From Eddie Rickenbacker's Photo Album

 

Eddie Rickenbacker (second from left) with four members of the 94th Aero Squadron standing beside an unidentified plane.  American ace James Meissner is on the far left, the others are unidentified.

Because of his family's trust in his biographer, Dr. W. David Lewis of Auburn University, Eddie Rickenbacker's papers were eventually entrusted to the professor's college. Much of the holding, including, hundreds of photos, can be accessed online HERE. Below is a selection from the photographic collection.  The images are displayed in 580px width and can be enlarged to 800px if you click on them. Unlike many photo sets, the archivists provide a brief description for each image, which has been included.

Eddie Rickenbacker, Age 13

Just in case you've never heard of "Capt. Eddie"

Eddie Rickenbacker (1890–1973), the American Ace of Aces for World War I, was born in 1890 to William and Elizabeth Rickenbacker, in Columbus, Ohio. He was the third of eight children. When his father died in 1904, he started working any job he could find in order to support his family. It was through these jobs that he landed in the growing automobile industry. This, combined with his interests in technology and speed, led him to seek out automobile racing. 

In 1917, Rickenbacker enlisted in the Army after Major Lewis Burgess asked him if he would like to be one of General Pershing’s chauffeurs. Rickenbacker enlisted in May 1917, arriving in France on June 26 as a part of the American Expeditionary Force. His first assignment was as a driver for General Pershing, himself. However, his goal was to fly. 

With the help of higher ranked officials, such as Major Billy Mitchell, Rickenbacker was able to get into flight school and become a pilot in the U.S. Army. Rickenbacker was assigned to the 94th Aero Squadron, the first American Squadron to see combat in WWI.  On April 29, 1918, Rickenbacker downed his first enemy aircraft, a two-seater Pfalz reconnaissance aircraft. Rickenbacker’s 25th and 26th confirmed kills, the last ones he would ever get, came about on 30 October 1918. He was originally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) in 1918 for his solo attack against seven enemy aircraft over the St. Mihiel sector. Twelve years later, in 1930, the U.S. government officially upgraded that existing DSC to the Medal of Honor.

After World War I, Eddie Rickenbacker became an automotive entrepreneur, owned the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and emerged as an important driving force in the growth of  American commercial aviation. He survived a 1942 Pacific plane crash and being lost at sea for 22 days during World War II.  He served as the long-time head of Eastern Air Lines in 1963.  He passed away in 1973.

Eddie Rickenbacker and his riding mechanic Eddie O'Donnell in a Mason race car in Elgin, Illinois. From 1912 to the end of 1914, Rickenbacker worked for Fred and Augie Duesenberg building and driving Mason race cars (later called Duesenbergs).  

Rickenbacker [arrow] as a driver for General Pershing

Pilot Trainee Eddie Rickenbacker

Eddie Rickenbacker (second from left) with a group of officers from the 94th Aero Squadron at an aerodrome in France.

Eddie Rickenbacker in a flight suit standing in front of his SPAD XIII.

 Citation for Bravery, Army of the East, awarded to Eddie Rickenbacker, dated 11-30-18.

Rickenbacker's return home to Columbus, Ohio [Mother Elizabeth with head turned]

Eddie Rickenbacker and Wife Adelaide Frost Durant standing beside a fence during their courtship.

The Rickenbacker Motor Company was a technical success but a commercial failure, lasting only from 1922 to 1927. Founded by World War I ace Eddie Rickenbacker, it built over 27,000 to 35,000 advanced cars, pioneered four-wheel brakes, but suffered from fierce rival smear campaigns, rising prices, and bankruptcy.

Eddie Rickenbacker with his sons, David and William.  The boys are sitting in a race car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Rickenbacker bought the Speedway in 1927.  He sold it in 1945.

Eddie Rickenbacker and fellow crew members being transported in a car after their rescue from the Pacific. Rickenbacker was lost at sea for three weeks after the B-17 he was on went down in the Pacific.

Eddie Rickenbacker with an unidentified man at Eastern Air Lines' 1947 inaugural flight from Los Angeles, California, to Miami, Florida to New York City. They are standing in front of a Constellation and a biplane.

Eddie Rickenbacker standing with a group of men beside a World War I vintage plane at the Selfridge Field 50th Anniversary celebration in Michigan.  Left to right are: Rickenbacker, Reed Chambers, Edwin (Ed) Greene, and Doug Campbell. All were members of the 94th Aero Squadron during World War I.  Rickenbacker, Chambers and Campbell were American aces.  Campbell was America's first ace.  He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Croix de Guerre avec palme. He became president of Pan-American Airways in 1948.  Chambers was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Legion d'Honneur. He formed Florida Airways with Rickenbacker.

Eddie Rickenbacker points at a "Hat-in-the-Ring" collage on the wall of his Eastern Air Lines office.

Sources: Auburn University Digital Collections; U.S. Army Heritage Center