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Ace of Aces: The Life of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker
ACE OF ACES
The Life of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker
H. Paul Jeffers
Author of In the Roughrider’s Shadow
In this important new biography, acclaimed historian H. Paul Jeffers brings to vivid life one of the most daring and dramatic figures of twentieth century America–Medal of Honor recipient Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker. Born to immigrant parents with humble means at the turn of the century, Edward Rickenbacker was destined to embody the ingenuity, innovation, and courage that would make the United States a world power.
Rickenbacker burst onto the national scene as one of the nation’s first star race car drivers. In an era when tracks were rough and safety precautions virtually unknown, Rickenbacker pushed the fastest machines at terrifying speeds. Later in life, he would own the Indianapolis Speedway and help establish the sport of modern race car driving as we know it.
But Rickenbacker’s lasting fame came as an “Ace of Aces” in World War I, a fearless fighter pilot who would chase the “Flying Circus” of the legendary Red Baron above the battlefields of France. With his “Hat-in-the-Ring” squadron, Eddie was among the first to understand that the new technology of aviation would forever change the face of warfare. Shooting down twenty-six enemy planes in just seven months, he captured the hearts of a nation back home involved in its first Great War.
Even after the war, he remained a national figure as one of the founders of Eastern Airlines. Turning his wartime experience to peacetime industry, Rickenbacker again led American interests in reshaping the world. And in one of the most dramatic chapters of World War II, a plane on which Rickenbacker flew as a civilian crash-landed in the Pacific Ocean. He survived as a castaway for twenty-four days before a rescue that defied the odds.
Ace of Aces is the unparalleled story of a hero and the dramatic events that shaped our country and our history.
From the Hardcover edition.
The Life of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker
H. Paul Jeffers
Author of In the Roughrider’s Shadow
In this important new biography, acclaimed historian H. Paul Jeffers brings to vivid life one of the most daring and dramatic figures of twentieth century America–Medal of Honor recipient Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker. Born to immigrant parents with humble means at the turn of the century, Edward Rickenbacker was destined to embody the ingenuity, innovation, and courage that would make the United States a world power.
Rickenbacker burst onto the national scene as one of the nation’s first star race car drivers. In an era when tracks were rough and safety precautions virtually unknown, Rickenbacker pushed the fastest machines at terrifying speeds. Later in life, he would own the Indianapolis Speedway and help establish the sport of modern race car driving as we know it.
But Rickenbacker’s lasting fame came as an “Ace of Aces” in World War I, a fearless fighter pilot who would chase the “Flying Circus” of the legendary Red Baron above the battlefields of France. With his “Hat-in-the-Ring” squadron, Eddie was among the first to understand that the new technology of aviation would forever change the face of warfare. Shooting down twenty-six enemy planes in just seven months, he captured the hearts of a nation back home involved in its first Great War.
Even after the war, he remained a national figure as one of the founders of Eastern Airlines. Turning his wartime experience to peacetime industry, Rickenbacker again led American interests in reshaping the world. And in one of the most dramatic chapters of World War II, a plane on which Rickenbacker flew as a civilian crash-landed in the Pacific Ocean. He survived as a castaway for twenty-four days before a rescue that defied the odds.
Ace of Aces is the unparalleled story of a hero and the dramatic events that shaped our country and our history.
From the Hardcover edition.
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2003
About the author
H. Paul Jeffers
88 books19 followersH. Paul Jeffers was an established military historian and author of seventy books. He worked as an editor and producer at ABC, CBS and NBC, and is the only person to have been news director of both of New York City's all-news radio stations. He taught journalism at New York University, Syracuse University, and Boston University.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 24, 2025
I enjoyed this highly readable (almost sycophantic in places) biography. I knew little or nothing about the man. We read of his 24-day harrowing adventure wherein he drifted in a small raft for 24 days following a plane crash in the south Pacific during World War II, But I had no knowledge beyond that story targeted to elementary-school-aged boys.
An ardent conservative, Rickenbacker called Columbus, Ohio home in the early years. Even in those early years, he saw a different future from most. Speed and innovative transportation ideas were always with him. He raced cars prior to World War I, and he ultimately became the owner of the Indianapolis racetrack made famous every Memorial Day weekend.
