Photo: Frank Luke, Jr. Medal of Honor Recipient World War I

Photographer: Don Morfe
Taken: June 30, 2008
Caption: Frank Luke, Jr. Medal of Honor Recipient World War I
Additional Description: He is buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: *LUKE, FRANK, JR. • Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 27th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, Air Service • Place and date: Near Murvaux, France, 29 September 1918 (Air Mission) • Entered service at: Phoenix, Ariz. • G.O. No.: 59, W.D., 1919 Citation: After having previously destroyed a number of enemy aircraft within 17 days he voluntarily started on a patrol after German observation balloons. Though pursued by 8 German planes which were protecting the enemy balloon line, he unhesitatingly attacked and shot down in flames 3 German balloons, being himself under heavy fire from ground batteries and the hostile planes. Severely wounded, he descended to within 50 meters of the ground, and flying at this low altitude near the town of Murvaux opened fire upon enemy troops, killing 6 and wounding as many more. Forced to make a landing and surrounded on all sides by the enemy, who called upon him to surrender, he drew his automatic pistol and defended himself gallantly until he fell dead from a wound in the chest.
Submitted: January 12, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland.
Database Locator Identification Number: p343886
File Size: 0.290 Megabytes

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