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Current News
September 18, 2009 THE STAND Author to Host National Museum
of the Air Force Dawn Patrol Rendezvous Air Show Original Oil on Canvas Painting by Russell Smith on Display Veteran television reporter and aviation author Stephen Skinner will once again host the 2009 Dawn Patrol Rendezvous
air show, held semi-annually at the National Museum of the US Air Force. The World War I-oriented event will be staged in
Dayton, Ohio from September 25-27, 2009. Complete information on the Rendezvous is available at: http://www.fokkerdr1.com/The%20Stand/DawnPatrol.htm. "I love this event and really wanted
to be there,” said Skinner, who cancelled an appearance on Fox Sports in Las Vegas to host the Rendezvous. “There
are very few events dedicated solely to WWI aviation, and I have a real passion for the topic. I’ve looked forward to
it for two years. It's one of the best air shows in the country and the Museum staff is putting an amazing effort into the
2009 program. WWI aviation enthusiasts should be very grateful for what they're doing." Skinner will man the main stage
and public address system throughout the event, which is expected to draw 30,000 aviation fans.
Skinner’s recent book THE STAND: The Final Flight
of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr., was among the most anticipated new works of 2009 and has met with universal acclaim from the aviation
press. In addition to hosting the Rendezvous, Skinner will have a booth available on the grounds where the author can meet
readers, sign books and make THE STAND and its associated products available. Among the displays at THE STANDs booth will be Russell Smiths outstanding new painting of the same name, created
specifically for the book’s cover. Smith’s original oil on canvas painting will be on public display for only
the third time following appearances at art shows in Seattle and Michigan. There are no future appearances currently scheduled
for the painting, making this one of the few chances for WWI aviation enthusiasts to view the original artwork. Artist Russell
Smith will also be on the grounds in a separate vendor booth, where prints of THE STAND will be available.
July 7, 2009
“THE
STAND” Author Speaks in Chicago This Weekend Music Video from Luke Documentary Released
Today THE STAND Featured on Cover of Over The Front Magazine
The second stop on the national speaking tour for the new book, THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr., is slated for this Saturday, July 11, at the Restaurant Klas Chicago at 5734 West Cermak Road in
Cicero, a near west side suburb of Chicago. The day begins at noon with announcements and a meal, followed by a one-hour presentation
by THE STAND author Stephen Skinner. The event is free and open to the public.
“I have to say I’m
really looking forward to this particular event,” Skinner said. “These guys have been really enthusiastic and
its great to go speak to people who are that excited about hearing you. And they’re so educated on the topic. They really
know World War I aviation. We won’t spoil the whole book, but I’ll definitely talk about some of the new discoveries
that have changed the history of Frank Luke.”
The members of Chicago’s Cross
& Cockade chapter of WWI aviation enthusiasts and the OX-5 club are expected to combine for one of the biggest audiences
of the year. Skinner will speak on his experiences while researching in France, and the unexpected discoveries that forever
altered the story of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. Following his speech, a book signing will be held. Copies of THE STAND, THE QUEST,
the new DVD documentary, and prints of Russell Smith’s cover art will all be available on site.
The book tour for THE STAND is sponsored by the League of World War I Aviation Historians ( ww.OverTheFront.com)
and www.TheAerodrome.com.
Luke Air Force Base recently requested a date on THE STAND’s tour as well.
Details are now being finalized, but Luke AFB has suggested an early September date. The US Air Force Academy is also working
to schedule a date. Other events already on schedule include Dayton, Austin, San Antonio and Phoenix. For complete details
on the book tour, visit www.THESTANDfrankluke.com.
Music Video Released Today
The long-awaited theme song
from the new documentary on Frank Luke (“The Search for THE STAND”) is scheduled for release today, July 8, at
3 pm EDT. The theme song “Back In Time,” as well as an exclusive interview with artist Olivia Kay, will be available
on the front page at www.THESTANDfrankluke.com. The behind-the-scenes interview with Olivia in the studio is posted first, the music video is second. Simply click on the
first video and both will play in succession.
“To have an original musical score and a full video production
on a World War I aviation project is unprecedented,” author Stephen Skinner said. “You just don’t see that
kind of effort and investment made in a World War I book or documentary. Most of the time we’re lucky to get a publisher
to print a book at all. But we really wanted to raise the bar for THE STAND and go first class. We didn’t just want
a documentary – we wanted it shot on location in France. We didn’t just want it shot on location – we wanted
it to have its own original theme song composed by an original artist with a full music video. I hope people can appreciate
how extraordinarily rare it is to have this sort of effort go into a World War I book and documentary. Everyone put in an
unbelievable effort.”
Olivia Kay is a 16-year-old singer/songwriter ( www.OliviaKay.org) whose skills were recently on display during her first live tour throughout the Midwest. Her “Back In Time”
video was filmed on location in Murvaux and Dun-sur-Meuse, France, as well Webb Studios in central Indiana. The music video
is also included on the bonus disc that comes with the new Luke documentary, The Search for THE STAND. The “Back In
Time” video will also be released on www.TheAerodrome.com and www.OverTheFront.com.
THE STAND Featured on Cover of Over The Front Magazine
The
new issue of Over The Front has been released this week (Volume 24, Number 2, Summer 2009) and the latest brilliant artwork
from Russell Smith graces the cover. Smith’s painting, also titled “THE STAND,” was originally created exclusively
for the cover of the new book of the same name.
The current issue of Over The Front includes
a 5-page article by Smith on the evolution of his painting and the research that supported it. Smith’s new painting
is the most accurate rendition of Luke’s last flight ever put on canvas, even including historically correct representations
of tracer fire from nearby machine guns (from the correct direction) and the serial number of Luke’s SPAD XIII fighter
plane.
Smith said, “In the case of THE STAND, the facts surrounding the incident
were more dramatic than any imaginary scenario I could have created, but thanks in large part to Stephen (Skinner’s)
meticulous research, this project came together quite smoothly.”
A full color version
of THE STAND may be seen at www.THESTANDfrankluke.com. Both paper and canvas prints of the original painting are also available for order on the web site.