Jeffers does an excellent job of bringing history to life. You get up-close looks at Rickenbacker’s flying career in World War I, and you rapidly understand how he became “the ace of aces.”
The chapter on his open-water adventure in the Pacific still held my interest most of all, probably because that grade schoolbook had such an impact on me back then. But all of this is good reading—the kind that enables you to enjoy the book without concentrating on it so hard you feel you have homework.
It saddened me to learn that after she lost her sight, his wife of more than 50 years took her life. I was also intrigued to read that when he owned Eastern Airlines, blind passengers got a free braille edition of “The Readers’ Digest” whenever they flew in the 1950s. I suspect his conservatism precluded handing out braille copies of “The Nation” had they even existed at the time.
An ardent conservative, Rickenbacker called Columbus, Ohio home in the early years. Even in those early years, he saw a different future from most. Speed and innovative transportation ideas were always with him. He raced cars prior to World War I, and he ultimately became the owner of the Indianapolis racetrack made famous every Memorial Day weekend.
Jeffers does an excellent job of bringing history to life. You get up-close looks at Rickenbacker’s flying career in World War I, and you rapidly understand how he became “the ace of aces.”
The chapter on his open-water adventure in the Pacific still held my interest most of all, probably because that grade schoolbook had such an impact on me back then. But all of this is good reading—the kind that enables you to enjoy the book without concentrating on it so hard you feel you have homework.
It saddened me to learn that after she lost her sight, his wife of more than 50 years took her life. I was also intrigued to read that when he owned Eastern Airlines, blind passengers got a free braille edition of “The Readers’ Digest” whenever they flew in the 1950s. I suspect his conservatism precluded handing out braille copies of “The Nation” had they even existed at the time.
October 1, 2012
"...I doubt very much whether any of us present here tonight will ever again see and enjoy the peacetime periods in this land of ours, as we have known them [...] For one thing, we are going to get taxes on top of taxes, resulting in a lower & lower standard of living as time goes on. With those taxes will come controls on top of controls, which means the loss of more & more of those liberties we cherish so dearly."
Certainly not Barak Obama. Mitt Romney then? Paul Ryan? No, Eddie Rickenbacker in a speech from 1951!
This is not an overtly political book, but one cannot separate conservative political ideology from the life (esp. the life after WW1) of Eddie Rickenbacker. Credit his success to that way of thought, perhaps, but there's no doubt that he was successful, influential, blessed. He survived (& thrived) through so many dangerous exploits -- race car driving, WW1 dogfighting, airline crashing, floating lost at sea -- just an AMAZING life.
Would have rated this 5 stars if it had photos. I'd have enjoyed seeing his family, plus his aircraft & cars over the years.
Certainly not Barak Obama. Mitt Romney then? Paul Ryan? No, Eddie Rickenbacker in a speech from 1951!
This is not an overtly political book, but one cannot separate conservative political ideology from the life (esp. the life after WW1) of Eddie Rickenbacker. Credit his success to that way of thought, perhaps, but there's no doubt that he was successful, influential, blessed. He survived (& thrived) through so many dangerous exploits -- race car driving, WW1 dogfighting, airline crashing, floating lost at sea -- just an AMAZING life.
Would have rated this 5 stars if it had photos. I'd have enjoyed seeing his family, plus his aircraft & cars over the years.
February 15, 2015
For an aviation enthusiast like myself, this was an awesome book. I already had read about some of Rickenbacker's exploits in the war but this expounds much more upon his whole life and it has interesting stories.
May 28, 2013
Go nice biography with good details and well paced.
October 26, 2016
Fascinating--he was very focused and determined.
July 30, 2019
Excellent biography of an exceptional aviator and car racer. I knew of him mostly as a WWI aviator ace and didn’t realize his running of Eastern Airlines from its beginning to the jet age. He was a gem of a man with strong character and high morals, but only a 6th grade education. Truly remarkable!
January 4, 2019
An awesome piece of history ! Eddie Rickenbacker was so much more than a pilot....and a very good one at that. I was spellbound by the book & found it hard to put down.
May 24, 2007
Great book about this amazing individual and the incredible life he led. From dog-fighting in World War One, to running Eastern Airlines, to being involved in a plane wreck in the pacific ocean, where he survived by catching a seagull that had landed on his head, Eddie Rickenbacker certainly led a very charmed life.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews