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Eddie Rickenbacker was an American fighter pilot, racing driver, and automotive designer in the early 20th century. He was the most successful and decorated US flying ace in World War I and also founded Eastern Air Lines and the Rickenbacker Car Company.
- Eddie Rickenbacker’s Early Life
- Fighting in World War I
- Eddie Rickenbacker Becomes America’s Top World War I Flying Ace
- A Natural Pilot
- Eastern Air Lines and Another Brush with Death
- Surviving Being Adrift at Sea
- Eddie Rickenbacker’s Trip to The Soviet Union and Later Life
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Edward Rickenbacker was born on October 8, 1890, to Swiss immigrants in Columbus, Ohio. He was the third-oldest of seven children in the Rickenbacker household. The family lived in poverty for most of Eddie’s younger years. Then, in 1904, when Eddie was 13 years old, his father William Rickenbacker suddenly died in a construction accident. Eddie wa...
After America officially entered World War I in 1917, Eddie Rickenbacker immediately joined the army as a mechanic and automobile driver for Gen. John J. Pershing. However, he quickly switched his sights to the fledgling U.S. Army Air Service. After just 5 1/2 hours of flying with an instructor, Rickenbacker flew solo. Despite his lack of a college...
On April 29, 1918, Eddie Rickenbacker shot down his first enemy aircraft. By the end of May, he scored five individual victories to earn him the official title of “ace,” as well as the French Croix de Guerre. After his sixth score on May 30, an ear infection grounded the pilot until July 31. The last half of September 1918 was Eddie Rickenbacker’s ...
Eddie Rickenbacker’s secret was simple: “The experienced fighting pilot does not take unnecessary risk. His business is to shoot down enemy planes, not get shot down.” Rickenbacker learned that the best way to take down enemy planes was to sneak up on them. Once he determined their position, he came down from above with the sun behind him. Enemy pl...
Eddie Rickenbacker retired from the military after World War I. Although he was promoted to major, he chose to keep the title of captain. In his own words, “I felt that my rank of captain was earned and deserved.” Consequently, he was referred to as “Captain Rickenbacker” or “Captain Eddie” by the public. This may have been a good time to settle do...
Despite his ordeal, Rickenbacker was determined to continue living his active, often-dangerous life. He raised support for Britain during the Second World War, toured military bases in England and the United States, and even used his airline to support the war effort. Then, in October 1942, as Rickenbacker was on the way to New Guinea to inspect th...
Not long after his rescue, Rickenbacker continued his touring mission to promote the war effort. Then, in 1943, he went on a 55,000-mile trip to Russia, inspecting how the ally was using American equipment and offering his military advice. He returned to the U.S. with vital military intelligence. By this point, “Captain Eddie” was so popular that m...
Learn about the life and achievements of Eddie Rickenbacker, who shot down 26 enemy planes, survived two plane crashes and 24 days at sea, and founded one of America's biggest airlines. Discover how he became a legend in the sky with his courage, skill, and determination.
- William Delong
Jun 12, 2006 · Learn about the life and achievements of Edward Rickenbacker, the highest scoring American pilot in World War I and the founder of Eastern Air Lines. From his humble beginnings as a race car driver to his daring feats in the air, he survived 135 near-death experiences and became a legend.
Jun 12, 2006 · Learn how WWI ace and airline executive Eddie Rickenbacker and six others survived three weeks in the Pacific after their B-17 went down in 1942. Read about their ordeal, rescue and legacy in this article by Billy A. Rea.
Learn about the life and achievements of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, the leading U.S. Ace of WWI with 26 confirmed kills and the Medal of Honor. Find out how he became a racing driver, a fighter pilot, a squadron commander, and a business leader.
Mar 19, 2018 · Learn about the life and achievements of Eddie Rickenbacker, the most celebrated American aviator of World War I and a racing car driver. Find out how he became a fighter pilot, shot down 26 enemy planes, and founded Rickenbacker Motors.
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Aug 6, 1973 · He was a pioneer of U.S. commercial aviation and the last of the early flyers to run one of the nation’s great airlines. But of all the legends that trailed him throughout his long...
