Captain Edward "Eddie" V. Rickenbacker
World War I Ace and World War II Service

Background
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was born October 8, 1890 to parents Wilhelm Rickenbacher and Liesl "Lizzie" (née Basler) Rickenbacher in Columbus, Ohio. Nicknamed "Eddie".

World War I Service
During World War I, Rickenbacker became a fighter pilot and America's highest ace pilot with 26 aerial victory claims flying the Nieuport and SPAD XIII. He became the commander of the 94th Aero Squadron “Hat-in-the-Ring”.

World War II Service
During World War II, U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson authorized Rickenbacker to tour the Pacific to inspect conditions and operations and to deliver a secret message to U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur. The message from U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt to reprimand MacArthur for negative public comments about his administration and disparaging cables sent to General Marshall. Rickenbacker was flown aboard a clipper to Oahu and briefly toured Hickam Field. On October 20, 1941 passenger aboard a bomber on a flight to the South Pacific but the plane experienced a hydraulic system failure on take off and ground looped.

On October 21, 1942 took off as a passenger aboard B-17D Flying Fortress 40-3089 piloted by Captain William Cherry, Jr. on on a flight from Hickam Field over the Pacific Ocean bound for Canton Airfield. Flying overnight, the B-17 flew off course due to a navigation error caused by an out of true octant. When they realized they were lost, the bomber flew a box search and shut down the outer no. 1 and no. 4 engines and jettisoned excess equipment and cargo to lighten the bomber and conserve an estimated one hour of fuel while the radio operator Reynolds sent out S.O.S. messages. Low on fuel the B-17 successfully ditched into a trough between waves. When this bomber failed to arrive it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

During the landing, each person suffered minor injuries. Afterwards, the crew successfully deployed the two life rafts. Floating at sea, the survivors tied their life rafts together with a 20' length of rope. Rickenbacker assumed a role of leadership, encouragement, and browbeating to help the others survive, and encouraged them to turn to God for solace and recited Psalm 46. According to Rickenbacker, each of the crew converted to Christianity after the ordeal.

On November 13, 1942 in the evening twenty-two days after ditching a OS2U Kingfisher piloted by Lt. W. F. Eadie and radioman L. H. Boutte spotted the life raft with Rickenbacker, Bartek and Adamson and landed nearby. Already dark, the Kingfisher loaded Bartek inside the cockpit and strapped Rickenbacker and Adamson to the wing then taxied on the surface for more than 30 minutes to a PT Boat that took Rickenbacker and Adamson to safety. Afterwards, admitted to the Navy Hospital in Samoa for rapidly bounced back to good heath after two weeks. His survival story and experiences help improve navigation tools for planes and improved survival gear for air crews.

After recovering sufficiently from his ordeal, Rickenbacker decided to continue his Pacific tour. On November 22, 1942 another B-17 flew him from Samoa to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). On November 23, 1942 arrived in Port Moresby where he found aircraft playing a critical role in air transport and combat. At 5th Air Force (5th AF) Headquarters, he met General George C. Kenney, General Ennis C. Whitehead and General Kenneth N. Walker. On November 26, 1942 driven to the Governor General's Residence to meet MacArthur to deliver the message, eat Thanksgiving dinner and was briefed on the war situation. The next day, toured airfields at Port Moresby including 14 Mile Drome (Laloki). While touring the airfield, he chatted with fighter pilots including 2nd Lt. Richard I. Bong and discussed his record of 26 aerial victories. During the conversation, Kenney spontaneously promised to give a case of scotch to first pilot to Rickenbacker's World War I record of 26 aerial victories and Rickenbacker promised a second case of scotch.

Next, Rickenbacker was flown to Townsville and made a surprise visit to Major Victor E. Bertrandias, who was Rickenbacker's crew chief in the 94th Aero Squadron in France and toured his Air Depot. Afterwards, Rickenbacker flew to Brisbane to visit U.S. Army Brigadier General Hanford "Jack" MacNider, commander of the Buna Task Force who was recovering in the hospital from wounds caused by a hand grenade. Afterwards, he visited Brisbane and remained in Australia for about a week. Next, Rickenbacker was flown back to the United States with a brief stop at San Francisco where he met U.S. Army Major General Barney Giles then flew to Washington, D.C. On December 19, 1942 he reported to U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson to report on his trip.

Rickenbacker's 26 victories exceeded by Bong
On April 12, 1944 pilot Captain Richard I. Bong claimed three Ki-43 Oscars his twenty-sixth, twenty-seventh and twenty-eight aerial victory claims over Hollandia. With these three victory claims, he exceeded Rickenbacker's 26 aerial victory claims in World War I and Bong became America's highest scoring ace pilot. The press photographed Rickenbacker holding Bong's photograph for news stories about his record being broken. Rickenbak met Bong in Port Moresby and once in the United States when Bong was home on leave. In 1949, he visited Bong's grave in Poplar, Wisconsin and met his parents.

Memorials
Rickenbacker passed away July 23, 1973 at age 82 in Zürich, Switzerland. He is buried at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, OH.

References
"Seven Came Through" by Eddie Rickenbacker
We Prayed Remarks at Press Conference of Secretary of War (1943) by Captain Edward V. Rickenbacker pages 18-20 (Visit to MacArthur)
AWM - Rickenbacker returns after Pacific ordeal. (News From Home. No. 23.) (AWM F00719)
AWM - SWPA News (AWM F00446)
LIFE Magazine "Rickenbacker Rescue" Dec 7, 1942
LIFE Magazine "Eddie Rickenbacker's Own Story" January 25, 1943 pages 19, 21-24, 26, 29
LIFE Magazine "Pacific Mission Part II" by Edward Rickenbacker February 1, 1943
LIFE Magazine "Pacific Mission Part III: In Which 'Rick' Resumes His Trip and Visits the Fighting Fronts" by Edward Rickenbacker Vol. 14 No. 6 February 8, 1943 pages 95-96
Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph " 'Rick' Praises Bong's Record" April 13, 1944 page 2
Captain Eddie (1945)
General Kenny Reports (1949) pages 140 (Rickenbacker rescued) 152-154 (Port Moresby visit), 161, 364, 387, 590 (index Rickenbacker)
Dick Bong (1960, 1980) by General George C. Kenney pages 19-22
Kenneth N. Walker Airpower's Untempered Crusader (1997) page 97 (Rickenbacker visit Port Moresby)
Over The Front "An Assessment of American Air Combat Victory Claims in 1918" Volume 30, Number 4, Winter 2015 page 368-375
South Pacific Air War: The Role of Airpower in the New Guinea and Solomon Island Campaigns, January 1943 to February 1944 (2024) by Richard Dunn pages 516 (Boyington attempting to break Rickenbacker victory record) 517 (Boyington's 26th victory ties Rickenbacker)
FindAGrave - Eddie Rickenbacker (photo, grave photos)

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