Snapshots of History - Frank Luke "The Arizona Balloon Buster" WWI Medal of honor winner.

Hi everyone. My aspiring filmmaker son and I wanted to combine our talents and passion for history. We are creating short 5-15 minute history "snapshot" videos as part of this new venture. We welcome your feedback and if you think someone else might enjoy it, please share. Don't worry - my usual build and preview videos will be my primary focus! This is just another outlet for my love of history.
This is the first entry in this brand new series that we are excited to bring you here on the channel. "Snapshots of History" will dive into the fascinating history on the topics that you love. This series will be produced alongside all of the usual Andy's HHQ content that you have subscribed for.
This video will explore the life of Frank Luke Jr, an American fighter pilot ace and recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Please make sure to comment, share, and subscribe!
Snapshots of History - Frank Luke "The Arizona Balloon Buster"
Narrated by Andy Klein
Written, Edited, and Directed by Cameron Klein
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Lieutenant Frank Luke Jr. was an American fighter pilot who served during the First World War, who
with a confirmed 18 aerial victories was the second ranked flying ace in the United States Army Air
Service. Luke was one of the most daring pilots to see service during the war, and although his time in
the air was brief, his valor and willingness to take on the most dangerous of missions earned him his
legendary status as “The Arizona Balloon Buster”.
Luke was born on May 19th, 1897 in the city of Phoenix, in what was then the Arizona Territory - it
would be an additional 15 years before Arizona was admitted to the Union as the 48th state. He was
born to a German immigrant family, bearing the name of his father, Frank Luke Sr. He came from a line
of military service, with family members having served on the frontiers during the American Civil War.
Luke Sr had tried to get into West Point as a younger man, but was denied on account of his poor
eyesight.
Luke Jr. was the fifth child of nine brothers and sisters, but even as a child, he had a penchant for
sticking out in a crowd. He was loud, energetic, talkative, brash, and a compulsive collector. One night,
.
Luke grew up in a rapidly changing Phoenix. One of the last vestiges of the Wild West was being tamed.
The streets were being paved. Electric lamps began to light the streets and inside the homes.
Automobiles began to putter through the city. The Luke family even got themselves a telephone.
He was a rough and tumble young boy, all throughout his childhood and teenage years. His father
bought him a rifle at the age of 12, and he frequently would go out shooting unsupervised. In high
school, he was very popular with the girls, and found himself developing a reputation as a prankster,
and by the accounts of many teachers and adults, a real troublemaker. He developed as an athlete, he
rode horses, and was known to go camping for days at a time in the harsh Arizona wilderness. During
one such camping trip, Luke risked his own life to save his best friend who had got swept away while
trying to cross a turbulent river.
As a young man, he worked in some of the state’s silver and copper mines, doing back breaking work
through the summers. In the mining town of Ajo, Arizona, he helped found a dance hall, to make money
off the local miners who sought dance lessons with the hope that they might find wives. There, he also
developed a taste for bare-knuckle boxing, as a pastime and a way to help part the miners from their
money.In January of that year, the
British government intercepted a message from the German government. In what would become known
as the Zimmerman Telegram, Germany had made a secret proposition to Mexico, that, should the
United States enter the war, Mexico should strike against the US and reclaim their lands lost during the
Mexican-American war. Many across the American border states were incensed by the news of this
message, and took it as a direct threat to their home states. A fervor of military enlistment spread across
the southwest, as it seemed like the US was preparing to go to war. Alongside many of his brothers, and
a sister who joined the Red Cross, Luke made the journey south and enlisted in Tucson, AZ. Frank Luke
would be going to war.

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Please if you like this video please like and share it , also please post other subjects you would like to see us do. Thanks Andy

[@jmc7034]

Any chance you could combine the history lesson with a kit build of the aircraft/vehicle/ship in question. I’ve enjoyed this vid😍😍😍

[@JenniferEliseAtchiso]

IBID

[@ernestturner915]

That would be awesome 😎..

[@Arnfast66]

This was a great piece of WW1 aviator documentary Andy, thank you! Oh and yes, please do keep making more of these, I'm sure I will enjoy every and each one of them!

