Luke video posted on the Web

[franklukeproject]

I just wanted to let everyone know that I have finally been able to post a video on our efforts to produce a documentary on Frank Luke Jr. I think many of you already know that author Blaine Pardoe is working on a book on Luke, while I continue to build pieces for the television documentary.

Blaine and I met recently in Colorado from our respective coasts to go through a wealth of material on Luke and the 27th with researcher Jean Armstrong. I think everyone will be pleased with the efforts of all parties when the individual works are complete.

The video clip was produced five years ago. There is footage from Wings and other sources, but there is also video shot by Photojournalist Dave Pastor of Cannon Beach, Oregon and myself that has been seen by very few people; that is video of Murvaux, France where Luke was shot down, Luke's grave at the American Cemetery at Romagne, the ceremony conducted when Stephen Skinner replaced the plaque dedicated to Luke in Murvaux, and interviews with the Luke family in Arizona.

The video was not produced for WW1 historians, instead it was created to show to funding agencies to gain support for production. Specifically, this cut was produced to be critiqued by a producer from Dateline who was working as a consultant for my station in Las Vegas in 2001. When the documentary is complete, historical accuracy will be closely maintained.

The video is on the front page of www.frankluke.com and it is a flash file, so most computers should have no problem viewing it. The video is very compressed so the quality is not very high, but it is viewable.

For the record, I recently left my position as a photojournalist/reporter with KATU Channel-2 News, the ABC affiliate in Portland, Oregon. I now own and operate the "Pure Play" Internet news Web site www.salem-news.com in Oregon's capitol city.

[retread]

Just visited your Luke sight and spent a couple of hours touring. With the upcoming movies of the Lafayette Escadrille and von R. those of us who fall into the class of WW1 airnut wait with high hopes and limited expectations. How much more important that the REAL story be presented. Personally I am sick of the whole history as myth philosophy. History is what ACTUALLY took place. Myth, no matter who's is simply b.s. and usually an attempt at manipulation.
I am very pleased at your recent progress in making the Luke documentary happen. We need much more of the same.

[stephen]

Nice work, Tim. Good fades, lots of nice pics and the piece flows well. As you probably know, one of the photos you have is not actually Frank Luke, but a misidentified US pilot. But that's a minor point that does not detract from a fine film. Hope you get that funding in place!

[franklukeproject]

Stephen,
Thanks for the nice reply, I am aware that one of the pics is not correct, I feel bad about that but five years brings many lessons! I hope we can catch up some time, and I always hope that when this first piece is completed, that a trend can develop. I'll bet some of that footage looks familiar!

[Barrett]

Tim, I'm going back to LA next month for another couple of Talking Head segments on The History Channel. Would be glad to mention your FL project if you'd like.