Notable people · Aviation · Sports
Edward V. Rickenbacker
Columbus-born racing driver and the top US ace of World War I with 26 confirmed aerial victories. He later led Eastern Air Lines and was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1930.
At a glance
- Born
- 1890-10-08
- Died
- 1973-07-23
- Education
- Left school in seventh grade; International Correspondence Schools engineering course, Columbus, OH, c. 1905
- Known as
- Aviation, Sports
- Organizations
- Eastern Air Lines, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Life story
Eddie Rickenbacker was born Edward Rickenbacher in Columbus in 1890, the third of eight children of Swiss-German immigrants. His father died in 1904 after a fight, and he left school in the seventh grade to help support the family. He studied engineering by correspondence course while working at a Columbus auto company.
He became a racing driver, competing in the first Indianapolis 500 in 1912. After the US entered World War I he went to France, got his first aerial victory in April 1918 and commanded the 94th Aero Squadron, scoring 15 victories in the last six weeks of the war. He received the Medal of Honor in 1930.
He bought the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1927, ran it until 1945, and led Eastern Air Lines until October 1959. In 1942 he survived 24 days adrift in the Pacific after his B-17 ditched. He died in 1973 and is buried at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus.
Timeline
- 1890-10-08: Born (Columbus, OH) source
- 1904: Father dies; he leaves school to work (Columbus, OH) source
- 1912: Races in first Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis, IN) source
- 1918-04-29: First aerial victory (near Baussant, France) source
- 1918-05-28: Fifth victory, becomes an ace (France) source
- 1922-09-16: Marries Adelaide Frost Durant (Connecticut) source
- 1927-11-01: Buys Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Indianapolis, IN) source
- 1930: Awarded Medal of Honor (Washington, DC) source
- 1942-10: Survives 24 days adrift after B-17 ditches (Pacific Ocean) source
- 1959-10-01: Forced out as CEO of Eastern Air Lines (US) source
- 1973-07-23: Dies (Zurich, Switzerland) source
What Edward is known for
- 26 confirmed aerial victories in World War I
- Medal of Honor awarded 6 Nov 1930 for action of 25 Sep 1918 near Billy, France
- Bought Eastern Air Lines in 1938; forced out as CEO 1 Oct 1959
- Rickenbacker Motor Company (1922-1927)
- Owner, Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1927-1945
- CEO, Eastern Air Lines
Honors and things named for them
- Medal of Honor, 1930
- Commander of the 94th Aero Squadron (Hat-in-the-Ring)
Family
- father: Wilhelm Rickenbacher
- mother: Lizzie Basler
- wife: Adelaide Frost Durant
- adopted son: David Edward
- adopted son: William Frost
Places in Ohio to see
- Rickenbacker boyhood home site (home)
1334 E Livingston Ave, Columbus, Franklin County ZIP 43205 · Columbus · Franklin County - Green Lawn Cemetery (grave) (grave)
1000 Greenlawn Ave, Columbus, Franklin County ZIP 43223 · Columbus · Franklin County
Ohio places
Where Edward V. Rickenbacker was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Born: Columbus, Franklin County (1334 E Livingston Ave) ZIP 43205 · Columbus · Franklin County
- Buried: Columbus (Green Lawn Cemetery), Franklin County (1000 Greenlawn Ave) ZIP 43223 · Columbus · Franklin County
Myths and corrections
- Disputed: Wikipedia calls 1334 East Livingston Avenue in Columbus his birth home, while other accounts describe it as his boyhood home. Whether the house still stands was not checked.
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.
- Eddie Rickenbacker (Wikipedia) birth, death in Zurich, burial Green Lawn, 26 victories, Medal of Honor date, Eastern Air Lines