The Aerodrome Home Page
Aces of WWI
Aircraft of WWI
WWI Aviation Books
Chat Room
The Aerodrome Forum
Sign the Guestbook
WWI Web Sites
Medals & Decorations
The Aerodrome News
Search The Aerodrome
Opinion Poll
Edward Rickenbacker [USA]

Name:Edward "Eddie" Vernon RickenbackerBalloon Buster
Country:United States
Rank:Captain
Services:United States Air Service
Squadrons:94th Aero
Victories:26
Born:8 October 1890
Place of Birth:Columbus, Ohio
Died:27 July 1973
Place of Death:Zurich, Switzerland
Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross and 9 Oak Leaf Clusters
Croix de Guerre and 3 Palms
Edward RickenbackerChevalier de la Légion d'Honneur

Notes
The son of Swiss immigrants, Rickenbacker was the American "Ace of Aces." He recorded 26 official victories against German aircraft during World War I and was awarded the Medal of Honor. Between WWI and WWII, Rickenbacker bought and administered the Indianapolis Speedway and became president of Eastern Airlines. In October 1942, he was aboard a B-17 bomber that crashed in the Pacific Ocean while on a secret mission to New Guinea. "Iron Man Eddie" and six companions survived 24 days afloat on life rafts.

In 1995, the United States Postal Service issued a postage stamp in honor of Rickenbacker's accomplishments as an aviation pioneer.
"Fighting the Flying Circus" @ The War Times JournalVisit The War Times Journal, where you can read an on-line version of Fighting the Flying Circus, Eddie Rickenbacker's account of his experiences during World War One.

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
"For extraordinary heroism in action near Montsec, France, 29 April 1918. Lt. Rickenbacker attacked an enemy Albatros monoplane and after a vigorous fight, in which he followed his foe into German territory, he succeeded in shooting it down near Vigneulles-les-Hatten-Chatel." DSC citation

Medal of Honor
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy near Billy, France, 25 September 1918. While on a voluntary patrol over the lines, 1st Lt. Rickenbacker attacked 7 enemy planes (5 type Fokker, protecting two type Halberstadt). Disregarding the odds against him, he dived on them and shot down one of the Fokkers out of control. He then attacked one of the Halberstadts and sent it down also." Medal of Honor citation

Books
Fighting the Flying Circus
Edward V. Rickenbacker / Hardcover / Collectors Reprints 1995
From Father to Son
The letters of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker to his son William, from boyhood to manhood; Edward Vernon Rickenbacker / Unknown Binding
Rickenbacker
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker / Hardcover / Prentice Hall 1967

Aces · Aircraft · Books · Chat · Forum · Guests · Links · Medals · News · Search · Vote

Copyright © 1997,1998 The Aerodrome
Page revised on 07 May 1998
Next Ace