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Name: Edward "Eddie" Vernon Rickenbacker Balloon-Buster
Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross and 9 Oak Leaf Clusters
Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur		 Edward Rickenbacker Croix de Guerre and 3 Palms
Country: United States
Rank: Captain
Services: United States Air Service
Units: 94th Aero
Victories: 26
Born: 08 October 1890
Place of Birth: Columbus, Ohio, USA
Died: 27 July 1973
Place of Death: Zurich, Switzerland
Cemetery: Greenlawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio, USA
 
 
   The son of Swiss immigrants, Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was the American "Ace of Aces." He recorded 26 official victories against German aircraft during World War I and was awarded the Medal of Honor. Between WWI and WWII, Rickenbacker bought and administered the Indianapolis Speedway and became president of Eastern Airlines. In October 1942, he was aboard a B-17 bomber that crashed in the Pacific Ocean while on a secret mission to New Guinea. "Iron Man Eddie" and six companions survived 24 days afloat on life rafts.
   In 1995, the United States Postal Service issued a postage stamp in honor of Rickenbacker's accomplishments as an aviation pioneer.
The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio, Tuesday, 24 July 1973, page 9
 
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward Vernon Rickenbacker, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Montsec, France, April 29, 1918. Captain Rickenbacker attacked an enemy Albatross monoplane, and after a vigorous fight in which he followed his foe into German territory, he succeeded in shooting it down near Vigneulles-les-Hatton Chatel.
General Orders No. 32, W.D., 1919
 
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Oak Leaf Cluster
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward Vernon Rickenbacker, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action over Richecourt, France, on May 17, 1918. Captain Rickenbacker attacked three Albatross enemy planes, shooting one down in the vicinity of Richecourt, France, and forcing the others to retreat over their own lines.
General Orders No. 32, W.D., 1919
 
 
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Oak Leaf Cluster
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward Vernon Rickenbacker, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action over St. Mihiel, France, on May 22, 1918. Captain Rickenbacker attacked three Albatross monoplanes 4,000 meters over St. Mihiel, France. He drove them back into German territory, separated one from the group, and shot it down near Flirey.
General Orders No. 32, W.D., 1919
 
 
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Oak Leaf Cluster
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward Vernon Rickenbacker, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action over Boise Rate, France, on May 28, 1918. Captain Rickenbacker sighted a group of two battle planes and four monoplanes, German planes, which he at once attacked vigorously, shooting down one and dispersing the others.
General Orders No. 32, W.D., 1919
 
 
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Oak Leaf Cluster
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward Vernon Rickenbacker, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action on May 30, 1918, 4,000 meters over Jaulny, France. Captain Rickenbacker attacked a group of five enemy planes. After a violent battle, he shot down one plane and drove the others away.
General Orders No. 32, W.D., 1919
 
 
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Oak Leaf Cluster
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward Vernon Rickenbacker, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the region of Villecy, France, September 14, 1918. Captain Rickenbacker attacked four Fokker enemy planes at an altitude of 3,000 meters. After a sharp and hot action, he succeeded in shooting one down in flames and dispersing the other three.
General Orders No. 32, W.D., 1919
 
 
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Oak Leaf Cluster
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edward Vernon Rickenbacker, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the region of Bois-de-Wavrille, France, September 15, 1918. Captain Rickenbacker encountered six enemy planes, who were in the act of attacking four Spads, which were below them. Undeterred by their superior numbers, he unhesitatingly attacked them and succeeded in shooting one down in flames and completely breaking the formation of the others.
General Orders No. 32, W.D., 1919
 
Medal of Honor
Edward V. Rickenbacker, Colonel, specialist reserve, then first lieutenant, 94th Aero Squadron, Air Service, American Expeditionary Forces. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy near Billy, France, 25 September 1918. While on a voluntary patrol over the lines Lieutenant. Rickenbacker attacked seven enemy planes (five type Fokker protecting two type Halberstadt photographic planes). 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...
Medal of Honor citation, awarded 6 November 1930
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 29 Apr 1918 1810 94th Nieuport 28 Pfalz D.III (FTL) 1 Baussant
2 07 May 1918 0805 94th Nieuport 28 Pfalz D.III Pont-a-Mousson
3 17 May 1918 1824 94th Nieuport 28 Albatros D.V Ribécourt
4 22 May 1918 0912 94th Nieuport 28 Albatros D.V Flirey
5 28 May 1918 0925 94th Nieuport 28 Albatros C Bois de Rate
6 30 May 1918 0738 94th Nieuport 28 Albatros C Jaulny
7 14 Sep 1918 0815 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Fokker D.VII Villecy
8 15 Sep 1918 0810 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Fokker D.VII Bois de Warville
9 25 Sep 1918 0840 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Fokker D.VII Billy
10 25 Sep 1918 0850 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Halberstadt C Foret de Spincourt
11 26 Sep 1918 0600 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Fokker D.VII Damvillers
12 28 Sep 1918 0500 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Balloon Sivry-sur-Meuse
13 01 Oct 1918 1930 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Balloon Puzieux
14 02 Oct 1918 1730 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Hannover CL 2 Montfaucon
15 02 Oct 1918 1740 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Fokker D.VII Vilosnes
16 03 Oct 1918 1707 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Balloon 3 Dannevaux
17 03 Oct 1918 1640 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Fokker D.VII Clery-le-Grand
18 09 Oct 1918 1752 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Fokker D.VII Dun-sur-Meuse
19 10 Oct 1918 1552 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Fokker D.VII Clery-le-Petit
20 10 Oct 1918 1552 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Fokker D.VII Clery-le-Petit
21 22 Oct 1918 1555 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Fokker D.VII Clery-le-Petit
22 23 Oct 1918 1655 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Fokker D.VII Grande Carne Ferme
23 27 Oct 1918 1505 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Fokker D.VII Bois de Money
24 27 Oct 1918 1450 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Fokker D.VII Grand Pre
25 30 Oct 1918 1040 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Balloon Remonville
26 30 Oct 1918 1635 94th SPAD XIII (S4523) Balloon St. Juvin
1 Shared with Capt James Norman Hall
2 Shared with Lt Reed Chambers
3 Shared with Lt Hamilton Coolidge, Lt Edward Curtis
 
Books
Ace of Aces: The Life of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker
by H. Paul Jeffers / Hardcover / Presidio Press; 1st edition (September 30, 2003)
American Aces of World War 1
by Norman Franks, Harry Dempsey (Illustrator) / Paperback / Osprey Publishing (September 25, 2001)
Over the Front
by Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey / Hardcover / Grub Street the Basement (May 1992)
Fighting the Flying Circus
Edward V. Rickenbacker / Hardcover / Collectors Reprints 1995
From Father to Son
The letters of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker to his son William, from boyhood to manhood; Edward Vernon Rickenbacker / Unknown Binding
Rickenbacker
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker / Hardcover / Prentice Hall 1967
Fighting the Flying Circus: The Greatest True Air Adventure To Come Out of WWI
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker / Paperback / Doubleday / September 2001
 
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