Above and Beyond: The Incredible Story of Frank Luke Jr., Arizona's Medal of Honor Flying Ace of the First World War

ISBN-13: 9781507727270 / Angielski / Miękka / 2015 / 134 str.

Keith Warren Lloyd

Opis

Above and Beyond is the incredible true story of Frank Luke Jr. Born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1893, Luke was an energetic and adventurous young man who was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. When America entered the First World War in 1917, Luke became a fighter pilot in the newly-formed U.S. Army Air Service and was soon serving with a combat squadron in France. Quickly gaining a reputation as an arrogant, hard-headed cowboy, Luke was frequently at odds with his commanders and fellow officers. But Luke also proved to be an aggressive warrior and talented pilot. Some of his squadron mates believed he was absolutely fearless while others believed him to be insane. Luke often attacked the heavily-defended German observation balloons, earning him the nickname "the Arizona Balloon Buster" in the American press. In only a few weeks on the Western Front, Luke took the lead in the race to become the top-scoring American fighter pilot. Inconsolable after suffering the loss of a close friend, Luke took off on a solo mission on September 29, 1918. Wounded while attacking German positions in eastern France, he crash-landed behind enemy lines. Determined not to be taken alive, Luke climbed from his wrecked airplane, drew his service pistol and shot it out with the approaching German infantry until he was killed. He was twenty-one years old. Luke was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor after his death, the highest military award the United States can bestow. Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix is named for him.

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