Edward Vernon Rickenbacker

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker 1890-1973, American war hero and airline executive, b. Columbus, Ohio. He became a car racing driver at 16 and set numerous speed records. In World War I he volunteered for the air service and became the leading U.S. ace by destroying 26 enemy planes. After serving as an executive of several airline companies, he became president and general manager (1938-53) and chairman of the board (1954-63) of Eastern Airlines, which he built into a major passenger and transport system. A political conservative, he often spoke on contemporary American affairs. His book Seven Came Through (1943) recounts his 22 days on a raft in World War II after running out of fuel while on an observation tour. He also wrote Fighting the Flying Circus (1919).

Bibliography: See his autobiography (1967) and his From Father to Son, ed. by W. F. Rickenbacker (1970).

Rickenbacker, Eddie ˈrikənˌbækər (1890–1973) U.S. army air force officer and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, born Edward Vernon Rickenbacker in Ohio. Rickenbacker starting working at the age of thirteen to help support his family. He turned to race car driving, at which he proved very successful. Rickenbacker's interest in aviation was supported by Col. Billy Mitchell, for whom he served as staff driver during World War I; Mitchell helped him enter a flight training program in France, and after twenty-five hours in the air Rickenbacker was commissioned a lieutenant in the Army Air Service. Rickenbacker shot down five enemy planes in the space of a month and was quickly made a squadron commander. At war's end he had shot down more enemy planes and balloons (26) than any other pilot, making him the Ace of Aces. For his service he received the French Croix de Guerre, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Congressional Medal of Honor. Although he initially opposed intervention in World War II, he eventually toured army air force bases for the U.S. government to raise morale and to offer suggestions for improvement.

Rickenbacker, Eddie (1890–1973), born Edward Vernon Rickenbacher in Columbus, Ohio, changed the spelling of his name in 1918.A famed racing car driver before World War I, he joined the army after the United States entered the war in 1917. After serving as Gen. John J. Pershing's personal driver and an engineering officer, he became a combat pilot. Rickenbacker shot down twenty‐two German planes and four balloons and became America's Ace of Aces. To younger aviators, “Captain Eddie” loomed an intriguing hero, neither cold nor overly friendly, one who inspired by simple grace in action. As commander of the famous 94th (“Hat‐in‐the‐Ring”) Squadron, he flew against Baron Manfred von Richthofen's “Flying Circus.”

After the war, Rickenbacker worked with automobile companies and shared ownership of the Indianapolis Speedway (1927–45). He became president of Eastern Airlines, 1938–59, and chairman of their board of directors, 1954–63.

A civilian air base inspector during World War II, Rickenbacker toured overseas installations. On one of these missions in 1942, his plane went down in the Pacific. He and six others survived for twenty‐four days on rafts before being found.

Rickenbacker wrote two autobiographical books, Fighting the Flying Circus (1919) and Seven Came Through: Rickenbacker's Full Story (1943).

Bibliography

Finis Farr , Rickenbacker's Luck: An American Life, 1979.

Frank E. Vandiver