Earlier today, a pair of Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor jets from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia shot down the Chinese surveillance balloon that had been floating across the United States.
A pilot fired an AIM-9 sidewinder missile with an explosive warhead into the balloon at 2:39 p.m. ET. Pilots use callsigns in place of their names when communicating, both for security and identification purposes. Special callsigns were used for the mission, the lead pilot used FRANK01 and their wingman used FRANK02.
This was done in an apparent homage to WWI pilot, Lt. Frank Luke Jr.
Luke Jr. was an American fighter ace in World War I. His nickname was the Arizona Balloon Buster. He is credited with shooting down 14 German surveillance balloons as well as other enemy aircraft. He was the first Airman to receive the Medal of Honor.
Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, a United States Air Force pilot training installation since World War II, is named in his honor.
Additional information about Lt. Frank Luke Jr.
