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

Background
Edward Rickenbacher was born October 8, 1890 to parents Wilhelm Rickenbacher and Liesl "Lizzie" (née Basler) Rickenbacher in Columbus, Ohio. Nicknamed "Eddie". In 1917, after his experience as a suspected spy and to anglicize his name, he officially changed the spelling of his name from Rickenbacher to Rickenbacker. A few years later, he took the middle name Vernon and onwards was known as Edward Vernon Rickenbacher. During World War I, nicknamed "Rick" by fellow pilots.

During 1916, Rickenbacher met Glenn Martin, founder of Glenn L. Martin Company and Wright-Martin Aircraft and gave him his first flight in an airplane. Later, he helped Major Townsend F. Dodd diagnose an engine magneto problem with his plane and later became General John J. Pershing's aviation officer and helped Rickenbacher join the Air Service. After the Zimmermann telegram was revealed, Rickenbacker was quoted in the New York Times sharing his vision for an aero squadron composed of race car drivers and mechanics, but the idea was ignored by the U.S. military.

In late May 1917, he was invited to sail to England with General John J. Pershing. In the middle of June 1917 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to drive Army officials between Paris and A.E.F. headquarters in Chaumont and other locations on the Western Front. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class and usually was the driver for Major Townsend F. Dodd. In Paris, he met Captain James Miller who asked him to become the chief engineer at the flight school he was establishing at Issoudun. Rickenbacher accepted for a chance to learn to fly at the French flight school near Toul and underwent five weeks of training and logged 25 hours in the air. Afterwards, he went to Issoudun to help establish the airfield and school while continuing to fly and attend flight classes and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

During January 1918 he was allowed to attend gunnery school and completed training as a pursuit pilot. Finally, he attended advanced flight training at Villeneuve–les–Vertus Aerodrome and met and trained with French ace Major Raoul Lufbery who led them on their first patrol mission. Afterwards, returned to Toul and assigned to the 94th Aero Squadron “Hat-in-the-Ring” operating near Gengoult.

World War I Service
On April 24, 1918 Rickenbacker flew his first combat mission with Reed Chambers but experienced fog and both became lost and Chambers force landed. Afterwards, Rickenbacker was reprimanded for flying in bad weather. On April 29, 1918 Rickenbacker claimed his first aerial victory. On May 28, 1918 he claimed his fifth aerial victory and became an ace. On May 30, 1918 he claimed his sixth victory. Afterwards, grounded for three and a half months with a fever and ear infection and recovered in a hospital in Paris.

By September 1918 promoted to the rank of Captain. On September 12, 1918 returned to his squadron flying the Spad XIII based at Rembercourt Aerodrome during the St. Mihiel offensive. On September 14, 1918 claimed his seventh aerial victory.

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”. On September 25, 1918 on a solo patrol he intercepted seven German planes near Billy-sous-les-Côtes, France shot down two. For his actions, he later earned the Medal of Honor.

Awards
During World War I, Rickenbacker earned seven Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) awards, his eighth award for his actions September 25, 1918 was upgraded to the Medal of Honor bestowed November 6, 1930 at Bolling Field by U.S. President Herbert Hoover. Rickenbacker's Medal of Honor is displayed at the U.S. Air Force Museum (USAF Museum). In May 1918 he earned the French Croix de Guerre.

Medal of Honor Citation General Orders 2 (January 23, 1931) "The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to First Lieutenant (Air Service) Edward Vernon Rickenbacker, United States Army Air Service, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Pilot, 94th Aero Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, Air Service, A.E.F., in action against the enemy near Billy, France, 25 September 1918. While on a voluntary patrol over the lines, First Lieutenant Rickenbacker attacked seven enemy planes (five 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."

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 Pan Am clipper flyingboat to Oahu and briefly toured Hickam Field.

On October 20, 1942 passenger aboard a bomber bound for the South Pacific but the plane experienced a hydraulic failure on take off causing it to ground loop and the flight was cancelled.

On October 21, 1942 took off from Hickam Field 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 4th Air Depot Group (4th ADG). Afterwards, Rickenbacker flew to Brisbane to visit U.S. Army Brigadier General Hanford "Jack" MacNider, commander of the Buna Task Force who was recovering from wounds caused by a hand grenade in the U.S. Army 42nd General Hospital in Stuartholme School in Toowong.

Afterwards, he remained in Australia for about a week. Next, Rickenbacker was flown back across the Pacific 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 about his trip.

In early 1943, there was a movement to nominate Rickenbacker as a potential candidate to run against U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, but his candidacy never materialized.

Later, Rickenbacker traveled to North Africa and China-India-Burma (CBI) to tour U.S. personnel overseas.

During late June 1943 he visited Moscow on an inspection tour on behalf of U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson to see U.S. planes being used by the Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily (VSS) Soviet Air Force and toured aircraft factories and praised their aviation industry and workers. When he returned to the United States, he reported to U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson about 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. Rickenbacker 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
The New York Times "Flying Corps of Daring Racing Drives Plan if War Comes" February 18, 1917 section R, page 2
Hall of Valor - Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (award citations)
Congressional Medal of Honor Society - Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (MOH citation)
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Capt. Edward V. Rickenbacker (Medal of Honor photo)
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Medal of Honor Awards in the Air Force, Rickenbacker
Seven Came Through (1943) 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
Sunday Times "Rickenbacker Home" December 20, 1942 page 2
"The boys in New Guinea are doing a magnificent job... There he stayed with General MacArthur, whom he found 'one of the greatest air enthusiasts I ever met.'. Lieut-General Kenney (Allied Air Commander in the South-west Pacific) was 'one of the hardest-hitting airmen any where in the world.'"
The Herald "Rickenbacker's Faulty Plane" December 17, 1942 page 2
"...the only plane available for Rickenbacker's secret mission was a bullet-marked bomb scarred B17 bomber which survived the Japanese bombing of Hawaii. The plane bore a seal showing that It had been approved, so Rickenbacker decided to try it. The navigation instruments failed 500 miles out to sea and the pilot became lost. Later, all the instruments went dead."
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
The Times "For Rickenbacker" February 19, 1942 page 22
The Herald "Rickenbacker's Story Great Adventure is Over" April 8, 1943 page 9
The Daily Astorian "Rickenbacker In Russia For Visit" June 23, 1943 page 1
The Troy Record "Captain Rickenbacker On Moscow Assignment" June 24, 1943 page 20
The Herald "Rickenbacker In Moscow" June 24, 1943 page 2
Guinea Gold "U.S. Ace in Moscow" June 26, 1943 page 3
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miner's Advocate "Russia Surprised Rickenbacker" August 19, 1943 page 3
The Bridger Times "New Books At Library" August 19, 1943 page 8
"New books on library shelves are 'Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo,' by Ted Lawson... 'Seven Came Through', Eddie Richenbacker"
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
YouTube "Eddie Rickenbacker Speaks at Air Force Museum 1961"
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)
A Report into Stuartholme School's Pumping Station and Sewage Treatment Plant, built in 1942/1943: A Brief History of the 42nd General Hospital, U.S. Army, in Australia

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?