History: The American Eagle was in reality a young scientist named Tom Standish who worked for the U.S. government. A mysterious black ray endowed both him and his young pal, Bud Pierce with powers associated with America's national bird. Standish and Pierce fought the Nazis and other criminals in WWII as American Eagle and Eaglet. Both would become affiliated in some way with S.M.A.S.H. during the Great War.

In 1969, an alien menace awoke from the interior of the moon’s surface and invaded Earth. The members of S.M.A.S.H. attempted to stop the intruder, but most were captured and placed in suspended animation. American Eagle was one of the heroes imprisoned. After thirty years Tom Strange and his counterpart, Tom Strong freed the imprisoned science heroes. Together they stopped the threat of the alien. Difficulty adjusting to the new time period led to the disbanding of S.M.A.S.H.

Standish and Pierce would then begin a search for the missing Captain Future, Andrew Bryant. The search led the two to the secret laboratory of Dr. X. During a confrontation with Dr. X, Standish and Pierce were killed and left to rot in Dr. X’s laboratory dungeons. Their deaths would be discovered three years later by the Scarab and the Liberator. Former members of S.M.A.S.H. honored American Eagle and Eaglet at a ceremonial burial for them.

Powers: A mysterious black ray endowed the American Eagle with the power of flight, tremendous strength, and other fighting qualities of America’s national bird.