Eddie Rickenbacker: An American Hero in the Twentieth Century

by W. David Lewis

Eddie Rickenbacker epitomized the American spirit in the twentieth century. Daring, skilled, and rugged―moving fast and defying death―he drove race cars in the early days of the automobile, then flew canvas-over-wooden-frame aeroplanes in the Great War, downing twenty-six enemy flyers and emerging at war's end as the nation's ace of aces. Only Gen. John J. "Black Jack" Pershing and the much-decorated Sgt. Alvin York emerged from that struggle as equally lauded American heroes. Failing as an automobile maker after the war, Rickenbacker returned to aviation, joined Eastern Airlines in 1934, and quickly reached the top of the corporate ladder. With the start of World War II, he took on special missions to theaters of combat, surviving twenty-one days adrift on a small rubber raft after his plane went down at sea. But the seemingly indestructible Eddie did not thrive well under the new competitive conditions in the postwar airline industry. Despite having built Eastern into a major carrier, he departed the company under pressure in 1963. W. David Lewis's biography of Rickenbacker reveals both the achievements and the vulnerability of this quintessential American hero. Rickenbacker embodied what was new, exciting, and romantic about the country in the postwar years. His poignant story also sheds light on the ephemerality of American success and the fragility of celebrity. Capturing Rickenbacker's life in rich and vivid detail, W. David Lewis has written the definitive biography of America's ace of aces.

Genres: Biography, History

720 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2005

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Eddie Rickenbacker", by W. David Lewis, is many books all wrapped up in one. It is primarily about Rickenbacker but, since he was so many things during his life, the book is also about the early auto industry (he was a self taught mechanical engineer), auto racing (he was a racer and owner of the Indie 500), early flight (he flew almost from the beginning), World War one (he was America's Ace of aces), airline hisory (he founded Eastern Airlines) and politics (he was an early member of the Conservative movement and Goldwater supporter). Being from Ohio, I particularly enjoyed the Author's discussion of Rickenbacker's early life, living in abject poverty and abused by his father, in early 20th Century Columbus, Ohio. Rickenbacker reached the 3rd grade when his father was killed in a fight and the boy had to leave school to work to support his family. That was all the education he got, the rest he picked up on his own. From there the book moves through Rickenbacker's involvement in the auto industry, auto racing and service in WWI. Then comes the between the war years when Rickenbacker established Eastern Airlines and was instrumental in placing airports around the country, many of which (like LaGuardia) are still in operation. As the 2nd World War began, Rickenbacker was a passenger of an airliner which crashed in Mississippi and he should have died. He was pinned in the wreckage all night suffering from a list of injuries which made me cringe and it is a miracle that he lived through it. Only a year later, while still healing from his injuries, he was aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress which went down, lost in the Pacific. He and the rest of the crash victims floated in the ocean for 17 days before being found, having nearly starved to death. He led a long life and there was hardly a prominent person he did not know. "Eddie Rickenbacker" is an excellent book and I recommend it highly.

[Chet Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book in a local used book shop. I flipped through the pages and realized there was a really great story in it. I knew of Eddie Rickenbacker as a WW I ace. I had no idea of the race car driver, industrialist, WW II hero, Airline industrial magnate and messenger that he also was. I am nearly finished with the book now and am struck by his leadership skills that came through in many situations. He knew how to motivate people and how to maintain a singleness of focus that guaranteed his success. Coincidentally, he both raced in and later owned the the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

This is a great read!