Eddie Rickenbacker, Who Won Popularity as an Auto Racer, Snatched
Lasting Glory from the Void.
The spirit of adventure had won for Eddie Rickenbacker a wide
popularity long before he began plucking laurels from the skies. His
performances as an automobile racer had made him the idol of lovers of
that perilous sport and taught him the cool judgment and generalship
in dealing with velocities which served him to such good purpose when
he exchanged automobiles for aeroplanes. When America entered the
war Rickenbacker was in England on automobile business, but hastened
back to America with the intention of organizing a flying squadron
of motor drivers for service in France. His plan was not possible at
the time from the government point of view, and Rickenbacker accepted
the position of chauffeur to General Pershing and sailed with that
officer. It was not long after, however, that the loftier ambition
found its channel and at Villeneuve, March 4, 1918, he became a
member of Squadron 94, the so-called “Hat-in-the-Ring” squadron of
which Major Lufbery was the commander. Lufbery was then America’s top
ace, his service of more than three years in the French Air Service
and with the Lafayette Escadrille having netted him seventeen Huns,
omitting those not officially recorded. A little over two months later,
May 19, 1918, Major Lufbery was killed by a leap from his flaming
machine. The title of American Ace of Aces passed from Lufbery to
Lieutenant Paul Baer, who, with a record of nine victories, had not
gotten over his repugnance to shooting down an enemy aviator. Two
days later Baer was shot down and captured. Lieutenant Frank Baylies
succeeded to the title. He was killed June 12th with 13 victories
to his credit. Then David Putnam, with 12 victories, took the lead.
He was shot down in flames. Rickenbacker, who in the period between
March and July had accounted for seven enemy machines, next was ace
of aces for a brief time, but Frank Luke took the title from him
in a single day’s stunning exploit, as told in the special story of
that amazing young man. In due course, however, the Rickenbacker
record grew becomingly and in addition to attaining the highest score
on downs he conspicuously distinguished himself in the service as
Squadron Commander. Some of his eulogists do not hesitate to give him
preëminence as a commander because of the judgment he exercised in
protecting himself and guarding the safety of less competent pilots.
Not a few aviators have written books descriptive of their experiences
and there is quite a library of these high adventure stories; but
it is probable that the uncommonly voluminous book Rickenbacker has
contributed to the long list is one of the most valuable because of
the great variety of interesting matter it comprises. Indeed _Fighting
the Flying Circus_ has historic importance as well as storied interest
and is not by any means a glorification of its author. That fact makes
it rather difficult to take from the book the material wanted for a
personal sketch without including attractive matter that would speedily
exceed our limits of space—for example, the complete narrative of the
exploit with “Rumpler Number 16”; or the story of Douglas Campbell,
America’s first ace; or the story of Jimmy Meissner, who piloted his
machine with the canvas gone; and others.