From the Race Track to the Sky: The Life of WWI Flying Ace Eddie Rickenbacker

Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker arriving in NYC on the S.S. Adriatic, c. 1919 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 23, 1973) was an American fighter pilot in World War I and a Medal of Honor recipient. With 26 aerial victories, he was the most successful and most decorated United States flying ace of the war. He was also a race car driver, an automotive designer, and a long-time head of Eastern Air Lines. In the 1960s, Rickenbacker became a well-known speaker. He shared his vision for the future of technology and commerce, exhorting Americans to respect the Soviet Union during the Cold War, but still uphold American values. He also endorsed many conservative ideas. In 1972, Rickenbacker had a stroke that left him in a coma for a short time. He recovered and traveled to Zürich, Switzerland in July 1973, seeking medical treatments for his wife's failing vision. While in Zürich, Rickenbacker contracted pneumonia & died at the age of 82. His memorial service was held at the Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church with the eulogy given by Lt. General Jimmy Doolittle. He was interred in Columbus, Ohio, at Green Lawn Cemetery. When he died, Rickenbacker was the last living Medal of Honor recipient from the United States Army Air Service.

 

Information above provided by Wikipedia.

 

When World War I began in 1914, the use of airplanes in aerial warfare was still a relatively new concept. At the time, the U.S. Air Force did not yet exist and so aviation in the U.S. military was a function of the United States Army Air Service. Established as an independent but temporary branch of the U.S. War Department during World War I, and replacing the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps as the nation's air force, the U.S. Army Air Service was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. There were people in the Army and outside the military who could not see any use for aircraft in warfare, while others felt that airplanes should be given specific combat roles.

The United States would get a chance to find out how well airplanes worked in warfare when it entered World War I in April 1917. Plans were made including fighting and bombing airplanes as well as observation planes and balloons. Due to the fact that the Allied Powers, Britain, France, Italy, had been at war since 1914, they were much farther advanced in military aviation than the United States. Still, they were allies and as such, provided valuable information to the U.S. to help build up its aviation sector. This information included not only technical data on new developments in the aviation field and other aeronautical equipment but also information on how to use aviation proficiently in battle.

The first U.S. aviation squadron entered combat in February 1918, manned mostly by pilots who had previously volunteered with the French. American-trained squadrons soon joined the fighting, and the rest is U.S. Army Air Service history. Most American aviators flew French planes, since the United States was still ramping up aircraft production, and training could be deadly. In addition, brand new U.S. pilots faced experienced German enemies, resulting in heavy early losses. Despite these challenges, American pilots steadily improved and one pilot, a former race car driver, would go on to become the most successful & most decorated United States flying ace with 26 confirmations over the enemy during World War I. His name was Edward V. Rickenbacker, Eddie for short, and if you're interested in learning more about his life, stick around.

 

Edward Rickenbacker's story, hidden history that has remained long forgotten, is the story of a true American hero intent on preserving the American way of life for future generations & his extraordinary journey from race car driver to America’s World War I flying ace.

For the rest of Rickenbacker's story, please check out the audio link provided for EPISODE TWENTY-EIGHT of our podcast, Hidden History: An Odyssey Through Time

LISTEN NOW: From the Race Track to the Sky: The Life of WWI Flying Ace Eddie Rickenbacker

Tune In With Your Favorite Platform!

Images and Documents

Record of birth for Edward Rickenbacher, born October 8, 1890 to William and Elizabeth Rickenbacher (courtesy of Ohio Births and Christenings, 1821-1962 via familysearch.org).

Eddie Rickenbacker's mother, Elizabeth, 1800s. Elizabeth Basler immigrated to Columbus, Ohio from Switzerland in 1881. She married William Rickenbacher, also a Swiss immigrant, in 1885. They had eight children, seven of whom lived to adulthood. Eddie was their third child. She died in 1946 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker's father, William Rickenbacher, 1800s. He was killed in 1904 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Rickenbacher family in the 1900 U.S. Census, Edward "Eddie" is listed 5th from top (courtesy of familysearch.org).

Eddie in a Firestone-Columbus, driving politician William Jennings Bryan (seated behind Eddie) on Texas speaking tour, 1909. In 1909, while in Texas helping the Columbus Buggy Company establish dealerships for the Firestone-Columbus, Eddie offered to drive politician William Jennings Bryan on a Texas speaking tour as an advertising stunt (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie & his siblings in 1910 U.S. Census. At this point his mother Elizabeth was head of the household after the death of Eddie's father in 1904 (courtesy of familysearch.org).

