Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-10

was his real ODlectlve eschpeo uihi'
which followed. Luke shot down one
of the Germans before he was forceo
out of the fight with damned macnihe
guns. Roberts was shot down by TWO
Germans and fell dead behind the
enemy lines; Sherry was forced to
land inside American territory. where
mis- plane crashed. and he suffered the
additional indignity OF being sprayed
with machine gun fire from the air
by his victorious opponents.
Luke Reports Again.
Luke returned to his home field
impressed with the thought that ne
had lost both Wehner and his luck
For the first time he had been turned
hack from the German balloon line
without at least one OF the huge bags
as a victim: true. be had shot DOWN
an enemy plane, bat that was not
what he had set out to do. HIS terse
report gives no hint OF any mis-
gfvings he may have felt; he makes
his usual short statement OF the days
happenings and does his best TO &C
count for the missing Roberts.
September 2s. 1913.
Lieut.. Luke reports: On patrol TO
sfrafe balloons In vicinity OF Consen'
voye and Sivry. attacked with two
others a formation Of I'VE CD Fokkers.
After firing several short bursts, OBJ
served the Hun 60 down out OF control.
While at 100 meters ] was attacked
BIZ TWO CD Z A. so did not see the
first K A crash. / turned on the
other TWO who were On my tail. get
ting on the tail Of one. but my guns
TANNED several times. and after nring
both could only shoot short bursts BE-
cause OF the several stoppages. one
Q) confirmation requested. The last
saw OF Lieut.. Roberts, who was on
this patrol with me, was in combat
with several Fokkers In the vicinity
Of Consenvoye and eivry."
During Luke's absence on leave an
advanced field had been established
in the abandoned airdrome near Yer
dun. where he had landed on the
afternoon OF September Is. This
field. only six kilometers about three
and a half miles, back Of the lines,
was surrounded by several wrecked
hangers, In which the American flyers
would crank their ships before taxi
ing out into the open 30 that their
planes could not be spotted on the
ground by German observers. For
d time they escaped the epemy's
eyes, but the conclusion from heavy
! shells 80 close 10 the fir!ng lire was
40 great that at one time the gas
tanks On the planes were Jared until
they leaked at the seams, making
flight that day impossible.
MAJ Harold r.. Hartnsy, Luke'e
commanding officer. now New York
business man. tells an interesting
incident Of LUkes activities at this
field
Luke's Tactical Plan.
Luke few from this field under q
new tactical scheme whereby he was
~ work individually, always with the
protection ~ strong Escort.
Luke, you have Victories enough
10 show me you have the nerve ]
| "a I'd 10 him IN give you enough
protection 10 run your victories up
10 d hGndTsd~-oniy be careful.
Don't worry. Major he replied,
| "Thsy can't get me.
| He shot down d German two
| scatter on the afternoon VI The ZSth.
A. q little after siz the evening of
| the zsth, as ! Was about To fly back
| from the advanced held 10 headquar'
| tErs III The group, ] caught sight oil
| Luxe lurking In the shadows ~ one vi
| the ruined hangers. He was grinnine
jmpa,ienuy. Il happened that ] had
| issued orders directing Luke ~ join q
| patrol which wss 10 leave the homo
! atfdToms al st5, the adys need neiG
| WIS ten minutes neaFer The render
Voas and Lakes orders were not II
start uuttl s:z5.
"AE got into nay ship ] hes ~
| behind me the roar u an engine bs
ing warmed up, II Was i,uks's.
ordered ,bat the engine bs shut on
end directed Capt. Vasooncelies. hi'
Night leader, Ia see that Luke did mo-
Ies We before orders permitted, This
engine was stopped and the last
saw 0f Luxe was sun Erinning--iiks
| b. boy who has been caught doing
| something for which he knows he vii
not he very badly punished"
Luke In Missing"
Luke went up at tks time ordered
bul sludsd his escort 6Ild flew uf
alone over fhG German lines in IN.
gathering dusk, When the eseGr
gave I'D Ihs search for him aud re
turned " The home sirdrons, LUX.
.sas ktjIi missing. Anxious iuquirl
over lie flsId telephones diacoyerss
him at the sirdronis ~ "a distan
French eschdfiils. where lie was wit
ing the following report
september 70, 1918.
= "I.isHt. Luke reports, ! few narti
~ ysfdun. crossed ths lines Ut sbou