[@catlady8324]

Excellent use of “The Ken Burns effect”! They should name something important after him, like maybe an Air Force Base.

[@jerryvolpini7987]

Andy: If you'd like to see more of these videos comment below Me: Yes, yes, yes!!! Great work Andy, hope to see many more, either as a stand-alone history piece or maybe, tied in with a build? As for subjects, would love to see something on P-38 ace, Richard 'Dick' Bong!

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

I hope too thanks for watching.

[@willierants5880]

Thoroughly enjoyed this telling of an American hero.

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Thank you

[@christophernorgaar6373]

All the great modelers I know are historians in one form or another. One needs to understand the real subject in order to render a proper tribute to it. Thank you Andy, please do more. Not just military history, but any events that might be interesting to modelers.

[@vegaboys8196]

Wow, this is awesome! I'm gonna love this new series! Such an interesting story. Thank you!

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@mrkou812]

Thanks, Andy...we very much appreciate your History Segment! Very good narration, footage, presenting the Honorable, service of our American Heroes!

[@craigdudczak3454]

Now that you've done the Frank Luke video, why not do a build video of a WWI era biplane, especially a Spad?

[@cinnamaon]

Brilliant! I always wanted you to go in-depth about interesting topics like these. As for your next history video, I think a lot of people would like to hear the story about the Battle of Castle Itter and I believe you would too, Andy! Some call it the strangest battle of WW2, and it's believable, as there are almost no recorded instances of the Americans and the Germans teaming up together. It is such a cool story, thanks again for the great video! I'm extremely eager as is everyone else to see your next one! :).

[@charliemessenger6537]

I think this was a great history video. I think we’re all history buffs as model builders to one degree or another. Looking forward to more!

[@scottpitts9203]

I really enjoyed this video. I look forward to the next one! I have to second the motion to have you build a kit that is relevant to the history lesson!

[@scottkoster2015]

Love the Frank Luke story! As a boy I had a book called, "They Flew to Fame." Frank's story, along with stories of other great fliers like Baron Von Richthofen, Amelia Earhart, Joe Foss and more, were in that book. I read it over and over, but especially loved the chapter on Frank Luke. Fascinating.

[@jaroderickson2567]

This was great! Will you also make a video of the history of Falcon Field in Mesa; it was a training base for RAF pilots during the early years of WW2. That's about as much as I know.

[@troruaz]

I think it's a great idea to add a little historical context to complement a build.

[@paulevans3261]

Thank You, Andy... I am a lover of history and when I learn some of "forgotten history" ... Life is great!

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@raymond7880]

Andy, excellent idea to give context and to show that modelling encourages more than just the obvious skills. Modellers know this but non-modellers don't always.

[@prc25grunt]

Great Video. Always love hearing about local people and their sacrifice for our country. Andy really like the history videos. Always look forward to your new videos.

[@dotdashdotdash]

Would be nice to see more history segments about your local military heroes like Frank Luke.

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

I agree

[@sir_bertimus1547]

I thoroughly enjoy a little history intermingled with the previews and builds. Thanks much Robert

[@garyparker2969]

Andy THAT WAS AWESOME !!! BRINGEM ON BUDDY n God Bless !!!

[@MrNickyMat]

A real hero. Thank you for sharing.

[@MegaDave1962]

Hi Andy great job on narrating the history video, please continue on these, we have a lot of history to build about. And now I find myself wanting to get a spad kit 😂👍🏆

[@michaeljack6277]

Wow can't wait for this one. To see some different pictures of Frank Luke would be awesome.

[@tomtruesdale6901]

Outstanding addition to your "normal" videos. Please continue them.

[@reconranger1370]

Really, really great video Andy. Kept me interested all the way through to the end. Thanks for sharing!!

[@alankeith7866]

Thank you Andy!! I love history and your presentation was great! Keep up the good work!

[@ronaldstephenson4380]

Excellent first video. Frank Luke is one of my favorite WW1 pilots. Keep 'em coming!!

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Im glad you liked it,thanks for watching.

[@stevenfox7407]

Excellent idea to add historical studies to your productions. I look forward to further installments. As a suggestion, perhaps look into doing one on one of the US Army's top tank aces of World War Two, Lafayette Poole.

