Evening star., 1928-01-07

luck had carried him through three
days of incredible risk. but IL was not
reasonable to believe that such a
state Of affairs could continue. Many
heads were shaken when the plane
Luke had used on this day was also
found to have been hit so many times
that it was unfit for further use; fly.
ers and mechanics Joined in a chorus
Of warning. Luke was told that he
had proven his courage and skill be.
yond any question and he was warned
to be careful. 1t was pointed out
that he would be a marked man from
now on and that the German air serv'
Ice would not rest until he had been
shot down; his friends also told him
that he was now 30 valuable TO the
Army that he had no right TO risk his
life.
Luke laughed at his advisers.
MY only value to the Army is In
keeping the Huns out OF the air." he
retorted. and I'm going TO keep right
on doing IL. They haven't made the
bullet that can kill me-"
Seeks New Battles.
Dawn OF the 10th found Luke
patroIiing the German lines In search
OF new victims with strong hope that
he could maintain his pace of two
victories day. Returning to the
airdrome. he conferred with Maj Hart.
ney and Lieut. Wehner. st. Mihiel
had fallen to Pershing's attack on the
18th. and there were strong rumors
Of a great German counter attack to
take place on the morning OF the i7th.
German balloons were busy "spotting"
American battery positions and work
ing out ranges on our infantry
trenches in preparation for the drive
10 recover the lost territory. Driving
their observers from the air would
hamper this counter attack and nigh,
even prevent II from taking place.
Luke had located the balloons and
had checked their positions with the
observations OF our own balloon men
he insisted that he could send down
all three Of them in "A twilight attack
If given the support 0f Webner
against the defending German planes
Although hs did not wish TO let his
newly discovered prodigy undertake
too much risk. Mai. Hartney realized
the importance of The proposed under
taking and finally gave his consent for
the attempt.
when Luke and Wehpsr approached
the first Of the three balloons included
ia their ambitious plan. EludinE The
defending Fokkers, the TWO flyers
diyed Al their victims. firing short
bursts from their guns. The balloon
plunged down in flames and fell upon
The observer, who had taken To bii
parachute 4 few seconds before
Pulling away from the burning wreck
Luke attacked the second balloon
while Wehnef drove on Two German
airtiianaE
Warned Wy the fate 0f the FIRST
b9lioon. The Germans at the winch
worked fr0uiicaiiy 10 pull The second
ore ~ safety an The ground. Luke
followed IL down through IA storm ii
n.acLine>R gun and shell fire which rid
died his plane and succeeded in set
ling the baliDon Abiaze just Hs II
reached the ground. destroying The
winch aDd the ground crew IN The
eohHHeFatioH. His brief report teils
! something of his narrow margin gi
| essapa ia this Ihat attack
September 10, 1918.
Lieut.. Lake Tepnfte: Patrol IA
stfafa balloons. Everything very care
! fully arranged beforehand Lieut.
| Wehner snd 1 left airfrone. passing
oyer vtrduH We attacked balti0t
IN vicinity uf iteFiiie at 1911 % T.0s
! p1Wt Both Lieut.. WeEner ana shot
a bufsi into IT, II burst into iiames
ana fell oD observer. "hn had Jumped
q few beeDHds tsefere. We started f0i
ahDi her DailDaU IN yiiiutty of To
uaeEr. ! attacked aHd destroyed u
n burst into flames oH ihs ground
| burning winch The auiisifcfaH Enbi
| ssere active, scoring several good htts
vn tny plnus. The last saw Of Lieut.
! sfthhef be nah eoihE IN "a southeast
arik direction after ihs hrst baiIg"l