Eddie Rickenbacker (right) & Fred McCarty in Peugeot racing gear, California, 1914. While driving for Peugeot, Rickenbacker invented a way to communicate with his riding mechanic over the roar of the engines by connecting two leather face masks together with rubber speaking tubes. While this worked well, he gave up the idea after deciding the masks were "unbearably hot and itchy." (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker seated in a Blitzen Benz race car, only six of these cars were ever made, c. 1915 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker in a racing car on the Avenue of Palms at the Panama Pacific International Exposition, San Francisco, California, 1915 (courtesy of the San Francisco Public Library).

Eddie Rickenbacker in the driver's seat of a Peugeot race car, c. 1915 (courtesy of Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker in the driver's seat of a Maxwell Special race car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, riding mechanic Burt Brown in passenger seat, 1916 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

1916 passport application by Eddie Rickenbacker (courtesy of familysearch.org).

Eddie Rickenbacker on a motorcycle with a group of unidentified American Expeditionary Force soldiers, c. 1917 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker in uniform sitting on a crate holding a bomb, c. 1917 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker in his Nieuport 28 fighter, featuring the 94th Aero Squadrons' famous "Hat in the Ring" insignia, France, c. 1917 (courtesy of National Air and Space Museum).

First Lieutenant Eddie V. Rickenbacker, 94th Aero Squadron, American ace, standing up in his Spad plane, near Rembercourt, France, October 18, 1918 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker in uniform during World War I with a dog called Spad, the 94th Aero Squadron mascot, c. 1918 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker in a flight suit standing in front of an airplane, c. 1918 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker in his World War I uniform with the "Hat in the Ring" insignia which represented the 94th Aero Squadron, c. 1918 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker and his plane, Spad XIII, 94th Aero Squadron, near Rembercourt, Meurthe et Moselle, France, October 18, 1918 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Lieutenant General Hunter Liggett, commander of the U.S. First Army, decorating Captain Eddie Rickenbacker with the Distinguished Service Cross with palms at Remicourt, Marne, France, November 10, 1918 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker and Lt. Meisner, wearing their Distinguished Service Crosses, France, 1918 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, Paris, France, c. 1918-19 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker in WWI uniform with the Distinguished Service Cross, the Légion d'honneur, the Croix de Guerre & the WWI Victory medal, c. 1919 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Adelaide Frost Durant, 1919 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Captain Edward Rickenbacker, America's premier Flying Ace, officially credited with 26 enemy planes & the proud wearer of the French War Cross, c. 1919 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Captain Eddie Rickenbacker arriving in New York City on the S.S. Adriatic, c. 1919 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Capt. Rickenbacker, standing, with sitting, left to right, Lt. P.F. Baer and Capt. Douglas Campbell, c. 1919 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker with his mother, Elizabeth Rickenbacher, on his return to Columbus, Ohio from World War I, February 17, 1919 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker & Adelaide Frost Durant sitting on a bench during their courtship, c. 1922 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Adelaide Frost Durant reading magazines on a park bench, prior to her marriage to Eddie, c. 1922 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Newspaper article about Eddie Rickenbacker and his bride to be, Adelaide Frost Durant, The Washington Times, September 3, 1922 (courtesy of Library of Congress).

Eddie Rickenbacker & Adelaide Frost Durant on the steps of the church in Sound Beach (now Old Greenwich), Connecticut, on their wedding day, September 16, 1922 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie and Adelaide Rickenbacker. This photograph may have been taken during their honeymoon, c. 1922 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie & Adelaide Rickenbacker on their honeymoon in St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy, standing in front of a column surrounded by pigeons, 1922 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

1923 passport application for Eddie Rickenbacker and his wife Adelaide (courtesy of familysearch.org).