[@peterfinch120]

Thank you so much for that interesting video on Frank luke loved it keep up the great work have watched all your vedeos

[@DocLaw172]

I see somebody already used the word Brilliant. Okay, I will call this superb! I would think that a history video of some of the people who made some of the vehicles, planes, etc... famous that you make models of might be something to do. Thank you, Andy, for doing a video about a man who has long needed such a video.

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Wow, thanks!

[@parkeraz5583]

wow I grew up and lived in Phoenix for 20 years and never knew of this story! Great bit of arizona/military history!

[@sonicimperium]

You never wondered why there was a place named Luke Air Force Base 15 miles from the city?

[@parkeraz5583]

@@sonicimperium I knew the base was named after a pilot just did not know the back story.

[@sonicimperium]

@@parkeraz5583 👍🏻

[@yattaran1484]

I love to watch history thing as well as model making. Keep on going ! from Japan.

[@cchavezjr7]

Arizona native and never have heard this story before. Thank you very much!

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cchavezjr7]

@@AndysHobbyHeadquarters Keep 'em coming!

[@Murphy007]

My son and I really enjoyed that .🇺🇸

[@bryankoontz6210]

Great job! Best info I have heard about Frank Luke. Thank you!

[@johnw4659]

I've always wondered why Frank Luke has been so overlooked by historians, aviation enthusiasts and even filmmakers. His bravery and aerial exploits would seem to be a logical subject and yet, it's difficult to find any comprehensive recognition these days. Thanks for correcting that omission with a great video.

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Thank you for watching.

[@hamm6035]

You could hear those brass balls of his a mile away. Certainly a hero when a hero was desperately needed.

[@gsr4535]

Good job Andy. 👍

[@Thomas-e3z]

Thanks for the video. My grandfather was cousins with Frank. Thomas Luke

[@robertmorey4104]

Need a 1/32 scale build of Luke's SPAD! Rhoden makes nice one. Great Video.

[@mateoshulz3708]

Great video. Didn’t realise this was Andy’s Hobby till the end!!

[@bigsparky65]

Very interesting history, i enjoyed it. I love finding out about different parts of history

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@sagebiddi]

Oh no. We will never forget....the f22 that shot down the Chinese balloon this week call signs were FRANK1 and FRANK2.

[@stonewall371]

Very good show. I loved watching it.

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@teejay91b]

Thanks for a great video! I love your modeling videos but as a huge history buff, I really appreciated this video! Looking forward to seeing more!

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Awesome, thank you!

[@jamesfloyd6803]

Enjoyed the history lesson. Thank you!

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@russellletch7435]

Liked the history segment , very interesting and would be good to introduce a model kit or build connected to the film, as in this case a build or review of a model of the Spad, keep up the good work 👍

[@carldeitz4130]

loved the history lesson, lets see more!

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Thank you Carl

[@davidgilmour3954]

Very well done, Andy. Keep them coming!

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Thank you.

[@dannyhart2490]

This is a nice addition to your normal content.

[@moxxiloquita2048]

Hope the history videos will also about WWII axis heroes, like the tank aces or the fighter plane aces

[@fsz1981]

Next video: Andy building a model of Frank Luke's airplane. *crosses fingers*

[@robertlucic7598]

Great video and great story! Tell us a little about where you got the wonderful photos. Can you convince CSM (or WNW) to make a USAAC Spad? The Salmson I got from you was terrific!

[@ronhuppert2410]

You have an excellent voice and delivery. I really enjoyed this video. In keeping with the Arizona related theme: The Papago Park POW escape

[@mainlander55]

I second that!

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Great suggestion!

[@TheCombatartist]

Great history, really enjoyed this.

[@redmist1122]

Love the content! Now you have to build his plane.

[@boxstockmodeler2947]

Enjoyed the video sir. A true American Hero!

[@bengtwahlstedt1021]

Nice interesting video !

[@zibabird]

Thank you for posting, shared!

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Thanks for sharing!

[@rockymt.models8865]

Very enjoyable addition...

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Thank you.