Dick Bennett,
president of the League of World War I Aviation Historians, wrote the most recent review of THE STAND in the current issue
of Over The Front. Bennett said, “Combing through sources as diverse as newspaper clippings and cartridge casings, Skinner
has reconstructed Luke’s life from birth to death, and in the process resolved many of the conflicting interpretations
of his story… The result is a reconstruction of Luke’s story that will probably never be outdone.”
To obtain a copy of the current issue of Over The Front or to join its parent organization, the
League of World War I Aviation Historians, visit www.OverTheFront.com.
May 3, 2009
Book Tour Begins in Phoenix for
THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt.
 Frank Luke, Jr.
Partial List of Tour Dates, Cities, Now Available
Documentary "The Search for THE STAND"
to be released May 11
New TV Commercial Now Online for Viewing
THE 2009 TOUR for the new book THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. begins on Monday
evening, May 11 2009, in Glendale, Arizona, just a few miles from the childhood home of World War I flying ace Lt. Frank Luke.
Author Stephen Skinner is the keynote speaker at 7:00 pm in
the main auditorium of the Glendale Public Library as part of the library's ongoing "Travel Arizona" series.
Special guests also appearing during the 90-minute program include Mark Magin, producer of the new Frank Luke documentary
"The Search for THE STAND," and Don Luke, the famed ace's nephew and closest living relative. The music video
for the documentary's theme song will also be premiered on the big screen, and the documentary will be available on DVD
at the library following Skinner's speech.
Stephen
is expected to reveal for the first time in a live setting exactly what occurred during the last, controversial moments of
Luke's life, as well as share new evidence about the pilot's career that was found in France during the author's
extensive overseas research.
The May 11th event at
the Glendale Public Library is free and open to the public, and kicks off a book tour that will extend throughout the year
in cities including Dayton, Colorado Springs, Indianapolis, Chicago, Phoenix, San Antontio and Kingsbury. A partial list of
2009 tour dates may now be seen on the "2009 Book Tour" page of THE STAND's official web site at THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr..
THE LATEST TV COMMERCIAL for THE STAND is also now available for viewing on the main page of THE STAND's web site. Advertisements
for the book have now appeared in more than 221 television markets nationwide and the commercials, in addition to new promotional
videos, will continue to be released.
The online
debut of the music video for the documentary's theme song, "Back in Time" by Olivia Kay, is set for late this
month on the book's web site.
For current news,
updates, newsletter subscriptions and free access to all nine promotional videos related to THE STAND, visit the book's
web site at THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
February
14, 2009
New TV
Commercial Released for THE STAND The 30-second
television advertisement for the landmark book, THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank
Luke, Jr. has now been made available online in addition to its airings on two national TV networks, MavTV and America
One. The commercial was designed to intrigue a primarily male audience with the story of Frank Luke and drive traffic to the
book's official web site, www.THESTANDfrankluke.com. The concept for the advertisement was created by the author's
son, filmmaker and producer Stephen Dale Skinner.
 "We had to remember who we were sending our message
to," said author Stephen Skinner. "This was not a World War I audience. We were just sending out a TV ad to millions
of people in the general public and most of them don't know what an incredible story Frank Luke really is. So we had to
tease them with the story and we only had 30 seconds in which to do it. If we couldn't capture their interest in 30 seconds,
we would lose them. Our goal was simply to get them intrigued with the story and get them to visit the web site.
That was our barometer for success." At www.THESTANDfrankluke.com, viewers may
click on a drop-down menu at the bottom right of the video screen and select "HQ" to watch the commercial in high
quality resolution. The "HQ" icon will turn red to indicate that your monitor is now in high quality resolution
mode.
The commercial was well received by test audiences and drew
rave reviews from several unexpected sources. Skinner continued, "We actually got a call from Las Vegas a few
weeks ago. It seems that there was a big event there - an awards banquet of some sort. They had recorded a television program
to show on the giant screen during the festivities, and the ad for THE STAND was aired on that show. We got several phone
calls after that from people who had seen the ad and were dying for more information. And this was not a World War I audience,
so that's precisely the response we were looking for." The ad will continue to run in over
200 domestic markets throughout the summer of 2009. It can be seen by visiting the book's official web site at www.THESTANDfrankluke.com.
January 1, 2009
Luke Family Authorizes
THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
As
Officially Authorized Biography
- ALSO -
New Video
Released Featuring Interview With Author
For
the first time in 90 years, the family of US Medal of Honor ace Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. has officially authorized a book on his
life. Presented by Over The Front aviation journal (www.OverTheFront.com) and www.TheAerodrome.com, THE STAND: The Final
Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. is now available following its December 8th worldwide release.
Frank Luke was
America's leading flying ace when he was killed in action deep in enemy lines under mysterious circumstances in late 1918.
His life has been the subject of numerous books and articles since the end of World War I, but the surviving family's
authorization of THE STAND represents a new landmark. A statement released by the family reads:
To the readers of THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank
Luke, Jr., from the Luke family:
The name of Frank Luke has been in newspapers, books and magazines since
before his death in September of 1918. Through more than ninety years of history the Luke family has tried to respond to interview
requests and assist with research wherever possible. But we have never endorsed previous works. For us, this is a first. THE
STAND represents the family's officially authorized biography of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
The family and descendants
of Frank Luke, Jr.
Phoenix, AZ
The
author of THE STAND, Stephen Skinner, said "The fact that the family has never considered doing this in some
90 years speaks for itself... this is huge. Its the greatest compliment that the book could ever receive."
"The
Luke's were amazing to work with," Skinner continued. "They didn't see the manuscript until it was nearly
finished and I warned them that Frank would not be presented as an untarnished hero. But still, they didn't ask me to
change a single word. They allowed my research follow its own course. The result, I think, is the most honest book ever written
on Luke."
A controversy has raged for decades as to what truly happened when Luke was shot down behind German
lines near Murvaux, France on 29 September 1918. For the first time in history, THE STAND answers the riddle of what
actually occurred in the final moments of Luke's life through battlefield archeology and original research. WWI aviation
author Greg VanWyngarden says "Stephen's exhaustive and meticulous research has fully solved the mystery of what
actually happened on that fateful evening."