German Irish Flyers, left to right: Sec. of State Mr. Kellogg, Capt. Koehl, Maj. Fitzmaurice, Baron Von Huenefeld, Asst. Sec. of Int. Mr. McCracken, Col. Charles Lindbergh, Irish Minister Smiddy, Eddie Rickenbacker, Maj. Davidson, Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., 1928 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker's youngest son, William. Eddie & Adelaide adopted William in 1928. This photo is from 1929 or 1930 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie & his family in 1930 U.S. Census (courtesy of familysearch.org)

Eddie Rickenbacker with survivors of the 94th Pursuit Squadron in Washington, DC. The photo was taken at the ceremony where Rickenbacker was presented the Medal of Honor by President Herbert Hoover on Nov. 6, 1930 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker wearing the Medal of Honor, c. 1930 (courtesy of U.S. Air Force).

Eddie Rickenbacker with his sons, David & William, in New York. Rickenbacker is wearing his World War I uniform & Medal of Honor, c. 1930 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie and Adelaide Rickenbacker playing golf with an unidentified woman, 1930s (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker with his sons, David and William. The boys are sitting in a race car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, sometime in the 1930s. Rickenbacker bought the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1927 & sold it in 1945 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Adelaide Rickenbacker with her sons, David and William, 1930s (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker with a group of men at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, posing with Borg-Warner Trophy, c. 1936 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker shooting BB rifles with his sons, David and William, late 1930s (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie & his family in 1940 U.S. Census (courtesy of familysearch.org)

Eddie Rickenbacker's sons, David and William Rickenbacker, 1940s (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie and Adelaide Rickenbacker with their son William, no date (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker's mother, Elizabeth, with one of her grandchildren, looking at picture of Rickenbacker in his World War I uniform, c. 1940s (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Newspaper article about Eddie's plane accident, the Times Record, Troy, N.Y., February 27, 1941. On February 26, 1941, Rickenbacker was a passenger on Eastern Air Lines Flight 21 that crashed outside Atlanta, Georgia. Nine were killed, eight injured. Rickenbacker, severely injured, lay trapped in the wreckage overnight.

Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, air-line executive & World War ace, recovering from injuries in an airplane crash near Atlanta, GA., last February, was well enough Saturday to go for a ride with his wife (left) in Atlanta, June 2, 1941. On February 26, 1941, Rickenbacker was a passenger on Eastern Air Lines Flight 21 that crashed outside Atlanta, Georgia. Nine were killed, eight injured. Rickenbacker, severely injured, lay trapped in the wreckage overnight (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker being assisted from the PBY after his rescue & flight to a Marine-held island base where he received medical attention, American Samoa, November 1942 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Newspaper announcing Eddie had been found after going missing in the South Pacific, the Kingston Daily Freeman, Kingston, N.Y., November 14, 1942.

Newspaper announcing Eddie had been found after going missing in the South Pacific, the Daily Argus, Mount Vernon, N.Y., November 14, 1942.

Adelaide Rickenbacker with reporters in New York City after learning of Eddie Rickenbacker's rescue, November 14, 1942 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Capt. Rickenbacker arrives at a South Pacific island on his mission, gets out of plane without assistance although still suffering from ordeal on life raft, December 12, 1942 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Capt. Rickenbacker after recuperating from ordeal on life raft while on mission to South Pacific island. Here with Lt. William F. Eadie, who rescued him from sea, December 12, 1942 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker embraces his mother upon his arrival in Los Angeles enroute to the East. Mrs. Rickenbacker is a resident of Beverly Hills, California, December 18, 1942 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie & Adelaide Rickenbacker with their sons William and David in New York City, December 19, 1942 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie & Adelaide Rickenbacker with their sons William and David and Mayor Fiorello La Guardia in New York City, December 19, 1942 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Members of the 9th Photo Squadron and Indian Air Tactical Force receiving awards from Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker during a ceremony at an air base in Pandaveswar, India, 1943 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker jokes with enlisted men of Jorhat Field, Assam, India, during his visit to the base, May 25, 1943 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker's oldest son, David Rickenbacker, a United States Marine. David served in the Pacific during World War II, c. 1943 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker speaks to members of the 12th Bomb Group, 9th U.S. Air Force, in North Africa, c. 1943 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker autographs the 94Th Fighter Squadron insignia on a poster at a 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Base, In Italy, c. June 1943 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, center, reviews troops of the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, somewhere in Italy, c. June 1943 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Eddie & unknown man standing next to plane with Eddie's name written in Russian and the "Hat in the Ring" insignia which represented the 94th Aero Squadron, Moscow, 1943 (Rickenbacker, 1967).

Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, Ace of World War I, talks to 303rd Bomb Group personnel during a visit to a U.S. base in England after a mission to the Soviet Union, July 26, 1943 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker poses at the door of a Boeing B-17 during his visit to the 305th Bomb Group base in England, July 26, 1943 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker visits the control room of the 2nd Service Group at an air base in Iceland, August 4, 1943 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

136th Construction Battalion review inspection by Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, Camp Endicott, Naval Construction Training Center (NCTC), Davisville, Rhode Island, November 7, 1943 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker pretending to down a glass of vodka as Adelaide looks on in mock horror and William laughs, 1943 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker with his brother Albert Rickenbacher in Indianapolis, Indiana, 1943 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker's mother, Elizabeth, c. 1944 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie & his family in 1950 U.S. Census (courtesy of familysearch.org)

Eddie Rickenbacker's 60th Birthday celebration dinner at the Park Sheraton Hotel in New York City, October 6, 1950 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

William F. Rickenbacker being sworn in to the Air Force by his father, Eddie Rickenbacker, 1951 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie & Adelaide Rickenbacker with their grandson, Bryan. Bryan is son of David Rickenbacker & his wife Patricia, c. 1951 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

William F. Rickenbacker receiving his Air Force wings from his father, Eddie Rickenbacker, February 9, 1952, Reese Air Force Base, Texas (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie & Adelaide Rickenbacker with their sons, David and William. William just graduated from Reese Air Force Base, February 9, 1952 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie and Adelaide Rickenbacker at their son William's wedding to Alexandra Harriman Leys of Yonkers, September 3, 1955 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Unidentified man presenting Eddie & Adelaide Rickenbacker with silver platter on their 35th wedding anniversary, September 16, 1957 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie & Adelaide Rickenbacker at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. Eddie was the parade's Grand Marshal, 1957 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie playing pool with Adelaide and their son, David, at Bear Creek Ranch in Texas, 1950s (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie and Adelaide Rickenbacker playing golf in Key Biscayne, Florida, January 8, 1963 (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Adelaide Rickenbacker, Miami, 1960s (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker at a reunion of World War I pilots held June 3rd through June 5th, 1966 in Dayton, Ohio. Rickenbacker & Douglas Campbell are holding a Blue Max, formally known as the Orden Pour le Mérite, Prussia's highest military order until the end of World War I (courtesy of Edward V. Rickenbacker Collection via Auburn University Special Collections and Archives).

Eddie Rickenbacker obituary, the Times Record, Troy, N.Y., July 23, 1973. Rickenbacker died in Zurich, Switzerland, on July 23, 1973 at the age of 82.

Newspaper article about the return of Eddie's remains to the U.S., The Greenfield Recorder, Massachusetts, July 24, 1973.

Newspaper article about Eddie's memorial service, the Washington C.H. Record-Herald, Ohio, July 28, 1973.

Eddie Rickenbacker grave at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.

Obituary for Adelaide Rickenbacker. Her age is listed wrong, she was 92 years old at the time of her death. Further down in the article, it says she and Eddie got married in Detroit, they actually got married in Connecticut, the Redlands Daily Facts, California, February 3, 1977.

Adelaide Rickenbacker grave, Green Lawn Cemetery, Ohio.

Eddie Rickenbacker's childhood home, from 1895-1922, in Columbus, Ohio (courtesy of National Park Service).

Eddie Rickenbacker's medals on display (courtesy of San Diego Air & Space Museum).

Captain Eddie Rickenbacker's WWI United States Army Air Service uniform (courtesy of National Air and Space Museum).

United States Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from Westland High School perform a ceremony to honor Eddie Rickenbacker at the main gate of Rickenbacker Air National Guard base, Columbus, Ohio, October 25, 2003 (courtesy of U.S. National Archives).

Reading Material

When World War I broke out across Europe in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the United States would remain neutral, and many Americans supported this policy of nonintervention. However, public opinion about neutrality started to change after the sinking of the British ocean liner Lusitania by a German U-boat in 1915; almost 2,000 people perished, including 128 Americans. Along with news of the Zimmermann telegram threatening an alliance between Germany and Mexico against America, Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. The United States officially entered the conflict on April 6, 1917.

Learn more below:

Resources

Add comment

Comments

There are no comments yet.