[@HumongousHomunculus1234]

Great video, as a history buff, I always enjoy learning about people and events I was unaware of, thanks. Also it never ceases to amaze me that a few sociopaths will hit the thumbs down button on a video like this. How are there so many defective people among us ?

[@joeshmoe9978]

They are History Channel executives. 😜

[@petras8385]

I loved this, Andy! Interesting story

[@66bmustang]

Nice story about Luke and airplane .

[@HappiKarafuru]

100 years later, somewhere in America Pacific north west, the same thing happened again. Modern day, Balloon buster. Told you, history will repeat itself again.

[@bearbergmann2782]

Now you need to build his Spad

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

I know I want to get one.

[@tonybells131]

Very good ! Thanks

[@boxstockmodeling]

Great content. Enjoyed the history lesson, thank you so much. Maybe you could do some history on a specific ww1 or ww2 aircraft.

[@jeffreywilmer]

A great video. Thanks.

[@j8k3d18]

Hard times create strong men. Luke was certainly one of them. Feels like it’s time for strong men to start showing up again.

[@Houdini_Bob]

great video/history lesson. and FYI the photo of that F-35, it is assigned to Eglin AFB

[@stevejonckx7885]

We live in Murvaux where Frank crashed and the story is amazing, we shall leave flowers at the statue of Frank Luke. Ps we are frome Belgium.

[@billyjohnston4244]

J Mc has a good idea,also this was a really good well made video,keep it (them) up.

[@kenbock3453]

Thank you.

[@johnrehbock4670]

Thanks very educational I enjoyed it

[@farginbastage805]

Luke AFB (named in his honor) is now the premier training base for the F-35 Lightning II

[@tpbbuzzelli1327]

Enjoyed this so much

[@SCSuperheavy114]

Well done Andy!

[@michaeljenner9906]

Keep these comin Andy!!

[@nickbroekhuizen8858]

Love it keep them coming .. :)

[@fernbatfink4851]

Love the touch.of histroy and me histroy never like it its not my thing .but the way you did this ,love to here more.thanks

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Well put together video Andy.

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Thanks!

[@AZ417G]

Great job 👏

[@billevans7936]

Excellent

[@timvaughn8696]

Awesome vid … thanks for this

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@viktoreek5201]

I like this.

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

thank you.

[@johnburger8762]

Awesome content, love it!

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@alexanderreimer387]

I have built an 80 %scale Spad 13, the FAA approved it for Stage one of the Flight Test Program, but as yet It has not flown. It is hangared at Prescott’s Love Field…!!!

[@kipjackson6784]

Andy, with the advent of Takom's release of the two different zeppelins, I wonder if you could shed more light on them from a historical point of view?

[@stevemercer952]

Great video. Do you have kits of Spads or books illustrating colour schemes?

[@bengrant8455]

Could you do a build on the airfix m12 gmc but if tamiya do one could we see that love the vids

[@kotchaponglekhakul1285]

Nice thanks

[@KOMET2006]

Frank Luke of the 27th Aero Squadron was rather a daredevil pilot who took upon himself the task of attacking German observation balloons above the trenches (where they did an effective job of directing artillery fire for the Germans). These balloons was dangerous to attack because they were protected by anti-aircraft and small arms fire, as well as enemy fighters above. In a little more than 2 weeks of combat in September 1918, Luke managed to shoot down 14 of these 'Drachen', as well as a number of German planes. No other fighter pilot in WWI was as successful in so short a time of active combat as Luke was.

[@jamesparis1165]

loved it keep it up

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Thanks, will do!

[@johngalt6929]

Nice!

[@leviathantoobz]

105 years ago right now. he died. R.I.P. September 29th, 1918

[@paulsullivan9697]

I am interested in the Tuskegee pilot program , is it possible to show their history & possible the models of aircraft they flew from training & the types of fighters they flew into battle & the bombers they escorted ? Hollywood is great but not always truthful .

[@AlfredAGrant-lc9tg]

Interesting article and for once did not portray my grandfather, Captain Alfred Grant as the overly harsh C O. He admired Luke's flying ability but rightfully was going to bring Court Martial charges. It was simple: Luke was a hell of a pilot, but would not obey orders. Alfred A. Grant, IV

[@junaustria0119]

Keep it up. 👍