Skinner talks more about the writing of THE STAND and
the Luke family's involvement in a newly released promotional video now available for viewing on the book's official
web site, www.THESTANDfrankluke.com. The extended video runs seven minutes in length and features an exclusive interview with
the author. The entire seven-part video series is also posted for viewing on the same page.
The current video
will also soon be available for viewing at www.TheAerodrome.com and www.OverTheFront.com. The video series will continue throughout
the spring of 2009, featuring aviation experts discussing the book, recording artist Olivia Kay talking about her theme song
for the upcoming documentary, book editor and WWI aviation expert Mike Carr, and others who were instrumental in the writing
of THE STAND.
Autographed copies of THE STAND may be ordered for immediate USPS Priority Mail
delivery at www.THESTANDfrankluke.com.
December 11, 2008 Worldwide Release of THE STAND:
The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
Jan Goldstein, director of The Great War in the Air, calls it "The World War
I event of the season." World
War I aviation author Greg VanWyngarden calls it "The final word on the subject... once and for all." Schiffer Publishing calls it THE
STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. The long-awaited book that will forever change the legacy of the famed
Arizona balloon buster and World War I flying ace has now been released worldwide and hits bookstore shelves in time for Christmas.
THE STAND may also be ordered at a discount online for a timely holiday delivery at www.THESTANDfrankluke.com. THE STAND is the definitive biography of Air Force Medal of
Honor ace Lt. Frank Luke, Jr., who was killed under mysterious circumstances deep behind enemy lines in September 1918. Through
a series of amazing new discoveries THE STAND unravels the enigma of Luke's sensational last stand and completely solves
the mystery of his death, which had stumped historians and military researchers for nearly a century. Sponsored by the League of World War I Aviation Historians
and www.TheAerodrome.com, THE STAND is a large hard cover book in 8.5x11 format, 260 pages in length. It also features more
than 340 original photographs, many of which were previously unpublished, making THE STAND the single largest collection of
Luke-related photos ever assembled. Author
Stephen Skinner, who led five field expeditions to France to conduct battlefield archeology at Luke's death site, says
that history is about to change. "I was after the truth, whether it upheld the legend or not. This was basically America's
last great aviation mystery, so I completely discarded everything that was ever written on Luke and started from scratch.
There are definitely some changes in the story - big changes that alter history as we know it - but I think a lot of people
are going to be surprised at how much of the Luke legend actually stands up to research. And when you finish THE STAND you
won't think or imagine or guess... you'll know." Readers who have ordered THE STAND from the book's official web site, www.THESTANDfrankluke.com,
will have their autographed copies shipped in the middle of next week for domestic US delivery around December 20-23rd. Prints
of Russell Smith's cover art will arrive within this same time period for US residents. Other products, including the
DVD documentary and the supplemental volume entitled THE QUEST, are expected to ship separately in January. Skinner begins a national book tour in January with stops in
Frank Luke's hometown of Phoenix, as well as engagements in Colorado Springs, Atlanta, Dayton, Glendale, Chicago, Ajo,
Houston, Indianapolis, Tulsa, Las Vegas and many other locations throughout the country. The book tour will continue throughout
2009 with both speaking engagements and book signings on tap. Tour dates will be posted in early January on www.THESTANDfrankluke.com
and updated regularly. A complete series of video interviews with the author, the documentary producer, and more is available
at www.THESTANDfrankluke.com.
September 9, 2008
International TV Ad Campaign Begins October 2nd for
THE STAND: The Final
Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
New Trailer Released for The Search for THE STAND
Nearly 52 million television households in seven countries will soon see
a series of newly produced 30-second advertisements for the upcoming book, THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke,
Jr.
Set for release in late November, THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. is a ground-breaking,
300-page volume that solves the mysterious death of America's legendary balloon busting ace of World War I. The
book's release will be accompanied by a DVD documentary and original painting with the same theme.
The six-month
ad campaign will reach more than 225 of the biggest markets in North America, including New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Orlando,
Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Oakland, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Portland, Cincinnati, and many more.
Internationally, the advertisements will reach millions of additional viewers in Canada, Wales, Ireland, Mexico,
England and Scotland.
The campaign will focus on television stations and networks with male-oriented programming.
Distribution platforms such as the America One Sports Network, MavTV, Cox Sports New England, Time Warner Sports Network,
Envision Media and others have already been secured.
THE STAND author Stephen Skinner said, "We
were tired of seeing World War I aviation books that made no attempt whatsoever to reach the general public, and we wanted
to change that. The only way to get people interested in this portion of history is to present a good story to them, and Frank
Luke is a good story. We're going to bring it to the public by every means possible and make a superhuman effort."
The ad campaign is set to launch on October 2nd on America One Sports and its 171 affiliated stations and networks
nationwide, with other networks and markets being added over the succeeding four weeks. The 30-second ads are only available
on television and may not be seen on any other medium.
New Trailer Released for "The Search for
THE STAND"
The latest in a series of videos and trailers promoting the upcoming DVD titled The
Search for THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. is set for worldwide release this afternoon at 1pm EDT
on the The Documentary page of THE STAND's official web site, www.THESTANDfrankluke.com.
The new
trailer bears no resemblance to the television ads debuting next month.
Instead, today's new release is a new look at the work done on site in Murvaux, France to solve the mystery of Luke's
death.
Produced and directed by the author's son, Stephen Dale Skinner, the piece sets a different mood. "Its
tragic and melancholy. I wanted people to watch that and feel as if they were looking at something meaningful from their own
past, like a wedding album or a high school yearbook. Something that reaches deep inside them and pulls out memories that
have a special meaning. That's the mood I was after. We wanted to create a connection between modern book readers and
the time period that the book explores. I think fans of THE STAND are really going to enjoy it."
THE
STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr., is set for release in late November. Pre-orders are now being accepted
on the book's official web site at www.THESTANDfrankluke.com.
To view the new trailer, simply visit the new
web site and click on the page entitled The Documentary.
