Rickenbacker, Eddie, 1890-1973
Biography
Eddie Rickenbacker was born October 8, 1890.
He started working as a young boy following the death of his father, and became involved with the automotive industry, working in garages and for automobile manufacturers. In 1910 he began participating in car races.
When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Rickenbacker volunteered. He underwent flight training and became the U.S.'s most successful fighter pilot, and was dubbed 'America's Ace of Aces' by the press.
In 1922 he married Adelaide Frost Durant. They adopted two sons, William and David.
Rickenbacker bought Eastern Air Lines from General Motors in 1935 and ran it until his retirement in 1963. He died in July 1973.
Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:
Lester Boutte Papers
This collection contains correspondence, photographs and photocopies of printed material related to Captain Lester Boutte's rescue of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker in 1942. It also includes information from the 1985 Ames, Iowa reunion of Boutte and some of the men that he rescued.
Brian Rickenbacker Interview
This collection consists of the tapes and transcript an interview with Brian Rickenbacker conducted by Dr. David Lewis on July 17, 1999. In the interview, Rickenbacker talks about his father David, and David's relationship with his parents and his brother, William Rickenbacker. The interview also discusses the personalities of Eddie and Adelaide Rickenbacker and general family history.
The interview is recorded on two cassette tapes.
W. David Lewis Papers
Eddie Rickenbacker Papers
Marcia Rickenbacker Collection
Wall Scott Teft Sr. Papers
This collection contains photographs and articles related to Eastern Airlines and Eddie Rickenbacker as well as a short autobiographical sketch of Wall Scott Teft Sr.
