Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-08-05

LIEUT.. SAM UEL NJ. LII N L
First Lieutenant Samuel Millhoilen
Iunt. u S. army aviator, who was
instantly killed when his airpiane fell
$50 feet at Kelly Field, Texas, on
August first, was buried with full
military honors in Arlington Ma
tiona Cemetery today.
Truly, Alexandria has sustained
distressing loss in the death OF this
Young aviator, he being the second Of
her sons sacrificed in the air service
within the past few years.
Lieutenant Lunt was born in this
citv in 1895, he attended the Potomac
Academy and the Virginia Military
Institute. At the outbreak of the
World War he volunteered his servic-
es and enlisted at FIT Myer, Va, as
first-class private in the aviation sec
ton of the Army Reserve Corps. He
was SEPT to France in October, 1917,
and assikned to the Goth Aero Squad
ron and promoted to the rank of first
lieutenant one month before being sent
to the front in July, 1918. During
the period when his squadron was
placed at the disposal Of the French
twelve enemy planes were shot down.
Lieutenant Lunt at this time displayed
such qualities of courage and skill
in bombing raids and aerial engage
mentS that he was cited by the French
government This citation authorized
comforting of the CroiX de Guerre with
the Bronze Star.
For his extraordinary heroism with
the American EXpeditionary Forces
at st. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne
the following citation and reconmen-
dalton requesting the American Dis
tingUShed Service Cross was made by
his commanding officer. Request Dis
tinguished Service Cross for the fol-
lowing officer, for extraordinary he
roism in connection With military OPP
erations against the enemy: First
Lieutenant S. NJ Lunt, A. s., u. s..
A.! Observer i96th! Aero Squadron
A. S. This officer succeeded in car
rying out a most hazardous mission
over Canhans September IA, 1918. AS
leading observer. of 4 formation which
had dwindled from ten to three planes,
due to the violence of the wind. and
thickness Of the clouds, he founds his
way to the objective and succeeded in
making q perfect hit on the RAILROAD
yard and nearby munition dumps AL
though at precariously low altitude
and exposed to the most accurate anti
aircraft batteries in the sector, Lieu
tenant Lunt continued to follow the
operation order to the Ietter, and re-
gardleSs of a sudden and tenacious
attack by twenty airplanes, he stayed
with his bomb dropping sight until he
had launched the bomb, and then
opened fire upon the attacking planes.
Throughout his career, as leading OBJ
server, Lieutenant Lunt has been dis
tinguished by firm devotion to duty,
has been ready to accent every haZ-
ardous mission with the eagerness
which makes for success. In bomb
sighting he developed a mathematical
precision which has never been sur
passed. He made twenty raids to hos
tile objects, most of -hich he led as
observer, and on which he assisted in
bringing down seven enemy airplanes.
Lieutenant Lunt was badly injured
in an airplane fall at Amanty, France
in September, 1918, and sent to base
hospital No IS. He was honorably
discharged from the Reserve Army
at Fl. Sill, Oklahoma on September
4, 1919, and re-commissioned in the
regular army as first lieutenant, July
l, 1890.
Since this time he has held an en-
viable record in the air service, and
was considered one of the most skilled
and experienced observers. He was
passionately devoted to his dangerous
calling, and died unswervingly faith
ful in the service of his country