July 23, 2008
New Interview, Footage Released With Documentary Producer Mark Magin
Shot on Location
in Murvaux, France, Site of Frank Luke's Death
The latest video blog has been released for the upcoming book and documentary titled THE STAND:
The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. The combined project will constitute the definitive biography of the famed Arizona
Balloon Buster, World War I flying ace Frank Luke. The new video is now posted and available for viewing on the "Documentary"
page of book's official web site at www.THESTANDfrankluke.com. The video loads automatically when you visit the page.
 The new blog features an interview with television producer Mark Magin (SPEED, Discovery,
ESPN) and previously unreleased footage from France related to the death of US Medal of Honor ace Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
Magin discusses his involvement with the project, describes the look and feel that he chose for the Luke documentary,
and gives aviation enthusiasts a preview of what to expect in the upcoming production. The title of the documentary will be
The Search for THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. It will be released on DVD and an edited version
is also expected to air on national television late this year or in early 2009.
THE STAND author Stephen
Skinner has spent the last week in the studio with Magin editing the documentary and doing voice work for the final production.
Skinner said, "We brought in a Discovery Channel producer because we wanted Discovery Channel quality. We shot the whole
thing on site in France in wide screen. It's not being matted to wide screen... it was originally shot in high-definition
wide screen. We're still in production, but right now it looks like people who buy the full collector's set will get
at least 10 and maybe 11 chapters of additional footage in the bonus DVD. That's a ton of extra footage... I mean a ton.
Most major theatrical releases don't have that much in their collector's sets. Everything about this effort has been
first class since day one and bringing Mark on board was a home run for us."
Video blogs will continue throughout
the summer and fall, and the second official trailer for the documentary is scheduled for release on August 18th.
The new documentary on Frank Luke, titled The Search for THE STAND, is now available to pre-order at www.THESTANDfrankluke.com.
The book, titled THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr., is also available for pre-order.
July 11, 2008
First Video Blog Released for
THE
STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
The first in a series of promotional videos has been released in preparation for the new, landmark
book on the life and death of US Medal of Honor ace Frank Luke entitled, THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke,
Jr. This video can be seen now by visiting www.THESTANDfrankluke.com and clicking on "The Documentary" page
on the main menu. The videos are part of an aggressive marketing campaign that includes a full speaking and book tour over
the next year.
New videos will be released every few weeks until late autumn, introducing many of the experts
from various fields including aviation, television and publishing who have contributed to THE STAND. Interviews with
the documentary producer, the artist who rendered the book's cover, the author, the actor portraying Luke, etc., are all
scheduled for release.
 "We wanted to build excitement for the book and let folks hear from a lot of other people
besides myself," said THE STAND author Stephen Skinner. "One thing I'm very proud of is the fact that
so many of the leading experts in World War I aviation, and so many incredibly qualified people from television, art, music,
and so forth have stepped forward to contribute to THE STAND. The people who helped me write this book really do
represent a 'who's who' of World War I aviation experts. That's not an exaggeration. We wanted people to be
able to hear from those who have been working behind the scenes to make this happen."
The introductory video
is already available for viewing and new interviews will be released frequently throughout the rest of 2008.
MANUSCRIPT
REVIEWS RELEASED
A special sneak preview of the book has been released this week in the form of manuscript reviews
- the first complete, pre-publication manuscript reviews to be released on THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke,
Jr. The full, unedited text of these reviews is now available at www.THESTANDfrankluke.com (see link at bottom
of home page). The reviews were submitted by Mike Carr and Barrett Tillman.
Mike Carr is a lifelong WWI aviation
researcher, member of the League of WWI Aviation Historians and creator of the Dawn Patrol board game. Barrett Tillman
is the author of Guide to the US Air Force and Clash of the Carriers, a full-time aviation writer and seminar
speaker.
Their reviews are now available on the official web site of THE STAND.
"MYSPACE"
AND "YOU TUBE" PAGES NOW UP
Those who enjoy social networking online can now participate in THE STAND's
two newest home pages on MySpace and You Tube.
Both pages are still in their infancy and exist primarily to point
visitors to the book's official web site. Visitors can leave messages, join subscriber lists and read the blogs written
by the author and others involved in the book and documentary's release. The blogs will appear frequently on both pages.
All trailers and videos will also be available on both the MySpace and You Tube pages.
June 27, 2008
THE STAND Artists Rendezvous at ASAA Exhibit
Russell Smith and Alan
Toelle spent last weekend greeting visitors, comparing historical notes and discussing their work on the upcoming book and
video titled THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. at the ASAA 2008 International Aerospace Art Exhibition
at Seattle's Museum of Flight.
|
| Russell Smith (L) and Alan Toelle beside the original work titled THE STAND |
Smith, whose work was judged first place in the 2007 Military Aviation category, painted
the original art that will adorn the cover of THE STAND when the book is released in late 2008. "It received
high praise... of 250 some-odd submissions for the show, THE STAND was unanimously voted in by all 5 jurors,"
Smith said. "The jurors decide what gets in the show... it was one of 53 total works on display."
Toelle,
an internationally recognized expert on colors and markings of World War I aircraft, created the new color profiles that will
be seen in THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. His work represents a new high-water mark for modelers
and artists who need the most accurate representation of the camouflage, unit markings and color schemes of the airplanes
flown in combat by Arizona's Frank Luke.
In addition to the work of Smith and Toelle, THE STAND includes
an unpublished eyewitness account detailing some of the battle damage suffered by SPAD #26, the airplane shown in the famous
photograph of Luke taken on the afternoon of 19 September 1918. The book also includes a newly discovered first-hand account
of repairs made to Luke's plane, another treasure trove of information for modelers and replica aircraft builders.
"These guys are the best, and they bring tremendous credibility to the work," said
THE STAND author Stephen Skinner. "Alan and Russ were actually in direct communication during the development
of the painting, and their experience and knowledge has produced the most accurate depiction we'll ever get of Luke's
last moments. It was a collaborative effort, and all three of us went into it with the idea that we wanted the most truthful,
accurate work possible. Russ even had me take panoramic photos from this exact spot, on site in France, to make sure he got
everything right, while Alan was working on SPAD markings and serial numbers."
Smith's original painting,
THE STAND, can be seen at the Seattle Museum of Flight until September 14th. Limited edition giclee reproductions
in either canvas or paper format are available on the book's official web site, www.THESTANDfrankluke.com.
June
3, 2008
Pre-Orders Now Accepted forTHE STAND: The Final Flight
of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. - Preview Trailer for Television Documentary Released -
History
is about to change.
Everything you thought you knew about
World War I ace Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. is about to be re-written.
Based on 15 years of original research and seven overseas expeditions, THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke,
Jr. comes in hard cover format on glossy acid free stock with 364 photos and 320 pages of the most informative and well-researched
information ever produced on Luke. The legacy of the Arizona Balloon Buster will never be the same again.
 Pre-orders for the long-awaited release are now being accepted on the book’s official web site, www.THESTANDfrankluke.com. Those who pre-order the book from the official web site will receive:
- Special
first edition, personally autographed copy of THE STAND
- Discount
off the publisher’s price
- Free matching bookmarks with
THE STAND logo and artwork
- Vintage 8x10 photograph
of the village of Murvaux (the site of Luke’s final flight) suitable for framing
- Letterbox
DVD copy of the official trailer for the upcoming documentary The Search for THE STAND
These
special gifts are reserved exclusively for customers who order only from the book’s official web site, www.THESTANDfrankluke.com. The “Order” page is found on the top menu bar.
Trailer Released for New Documentary on Luke
Web site visitors are also encouraged to click on the “Documentary” page link to watch the preview trailer for
the upcoming television documentary The Search for THE STAND: Recreating the Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
Shot entirely on location in France, The Search
for THE STAND joins the 2007 Frank Luke Discovery Expedition as
it leaves Brussels, heads south toward the old Meuse-Argonne theater on the western front, and hikes deep into the forests
where clues are unearthed that piece together what truly occurred in Luke's last moments.
The Search for THE STAND contains previously
unseen footage inside battlefield ruins, views of the exact location of Luke’s death, unpublished war photographs containing
vital evidence of his last mission, meticulous re-enactments of Luke's death scene and much more.
The animated
sequences of the documentary were produced in cooperation with the makers of History Channel’s Dogfights series.
An edited version of The Search for THE STAND is scheduled to appear on national television this
fall.
February 9, 2008
Cover Art Completed for THE STAND The
most accurate depiction ever produced of the final moments of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. has been preserved in oil and linen by award-winning
artist Russell Smith, and the final work is now on display at www.THESTANDfrankluke.com (click "The Painting" on main menu). Smith's new work
will serve as the cover art for the upcoming book THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr., to be released
by Schiffer Publishing this fall.
Based on more than fifteen years of original research, including more than 2,000
pages of unpublished documents, seven expeditions to France and previously unknown images of Frank Luke, THE STAND
by Russell Smith recreates the evening of 29 September 1918 in greater truth than ever before.
|
| The final version of THE STAND by Russell Smith |
Smith brings out Luke's facial features in greater detail with true-to-life
accuracy. The representation of Luke's SPAD XIII fighter is based on the research of World War I aircraft and markings
expert Alan Toelle. After relocating the precise spot of Luke's death, photographs were taken on site in France to establish
the horizon, skyline and background details of the painting. Smith said:
My original plan for THE STAND involved a red color scheme, which I thought would
add excitement to the image. I created the color study as such, and it seemed as if that scheme would work well.
As I started working on the actual painting, however, I began to see that the red scheme was, in fact, ineffective. The
key points in the painting - the flesh tones, the blood and the rudder of the SPAD - all contained red tones of varying strength.
To make the entire painting red would be to lose the emphasis of those key points. I decided that a yellow ochre scheme would
work better. This would not only strengthen the color of the natural landscape, but it would allow the key red tones to really
come out. Also, in color psychology, yellow is an "anxious" color which puts people on edge - perfect for this subject
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| The original color study for THE STAND |
"Its everything I expected and more," said Stephen Skinner, author of the upcoming
book THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. "Russell never asked me to abandon reality when we were
talking about the image. He knows how commited I am to finding the truth and he found a way to tell the real story and make
an incredible work of art at the same time without sacrificing either."
When asked about the ongoing controversy
over what really happened during the last seconds of Luke's life, Skinner stood behind the painting adamantly. "What
you see in Russ' work is what happened. Absolutely. Its accurate down to the last blade of grass and the curve of his
nose. For the first time in history we know. We don't think or speculate... we know. Four hundred pages and three hundred
and fifty photos based on more than a decade of research are about to be released this autumn, and yes, Russell's work
is entirely accurate in every way. What you see is what happened."
To view a full-sized online reproduction
of the new artwork, go to www.THESTANDfrankluke.com and click "The Painting" on the main menu.
November 13, 2007
Skinner Addresses Veterans Groups,
Accepts Award for THE STAND
Bullhead City, AZ - An audience of more than two hundred gathered at Arizona Veterans Memorial
Park on Sunday to hear keynote speaker Stephen Skinner give a twenty-five minute address on his research into the
death of one of the state's most famous sons, Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. The speaker's podium was actually the base of the new,
yet-unfinished monument to Arizona's Medal of Honor recipients.
The Mojave Valley Daily News commented on Skinner's speech, writing "He first began
researching the controversial fighter pilot on a visit to France in 1993. After years of poring over old manuscripts,
conducting archeological expeditions and tracking down eyewitnesses, he discovered the truth."
Mark McClure of the Arizona Veterans Memorials called the speech "dynamic,
inspiring... just great... how do you follow an act like that?"
Following Skinner's address, his upcoming book was honored during the eighth annual Luke
Awards ceremony. "Its pretty incredible that veteran's groups all the way across the country have heard of THE
STAND even before publication," Skinner said during interviews after the ceremony. "It was a real surprise because I
had already accepted the invitation to speak at this event before I even knew that the book had been nominated for a Luke
Award. This was just icing on the cake."
Skinner accepted the award on behalf of Royal Robbins clothing, Eagle Creek luggage
and Magellan GPS, who supported his most recent expedition to France.
THE STAND: The Final Flight of Frank Luke, Jr. is nearing completion and will
hit bookstore shelves early next fall accompanied by a one-hour documentary on the same topic. Both the book and DVD documentary
will debut never-before-published information proving what actually took place in Luke's last moments, along with the most
complete biography ever produced on the Medal of Honor winner.
October 26, 2007
THE STAND Author Wins National Luke Award
Stephen Skinner, author of the 2008 release THE STAND: The Final
Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr., has been selected by the Arizona Veteran's Memorial Inc. as a recipient of the prestigious
2007 Luke Award.
The Luke Awards are presented each year by the Arizona Veterans Memorial Inc. to
a total of nine individuals, organizations and businesses who have been most instrumental in perpetuating the memory of the
fallen service men and women of the state of Arizona. Skinner is one of three individuals throughout the nation to have been
selected for the award.
"We want to recognize those people who further the memory of Arizona
veterans and (Skinner's) book certainly does that," said Joe Felice of the AVMI. Skinner will receive his award on November
11th at the AVMI's Veterans Day activities in Bullhead City, Arizona.
Skinner reacted to the news, saying "Obviously its a huge honor and
I'm humbled that the Arizona Veterans group would consider me, but on a bigger scale this award really speaks about
the work itself. Any time a book starts receiving awards before its even released... well, that's a good thing."
THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr., is to be
published in summer 2008 by Schiffer books.
October 7, 2007
Skinner Speaks to 2,000 at USAF Academy
Keynote speaker Stephen Skinner, author of THE STAND: The Final
Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr., received a warm welcome and an enthusiastic two-minute standing ovation following his
program before nearly 2,000 cadets at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs Friday evening.
"I think Don got them warmed up for me," Skinner said in reference
to an amazing introductory presentation by Don Luke, nephew of Frank Luke, Jr. "The cadets were so cool. They were excited
and responsive from the outset and its fun to speak to an audience like that. I appreciate Don and Debra (Luke) inviting me...
they really were responsible for everything." Skinner's speech concentrated on Luke's strength, courage and sacrifice - virtues
chosen by the Air Force's Class of 2010.
One cadet said after the event, "The speech was really a deep
insight into what our class should embody. Mr. Skinner turned it into a spark that renewed our fire for our exemplar."
Academy staff member Gregory Williams said, "You hit a home run! I mean it... that was an absolute home run. What a fantastic speech!"
Skinner is finalizing the book manuscript in the coming weeks and preparing for his next
speaking engagement before the Arizona Veterans Commission on November 11th.
September 13, 2007
Russell Smith to
Unveil Cover Art for THE STAND at Dayton
World Premiere Set
for Friday, 21 September at 2:30pm
When the landmark book THE STAND:
The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. hits bookstores next summer, its cover will be graced by an original work painted
by one of the top aviation artists in the world, Russell Smith. The color study for this painting as well as Smith’s
close-up character drawing of US air ace Frank Luke will be publicly unveiled for the first time in a special ceremony at
the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous air show in Dayton, Ohio on September 21st. The event will be held at the Russell Smith Studios
vendor booth at 2:30 pm local time.
Smith says although the color study is
the next-to-last stage in the creation of his painting, people frequently mistake it for the final work. “Its actually
a complete oil painting that helps me see the color balance and what shades work best in the composition,” Smith said.
“There will be virtually no difference between this color study and the final painting, but I always like to see the
color blends before I paint the final version.”
Smith said, “A lot of World War
I artists have avoided the subject of Frank Luke because no one really knew for sure what happened on his last flight, but
thanks to the upcoming book I can paint something I know to be truthful.” Both the painting and the book will share
the same name: THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
In addition to unveiling the character
drawing of Luke and the color study of the final painting, Smith is reserving a special surprise announcement for those in
attendance.
Russell is expected to speak first at
the ceremony, followed by the unveiling of the art works and then a question and answer session with Stephen Skinner, author
of THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. Skinner will speak on the authenticity of the portrayal of
Luke’s last moments and the on-site research conducted in France nine weeks ago that finally uncovered the truth.
For more information, visit the book’s
official web site: www.THESTANDfrankluke.com.
September 7, 2007
THE STAND Author to Host Dawn Patrol Rendezvous Fly-In
This September's Dawn Patrol Rendezvous, a World War I air show held semi-annually
at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, will be hosted by aviation author and veteran television
announcer Stephen Skinner.
Dawn Patrol Rendezvous coordinator Teresa Montgomery said "Its tough to find someone
who is a professional announcer and really knows a lot about World War I aviation, so we're very lucky. That's a rare combination."
The arrangement was finalized by museum Special Events Manager David Thomas earlier this week.
"I was going to go anyway just to meet all the Forumites and enjoy the show," Skinner
said, referring to the popular online World War I aviation forum at www.TheAerodrome.com. "I've already been to several of these and they're just great. After the Guntersville
show closed several years ago the Rendezvous emerged as the best place in the country to see World War I airplanes fly. So
now I get to watch it all from show center while I'm holding a microphone."
The Rendezvous will draw thousands of aviation fans, dozens of flying World War
I replicas, Great War re-enactors, nearly twenty 1918-era automobiles and trucks in addition to numerous commercial vendors.
Skinner is the author of Schiffer Publishing's upcoming book, "THE STAND: The Final
Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.," which is due out in the early summer of 2008. For more information on the book and author,
visit www.THESTANDfrankluke.com.
August 29, 2007
Toelle to Design Color Plates for THE STAND
One of the world's leading experts on colors and markings of aircraft in World War
I will lend his expertise to Schiffer Publishing's new book on the death of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
Alan Toelle, who has spent decades accumulating photographs, data and markings on
the airplanes of the 1st Pursuit Group, will design the color plates for Stephen Skinner's upcoming book THE STAND: The
Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
Toelle's work has contributed to numerous books including "French Aircraft of the
First World War," "Richthofen's Circus" and "SPA 124 Lafayette Escadrille." His work has also appeared in Over The Front,
the journal of the League of WWI Aviation Historians, and is widely accepted as some of the most authoritative work in the
field. Modelers, aircraft builders and others who need historically accurate markings for Frank Luke's airplanes will be especially
pleased at Toelle's involvement.
