric 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 an aviator destroying a
balloon. Regulars, marines, national guards, ma
tlonal army, doughboys, artillerists, engineers-al
have their heroes. But don't overlook the airlnen
when apportioning honors, And If there Is any
war business more dangerous than combating
enemy %airplanes 1t is destroying enemy observa-
ton balloons. The quality Of the job Is Indicated
by the German practice OF %credlting with two VIC
tories every pilot who strafed IA 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 ].
10y Maloney returned to the Chicago Tribune
staff. lie had u 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-Eddic Rickenbacker's own. He was
pressed for 'news" Of his exploits.
swell, I didn't do a darn thing. but I can tell
nj n storv about a hpro-a real hero tho bra vest
man I'm the war;" said Maloney.
His name was Frank Luke. JE. he lived In
Phoenix, Ariz., before the war and he was prob
ably the most brilliant flyer we had.
"He would fly over our balloon officers and
drop a note telling them he would knock down
would come the bag.
ION Luke's last trip up he made the most
sensational flight in history. lie 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 saw two Fokkers knock down an American
scout. so he went up and knocked down the
boches. On his way back he saw 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 on 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 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 was keeping Rick humping"
This is the judgment Of a trained newspaper
man, used to getting facts, approaching 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 a part. That man. Harold Z. 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 aquilne, blue-eyed
and fair, with a 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