Frank Luke

Frank Luke Jr. was an American fighter ace, ranking second among U.S. Army Air Service pilots after Captain Eddie Rickenbacker in number of aerial victories during World War I . Frank Luke was the first airman to receive the Medal of Honor. Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, a U.S. Air Force pilot training installation since World War II, is named in his honor.

Luke was born May 19, 1897 in Phoenix, Arizona after his family emigrated from Germany to America in 1874 and settled in Arizona. Frank was his familys fifth child and hadother brothers and sisters, he grew up excelling in sports, working in copper mines, and participating in bareknuckle boxing matches. Following Americas entry into World War I in April 1917, Frank enlisted in the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps on September 25, 1917, and received pilot training in Texas and California. After being commissioned a Second Lieutenant in March 1918, he deployed to France for further training, and in July was assigned to the 27th Aero Squadron. Although Luke was still a second lieutenant at the time of his death, Stephen Skinners book The Stand notes that he later received a posthumous promotion to first lieutenant.

Source: Wikipedia