"I was delighted when Alan said he would take on this project because I knew it would
be done right," Skinner said. "He's obsessed with accuracy, which makes him a perfect fit for this work. I won't be touching
the color plates. They're his entirely. That allows me to concentrate on other things like assimilating the data we got in
France this summer and editing the manuscript. The very best people in World War I aviation research are on board and I couldn't
have asked for much more."
THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. is to be released in
summer 2008, along with a special one-hour DVD documentary. For more information visit the book's official web site, www.THESTANDfrankluke. com.
August 1, 2007
Actor Cast to Play Luke in New Documentary
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| Stephen Dale Skinner |
Actor Stephen Dale Skinner will play the part of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. in the
upcoming documentary The Search for THE STAND: Recreating the Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
Stephen Dale Skinner is an experienced character actor with a theatrical background. "I studied the
photos taken late in Luke's career and the only vulnerability that can be seen in his face comes through his eyes,"
the actor said. "His face is serious and severe, and the only weakness you can find is in his eyes. I'm working on that look
and developing that attitude in my portrayal of the character."
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| Stephen Dale Skinner will portray Luke in the upcoming documentary |
Documentary producer Mark Magin said that Stephen Dale's talents would be used
to create a series of brief action sequences that bring Luke's final moments to life. Magin said the re-enactment segments
would be filtered into black and white, with grain added to the picture to give it the same look as old films from World War
I.
Location scouting for the action sequences took place last week. The goal was to
find areas that resemble the landscape where Luke died near Dun-sur-Meuse, France in 1918. All segments
will be shot in the midwestern United States where three suitable locations were secured.
Stephen Dale Skinner is the eighteen-year-old son of author Stephen Skinner, who
said that age was a critical factor in casting the part. "Its silly to have a forty-year-old actor to portray a
guy who died when he was twenty-one. You see that all the time in films and it just slays any semblence of authenticity.
It just looks ridiculous. We needed someone who was really in Luke's age bracket."
The author continued, "He's one of the few actors who really know the entire Luke
story inside out. He has light hair, stocky build and is almost the exact
same height as Luke and is close to Luke's age. We didn't want to bring someone in from the coast, we wanted someone already
in the region. He was a natural choice. As soon as we decided to include action sequences I knew he was the guy."
Shooting begins on location next week. For the latest news on the book, THE
STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr., visit the book's official web site: www.THESTANDfrankluke.com.
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| The Field Team at Luke's death site. (Volker Nemsch, Stephen Skinner, Mark Magin, Patrice Didier) |
July 12, 2007
Frank Luke Discovery
Expedition Returns
Uncovers New Information
on Death of WWI Ace
Doulcon, France – The last members
of the Frank Luke Discovery Expedition returned safely to the United States late on Wednesday night, July 11th, after successfully
completing a nine-day quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding the death of World War I Medal of Honor ace Lt. Frank Luke,
Jr.
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| The buildings where Luke spent the final hours of his life, Verdun, France |
The expedition was supported by Royal
Robbins outdoor clothing, Eagle Creek luggage and Magellan GPS systems.
The international team consisted of World
War I aviation experts from Germany, France and the United States. Led by author Stephen Skinner, the team discovered the
precise location of Luke’s demise, the ruins of the buildings in which Luke spent his last hours, the exact location
of the most famous photos ever taken of the legendary ace, in addition to stunning new discoveries regarding what occurred
in the final moments before Luke’s death.
“Everything was meticulously documented,”
Skinner said of the expedition’s discoveries. “We took GPS readings of every location in an effort to assist future
researchers. The locations of all archeological findings were recorded. At every location we tried to carefully frame photos
and take ‘then and now’ stills of everything in addition to recording latitude and longitude.”
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| The author peers inside a bunker where two German soldiers watched Luke die |
Television producer Mark Magin headed
the film crew and will produce a one-hour DVD documentary on the expedition that will be released along with Skinner’s
book, THE STAND; the Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr., in summer 2008. The two DVD set will include the documentary,
a director’s cut and a selection of extra bonus features. A teaser/trailer is to be released in late October; it will
be seen at air shows and promotional events around the country.
French Meuse-Argonne specialist Patrice
Didier and German aviation expert Volker Nemsch also joined the expedition’s field team, which performed all on-site
research, interviews and archeological work.
Author and expedition leader Stephen
Skinner’s upcoming speaking engagements in Indianapolis, Phoenix and Colorado Springs will soon be posted on the book’s
official web site, www.THESTANDfrankluke.com.
THE
STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. is due for release in mid-2008 through Schiffer Publishing. It will contain
all information uncovered during the Frank Luke Discovery Expedition.
May 8, 2007
Onboard Images Brings THE STAND to Screen
The incredible true story of Lt. Frank Luke., Jr., the most celebrated American
fighter pilot of World War I, is to be told through a one-hour documentary produced by Onboard Images and made available on
DVD in conjunction with the release of Schiffer Publishing's upcoming book, THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke,
Jr.
Onboard Images specializes in aviation programming and is among the most sought-after
television production companies in the industry. Their work has appeared on the Discovery Channel, SPEED and the
Military Channel. The company has provided television coverage of the Oshkosh air show, the Blue Angels, national aerobatic
competitions and much more.
Speaking at the McDonald's Air and Sea show in Ft. Lauderdale this week Onboard
Images president Mark Magin said "I've known Stephen for over eight years and I share his passion for flight and historic
aviation. I've also been aware of Stephen's research into the life and career of Frank Luke for some time... I was really
excited when he asked me to tell this compelling story."
The Onboard Images television crew will accompany author Stephen Skinner on his
final expedition to France this summer to investigate the death of America's top balloon-busting ace of World War I, Lt. Frank
Luke, Jr. The crew anticipates a ten-day shooting schedule, following Skinner throughout his expedition which includes battlefield
archeology, interviews and archival research.
