Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 - July 23, 1973) was an American flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient. At age thirteen, his schooling ended in grade seven after the death of his father in 1904. When the United States declared war on Germany, in 1917, Rickenbacker had enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was assigned as engineering officer at the 3rd Aviation Instruction Center at Issoudun, the US Air Service's pursuit training facility, where he practiced flying during his free time. The military awarded him a place in one of America's air combat units, the 94th Aero Squadron, informally known as the "Hat-in-the-Ring" Squadron. He flew a total of 300 combat hours, reportedly more than any other US pilot in the war. With 26 aerial victories, he was America's most successful fighter ace in the war. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters and a pioneer in air transportation, and longtime head of Eastern Air Lines. He suffered from a stroke while he was in Switzerland, and then contracted pneumonia. He in 1973 at the age of 82.
