Now all roads lead to France and heavy is the tread
Of the living; but the dead returning lightly dance.
Edward Thomas, Roads

Friday, September 2, 2016

Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker's Photo Album, Part I


From Auburn University's Eddie V. Rickenbacker Collection

The Future Captain Eddie, 1906



Racing a Maxwell, 1915



Lt. Rickenbacker Operates a Motorcycle with Sidecar




In Front of a Caudron Trainer




Chateau-Thierry with Bridges Intact 



Rickenbacker and Another Aviator with a Captured 
German Hannoveranner CL.III



Sgt. Victor E. Bertrandias Seated in a Nieuport with 
Lt. Charles A. Rankin Standing Beside the Plane



Rickenbacker with His SPAD XIII of the Hat in the Ring Squadron









4 comments:

  1. Great photos! I'm looking forward to more.

    One correction amd a comment. The captured German "Albatros" is actually a Hannoveranner Cl.III downed on 2 October 1918. This victory was shared with Reed Chambers.

    The next photo shows Bertrandias in one of the 94th Aero Squadron's Nieuport 28's.

    Steve Miller

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Mr. Miller. I suppose that could be Reed Chambers next to Eddie, then, in a victory shot.

      Delete
  2. Great photos, thanks for the post!
    Pete

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  3. I agree, Tom, but I'm not 100% certain. I located a photo showing Chambers pointing to a bullet hole in the fuselage, but he's not wearing an overcoat. One could speculate it was taken a bit later when the temperature rose, or on a different day.

    The downed Hannoveranner was a popular backdrop for a number of photos featuring 94th Aero Squadron personnel.

    Steve Miller

    ReplyDelete