"This will not be a biographical documentary in the traditional sense," Skinner
said. "Its like we're taking the viewer with us on the final expedition to France to learn what really happened
on Luke's last flight. You'll follow the clues one by one, just like I have. We'll interview the families of those who
were there. You'll see never-before-published photos and letters from the German side of the story. The archeological work
will be covered as well. So this is more than just another biographical sketch... this is more of a final reckoning. Its the
inside story of how THE STAND was written and how the mystery of Luke's final mission was solved."
Skinner has spent fifteen years investigating the death of Lt. Frank Luke which
has become one of the most hotly debated topics among World War I aviation historians.
The documentary will be released in conjunction with Skinner's upcoming book from
Schiffer Publishing entitled THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
May 3, 2007
Unpublished Cache of Luke Documents Found
As the manuscript deadline approaches for the upcoming book THE STAND: The Final
Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr., author Stephen Skinner has uncovered a stockpile of Luke-related documents that has remained
unpublished for more than thirty years.
America's most spectacular fighter pilot was killed under mysterious circumstances
in late 1918 after being shot down deep in enemy territory. Debate has raged for nearly a century over what truly happened
to Luke in the final moments of his life and the new information sheds even more light on the enigma.
"Its a good problem to have," Skinner said of the new documentation. "Just as I thought
I was putting the finishing touches on the manuscript, now I'm scrambling to incorporate the new stuff into the book before
the deadline. Schiffer's been great with it. They've given me up to two hundred more pages if I need it." The additional material
contains previously unknown correspondence from the Luke family and political details regarding the award of Luke's Medal
of Honor.
After reviewing Skinner's work on THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke,
Jr., the holder of the documents offered them for use in the book. Skinner didn't hesitate to accept it.
"No way was I gonna turn that down," the author said. "Any time you write on a guy
who's been dead for ninety years you have to rely on the research of others so there was no ego involved. The goal was to
find out what truly happened to Frank Luke and I'll do whatever it takes toward that end."
Skinner said the newly found cache of Luke documents contains "several new revelations"
about America's top balloon buster. THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank
Luke, Jr., is due out in 2008.
April 1, 2007
Russell Smith to
Paint Cover Art for THE STAND
Indianapolis – Award-winning World
War I aviation artist Russell Smith will create an original work exclusively for the cover of the upcoming Schiffer Book publication
THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. by Stephen Skinner.
Smith’s work has been featured
in every major World War I aviation periodical in the world and has earned accolades from the American Society of Aviation
Artists as well as the Experimental Aircraft Association, but the task of accurately painting a work on Frank Luke is a rare
challenge.
“Many artists have steered away
from painting images of Frank Luke simply because there have been so many unanswered questions surrounding him,” Smith
said. “Thanks to Stephen's research, I have the opportunity not only to paint a truly accurate image of Frank Luke but
also to have that image associated with his book.”
Russell’s painting will be in a vertical format to facilitate a more complete reproduction on the book’s
cover. Plans are also underway for a combined release of the print in conjunction with the 2008 publication of THE
STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
March 7, 2007
Official Web Site Unveiled for Upcoming Book,
THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
Aviation enthusiasts will want to bookmark www.THESTANDFrankLuke.com, the newly unveiled official web site for Schiffer Publishing's upcoming landmark work
on WWI ace Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
The official web site will carry all news items related to the book, updates on
author Stephen Skinner's continuing archeological and investigative work in France and Germany, as well as a brief history
of the Luke saga.
Readers may also subscribe to the book's free newsletter mailing list, which will
update WWI enthusiasts on the latest developments and pending release date for THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank
Luke, Jr.
www.THESTANDFrankLuke.com also carries the story behind the restoration of the memorial honoring Luke in France
as well as a recent interview with the book's author.
www.THESTANDFrankLuke.com is more than a focal point of information on the upcoming book; it also serves up a
full plate of Luke-related material and offers enthusiasts up-to-date news on the latest research on the topic. The projected
release date for THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr., is autumn 2008.
January 5, 2007
Mystery of Lt. Frank
Luke’s Death Solved
Stephen Skinner’s epic book lifts truth from a century of myth
Indianapolis, IN – The final moments in the life of America’s most spectacular World War I fighter
pilot are to be revealed in the upcoming book THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr.
Luke, who scored 18 aerial victories in a torrid 18-day combat spree, was killed in action behind German lines in September
1918 and the exact circumstances of his death have been debated by historians ever since.
Described in Over The Front Journal as the “best informed current student of Frank Luke,” author
and Telly Award-winning television host Stephen Skinner has spent fifteen years researching Luke’s final moments. Skinner,
who administrated the restoration of the Luke monument in November of 2000, has traveled repeatedly to France, Germany, Belgium
and across the United States in pursuit of the clues that will reveal for the first time precisely what took place when Frank
Luke’s SPAD fighter landed in a farm field west of Murvaux.
THE STAND presents a detailed analysis of all sides of the story
through more than one thousand pages of unpublished material, newly disclosed documents from four nations and interviews with
descendents of eyewitnesses in France and Germany. Skinner’s findings are based upon extensive on-site archeological
research and a series of recently discovered German correspondence that brings closure to the Luke saga after nearly a century
of controversy. The author painstakingly reconstructs the German defenses that brought Luke down, the hotly debated final
seconds of his life, the reasons why his final mission was flown at all, and the almost unbelievable inter-squadron feud that
led to Luke’s tragic end.
In addition to solving the last great mystery of World War I aviation, THE STAND scores a few “kills”
of its own by targeting a multitude of myths and legends that have infiltrated the Luke saga over the years. THE STAND
offers a fresh view of Luke’s life and the most in-depth evaluation of his character ever produced. Frank’s childhood,
ancestral heritage, and even the woman he was to marry are explored to the fullest.
Skinner, defined by aviation author Barrett Tillman
as “the authority on Frank Luke,” delivers a thrilling work that reads like a novel while raising the standards
of World War I scholarship to new highs. The manuscript of THE STAND: The Final Flight of Lt. Frank Luke, Jr. is in
the late stages of production and will be published in full length, hardcover format by Schiffer Books.
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