The President of the United States
in the name of
The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*LUKE, FRANK, JR.
(Air Mission)
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. Entered Service At: Phoenix, Ariz. Born:
19 May 1897, 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.
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