Posted on 12/12/2019 10:46:01 AM PST by Perseverando
He began his career as an auto racer, gaining international fame by competing in the Indianapolis 500 four times, earning the nickname "Fast Eddie."
When World War I started, he was sent to France in 1917, becoming the personal chauffeur driver of General John J. Pershing.
His name was Edward Vernon "Eddie" Rickenbacker, born OCTOBER 8, 1890.
During World War I, Germany's Red Baron was dominating the skies.
Eddie Rickenbacker requested that he be transferred to the air service where he eventually became commanding officer of the 94th Aero Pursuit Squadron, with its famous "Hat-in-the-Ring" insignia.
His squadron was responsible for destroying 69 enemy aircraft, the highest number shot down by any American squadron.
Flying over 300 combat hours, Eddie Rickenbacker personally shot down 26 enemy aircraft.
He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Herbert Hoover in 1931.
Eddie Rickenbacker wrote his World War I experiences in the book, Fighting the Flying Circus, 1919, such as one story:
"... three-quarters of an hour of gasoline remained ... and no compass.
Then I thought of the north star! Glory be! There she shines! I had been going west instead of south ...
Keeping the star behind my rudder I flew south for fifteen minutes, then ... found myself above ... the River Meuse ... picked up our faithful searchlight and ten minutes later I landed ...
As I walked across the field to my bed I looked up ... and repeated most fervently, 'Thank God!'"
Eddie Rickenbacker wrote of the courage of fellow pilot Lt. Quentin Roosevelt, the son of President Theodore Roosevelt:
"Quentin flew about alone for a while, then discovering, as he supposed, his own formation ahead of him he overtook them, dropped in
(Excerpt) Read more at myemail.constantcontact.com ...
Eddie Rickenbacker’s autobiography made a huge impression on me when I was around age 12.
IMHO there was at that time (WW-I) no braver group of people than those who flew those wood and silk death-traps known as aero-planes. The engines could barely get the plane into the air. The pilot sat with no parachute on a piece of 3/4” plywood behind a fuel tank that was not self-sealing and would explode if exposed to any type of spark. There was no protection for the pilot from the weather or bullets or anything else that happened to occupy the same airspace at any given moment. Yet many men took to the air every day knowing that fewer would come home later.
That is the very definition of brass balls.
..he was truly an American hero... an amazing life...
an interesting tidbit that I remember from reading his
biography many years ago... apparently, even before World War I there were strong anti-German sentiments in this country...
“Edward Rickenbacher was born on October 8, 1890 in Columbus, Ohio. He adopted his middle name, “Vernon,” later and changed the spelling of his last name to “Rickenbacker” in 1918.”
Many preferred that to the trenches. Shows how bad the trenches were!
The SPAD was a sweet kite.
bkmk
The Post-war Hat in the Ring squadron was based at Selfridge Field, Michigan. The First Pursuit Group figured prominently during the golden age of aviation and the inter-war years with the 17th “Snow Owls” Pursuit Squadron, the 27th PS, the 71st PS and the 94th ‘Hat in the Ring” Squadron. However, “Capt. Eddie” as he was known, never served at Selfridge Field. In 1967, he attended as the Guest of Honor at the 1967 Open House and Air Show at Selfridge Air Force Base (Selfridge Field) during it’s 50th Anniversary celebration.
Great American Hero!
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