Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-13
CHAPTER Y.

CHAPTER y.
10 much has been written about
Frank Luke that is wholly in
accurate that this writer has de-
- ciIed to let the War Depart.
n1ent records tell the story.
Without any literary prelude there is
presented below a report received by
the chief of Air Service at his Paris
ctfice on January II. 1919:
AMERICAN
EXPEDIT1ONARY FORCES
L. s. Air Service, Paris Office OF
Chief of Air Service,
10th January, 1919.
From; Capt. N. c. Cooper. Air Service,
unattached.
To. Chief Of the Air Service, Amer.
lean f. F.
Subject. Death of Second Lieut.. Frank
.- Luke. Jr.. Pilot. 9th Aero Squadron.
/ In making a trip over the former
sector covered by the German lines
seeking for traces of lost members of
the 20th Aero Squadron pursuant to
the orders Of the chief Of Air Service.
] found among Others record Of the
following case:
SECOND LIEUT.. FRANK LUXE.
Capt. Mccormick of the S0Ist Unit
Graves Registration stationed at Fon-
tame near MurvauX which Is klio-
meters east Of Dun-sur Meuse, stated
70 me that he found the body Of an
unidentified American aviator buried
Z kiicmeters east Of nun.sur Meuse.
The story IF his death, as told by the
paouie Of the village Of MuvVauX. was
So remarkable that he had the body
exhumed to try and identify Il. The
people Of NurvauX state that this
American aviator @" September ~.
19lS. shot down three German bal
looms and two German n'aneS. then
descended low o&er tho ground ST ~"
Village Ia h..le5 i German soldiers
with either hand bombs or machine
Gun bullets. While flying low his
r1lane was hit from the ground and he
himself was apparently wounded. He
made a successful landing and got
CT ~ his plane.
When the Germans called upon him
e surrender he replied hv drawing
RS automatic and opening fire. Thus
facing his enemies he continued 10
defend himself until killed. Capt
Mccormick states that this aviator
vas very young. was Of medium
height, heavy set and with light hair.
On his wrist he found an Elgin wrist
watch Number 2022556e, which was
under the sleeve Of his combination
4, and which the German who had
stripped him Of all his papers and
Identification marks had evidently
missed. The description Of this avn
e-or hy Cant Mccormick and the
fact that Lieut. Frank Luke dropped
tote to the balloon company that
Day stating that he was going 10 shoot
down the balloons which were shot
down and that Lieut.. Luke was the
only American scout aviator killed in
that district this day make il certain
& cd 1r~s1 %H,-
end Lieut.. Frank Luke. Air Service,
whose nearest relative is Frank Luke,
22ao West Monroe street. Phoenix.
Ariz.
This clears up the mystery of the
death Of Lieut.. Luke. who had a rec
ord OF having brought down IS planes
and balloons in Il days. / make this
report Of his death believing that the
chief Of Air Service may wish 10 OBJ
tain sworn statements from the people
OF the village Of Murvaux and recon-
mend Lieut. Luke for some distinction,
as he made the most gallant end
which / have ever heard.
II. e. COOPER,
Captain, Air Service.
The AIR Force vas interested in
further information. Eager officers
fastened 20 MuryauX 10 question
every eyewitness 10 the end Of Frank
Luke and 10 gather every scrap OF
Information. Patient questioning and
gradual elimination Of Inconsistencies
in the stories Of the villagers resulted
in the following formal statement. TO
which the fathers Of the hamlet grave
r. and officially subscribed their
names Il is simple document and
radLates truth. The story 1t tells is
one indelibly impressed on the minds
az the peasants who were present;
very likely il was the most dramatic
experience OF their quiet lives and
every detail has been burned deep
into their memories.
THE AFFIDAVIT OF MTRvATx.
The undersigned, living in the town
OF Muryaux, Department Of the Meuse,