Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 295, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1918 — RICKENBACHER IS A CAPTAIN OF FLIERS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RICKENBACHER IS A CAPTAIN OF FLIERS

Ex-Racing Driver Honored tor Great Work on Battle Front Turned Down at Start Because at Lack of College Education, Me Finally Landed as Sergeant in Army Signal Corps. It goes without saying that the many friends of Eddie Rlckenbacher, exracing driver, are delighted that this American ace of aces was made * captain in the aviation corps just before the end of hostilities for his great work on the battle front. His promotion makes it meet to recall the efforts made by Rick to get into the flying work. He came back from England about the time this country entered the war. He had been working in the Sunbeam factory/ there. Rick was filled with the idea that racing drivers, with their knowledge of internal-combustion engines and their proved courage in speed work, would make ideal airmen. He telegraphed about the country, getting pledges from the racing drivers to enter the government service, and corralled a whole squad. This cost him a great deal of money, which he spent willingly. Then the whole thing was turned down, because the racing drivers did not qualify as college men. Undaunted, Rick got into the army as a sergeant in the signal corps. When he first went abroad he drove a car for General Pershing. Later his ambition whs realized, and he was

commissioned a lieutenant in the aviation corps. He has a record of 24 enemy airplanes officially and a lot more -unofficially. It is worth while noting that another ex-racing driver, Caleb 8. Bragg it was. who recently made/It wonderful record from Dayton and then to New York. V ■ .. , L-r-

Capt Eddie Rickenbacher.