Mesa in Maricopa County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
Photographed By Michael Herrick, April 5, 2017
1. Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. Marker
Inscription.
Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.. .
Commemorative Air Force Arizona Military Aviation Walk of Honor Proudly Recognizes Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. 1897 , 1918 The Arizona Balloon Buster. Lieutenant Frank Luke, Jr. became “The Arizona Balloon Buster” of world war one. Flying with the 27th Aero Squadron, in nine days of combat spanning a 17-day period he shot down 14 German observation balloons and four airplanes to become the ranking ace of the U.S. Army. The 21-year-old Phoenician was killed in a legendary mission on September 29, 1918, but at war’s end ranked as second among AEF aces and third among all Americans of the Great War. He was the first Army pilot to receive the Medal of Honor. February 2012
Commemorative Air Force
Arizona Military Aviation
Walk of Honor
Proudly Recognizes
Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
1897 — 1918
The Arizona Balloon Buster
Lieutenant Frank Luke, Jr. became “The Arizona Balloon Buster” of WWI. Flying with the 27th Aero Squadron, in nine days of combat spanning a 17-day period he shot down 14 German observation balloons and four airplanes to become the ranking ace of the U.S. Army. The 21-year-old Phoenician was killed in a legendary mission on September 29, 1918, but at war’s end ranked as second among AEF aces and third among all Americans of the Great War. He was the first Army pilot to receive the Medal of Honor. February 2012
Location. 33° 27.154′ N, 111° 44.128′ W. Marker is in Mesa, Arizona, in Maricopa County. Memorial is at the intersection of N. Greenfield Road and E. McKellips Road, on the right when traveling north on N. Greenfield Road. Located at the Commemorative Air Force Museum at Falcon Field Airport. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2017 N Greenfield Road, Mesa AZ 85215, United States of America. Touch for directions.
1. Commemorative Air Force Museum. (Submitted on April 18, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.) 2. Frank Luke on Wikipedia. (Submitted on April 18, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed By Don Morfe, July 12, 2008
3. Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. Grave Marker
He is buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, (Plot A, Row 26, Grave 13)Lorraine, France. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: *LUKE, FRANK, JR.(Killed in Action)
• 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.
Photographed By Michael Herrick, April 5, 2017
4. Markers at the Commemorative Air Force Museum
Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 362 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 18, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. 3. submitted on April 19, 2017, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 4. submitted on April 18, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.