Born Edward Vernon Rickenbacher in Columbus, Ohio, 1890, he later
changed the spelling of his last name to "Americanize" it.
Eddie - or "Rick," as he was sometimes known during the war,
was a successful race car driver before
WWI, and
at one time had proposed forming a flying squadron made up
entirely of
racing drivers. In May, 1917 he sailed with the AEF to France, where he became the staff driver for General Pershing. He had to fight for a transfer to the Air Corps but eventually prevailed.
In March 1918 he joined the 94th "Hat in the Ring" Pursuit Squadron, part of the 1st Pursuit Group.
Rickenbacker was older than his fellow pilots and quickly earned the respect of officers and enlisted alike. Success in the air came quickly for the Indy racer, who quickly climbed America's victory charts.
Two months before the end of the war, Rickenbacker was named commanding officer of the 94th. Unlike some squadron commanders (notably Grant), Rickenbacker continued to add victories to his list after his promotion. He led by example, and regained the title of America's top ace soon after Frank Luke Jr.'s death. Rickenbacker was credited with 26 victories (22 aircraft and 4 balloons), but is generally believed to have downed as many as 10 others. Fellow pilots told stories of Rickenbacker's habit of crippling German craft and leaving them to his younger pilots to finish off, thereby giving them the credit for the kill.
Rickenbacker received the Congressional Medal of Honor for attacking a formation of five German planes, downing two and chasing the others away. However, the medal wasn't awarded until some years after the war's end, and only then after some lobbying. He also received the Distinguished Service Cross and the French Croix de Guerre.
On his return home Rickenbacker was lionized as an American war hero. He parlayed his celebrity into business success, working for GM and later taking over the reins at Eastern Airlines.
During World War II Rickenbacker was too old to fight, but still managed to see combat. On a tour of the Pacific Theater, the B-17 carrying Rickenbacker was shot down over the ocean. He and the crew survived weeks in a life raft.
He died in Florida in 1973 a beloved figure.
"I can see that aerial warfare is actually scientific murder."
Eddie Rickenbacker
"In addition to leading my flight on routine patrols, I emulated Lufbery's
example and flew my own lone-wolf missions onver the lines. He always said
that it was impossible to shoot down German planes sitting in the billet with
you feet before the fire. I heeded this advice so well that I had more hours in
the air than any other American flier."
Eddie Rickenbacker