World War I: American Ace Eddie Rickenbacker Born

October 8, 1890 - Future American World War I ace Eddie Rickenbacker (left) is born in Columbus, OH. A famed racecar driver before the war, Rickenbacker competed in four Indianapolis 500s. Enlisting in the US Army shortly after war was declared, Rickenbacker was sent to France as a driver. Interested in aviation, he was able to have Colonel Billy Mitchell arrange for him to receive flight training. Shortly thereafter, Rickenbacker joined the 94th Aero Squadron and shot down his first enemy aircraft. Between April 1918 and the end of the war, Rickenbacker downed 26 German planes, making him the top American ace of World War I. In addition to his exploits in France, Rickenbacker was a pioneer of commercial aviation and helped build Eastern Air Lines into a national power.

Photograph Courtesy of the US Air Force