A revised and expanded new edition of this classic biography of a legendary American fighter pilot. Frank Luke was the first American airman to be awarded the Medal of Honor. He was the second-highest-scoring American fighter ace of the First World War, just behind Eddie Rickenbacker. Unlike the jovial Rickenbacker, Luke is an enigma. On the basis of his unmatched rate of aerial victories, including many heavily defended balloons, Luke was likely one of the bravest and most gifted fighter pilots of the war. On the other hand, the young Arizonan was almost universally disliked and doubted by his peers. Frank Luke was shot down and killed on September 29, 1918; he was 21 years old and had been in combat for just over a month. The details of this exceptional pilot's death were murky, heavily shrouded by rumor and mythos. Author Stephen Skinner changed that. Skinner immersed himself in the life and death of Frank Luke. Fifteen years of research, including archeological digs, dozens of interviews, nine trips to France, and the review of 2,000 pages of unpublished archival material, produced the definitive work on a truly legendary figure in US military history. This new edition combines new content and revisions with a refreshed presentation and format. AUTHOR: After 15 years of worldwide research and on-site archeological work in France, Skinner is the foremost expert on the life and death of Medal of Honor ace Lt. Frank Luke Jr. He has also hosted a documentary revealing how battlefield archeology solved the 90-year-old mystery of Luke's death, titled The Search for THE STAND. He has written three books and scores of articles and hosted hundreds of television programs on major national networks. Stephen, his wife, and their four children reside in the American Midwest. SELLING POINTS: . Frank Luke was the first American airman to be awarded the Medal of Honor . This work is built upon 15 years of research, including archeological digs, dozens of interviews, and the review of 2,000 pages of unpublished archival material . The second edition packs new revisions and content into a smaller format 380 colour and b/w photos
