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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Second Lieutenant · U.S. Army Air Service

Frank Luke Jr.

Second Lieutenant Frank Luke Jr., U.S. Army Air Service, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on September 29, 1918 near Murvaux, France during World War I.

World War I September 29, 1918Posthumous

Second Lieutenant Frank Luke Jr., an airman in the U.S. Army Air Service, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on September 29, 1918 near Murvaux, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with 27th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, Air Service. Luke was 21 years old.

Luke was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 10 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 29, 1919. Phoenix, Arizona, presented by Brig. Gen. Howard R. Hickok to his Father.

Luke was born on May 19, 1897 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. He is buried at Meuse-Argonne Cemetery in Romagne Meuse, France. His medal is held by National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH.

Luke is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 16 credited to Arizona.

★ Gave Their Lives

Official Medal of Honor 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 eight German planes which were protecting the enemy balloon line, he unhesitatingly attacked and shot down in flames three 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 six 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.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Wounds and death in action

  • Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (September 29, 1918).
  • Age at death: 21
  • Resting place: Meuse-Argonne Cemetery

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Frank Luke Jr. received:

National Aviation Hall of Fame

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Occupations: fighter pilot

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Phoenix — map
  • Died: Murvaux — map
  • Buried: Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Arizona →

Timeline

  1. May 19, 1897
    Born in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona
  2. September 29, 1918
    Act of valor — near Murvaux, France
    Age 21. 27th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, Air Service Killed in action.
  3. May 29, 1919
    Medal of Honor presented posthumously
    Phoenix, Arizona, presented by Brig. Gen. Howard R. Hickok to his Father
  4. Resting place
    Meuse-Argonne Cemetery
    Romagne Meuse

Biography

Frank Luke Jr. (May 19, 1897 – September 29, 1918) was an American fighter ace credited with 19 aerial victories, ranking him second among United States Army Air Service (USAAS) pilots during World War I, after Eddie Rickenbacker. Luke was the first airman to receive the Medal of Honor and first USAAS ace in a day. Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, a United States Air Force pilot training installation since World War II, is named in his honor.

From the Wikipedia article “Frank Luke”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on September 29, 1918

JA Joseph B. Adkison Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 AE Alan Louis Eggers Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 FG Frank J. Gaffney Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918 Sydney G. Gumpertz First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 John Cridland Latham Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ML Milo Lemert First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ TO Thomas E. O'Shea Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ GR George Seanor Robb First Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918 FS Fred E. Smith Lieutenant Colonel · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ Michael Valente Private · Army World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from Arizona

John Henry Pruitt Corporal · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 ✦ John Henry Pruitt Corporal · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 ✦
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.