1918: Frank Luke Jr. 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. Luke was the first airman to receive the Medal of Honor and first US Army Air Service ace in a single day.
After destroying several enemy aircraft within 17 days, 2Lt Frank Luke of the 27th Aero Squadron volunteered to go on a patrol to shoot down German balloons. Despite an attack by enemy fighters, he shot down a balloon. Severely wounded, Luke dropped close to the ground, where ground fire brought him down. On the ground, the Germans asked him to surrender, but Luke drew a pistol and defended himself until the Germans killed him. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously.
(Lt. Frank Luke Jr. with his SPAD S.XIII on September 19, 1918, Army Image)