Medal of Honor: Frank Luke Jr., World War I, September 29, 1918

Name: Frank Luke Jr.
Rank: Second Lieutenant
War: World War I
Date of Action: September 29, 1918
Unit: 27th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Service
Accredited to: Phoenix, Arizona

Summary of Action
In just 17 days, Frank Luke Jr. had become one of America’s most feared fighter aces, specializing in the destruction of German observation balloons. On September 29, 1918, near Murvaux, France, he launched a lone patrol against the heavily defended balloon line. Pursued by eight enemy aircraft and fired on by batteries below, Luke attacked without hesitation—shooting down three balloons in flames. Wounded during the battle, he descended to near treetop height and strafed German troops, killing and wounding over a dozen. With his aircraft crippled, he crash-landed near Murvaux. Surrounded by enemy soldiers demanding his surrender, Luke refused. Drawing his pistol, he fought until struck fatally in the chest. His fearless defiance, both in the air and on the ground, made him one of the most legendary aviators of the Great War.

Medal of Honor Citation
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.