Skip to Main Content Skip to Header Menu Skip to Main Menu Skip to Footer

Major Edward V. Rickenbacker Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

MAJOR EDWARD V. RICKENBACKER
Born: October 08, 1890 in Columbus, Ohio
Died: July 23, 1973 in Zurich, Switzerland
Biography | show moreshow less
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (1890-1973) spelling his last name "Rickenbacher" before he changed the spelling to "Rickenbacker" in 1918. Rickenbacker, who became America's top flying ace in WWI, had started his career in the automobile industry, first in a garage and then at the Frayer-Miller automobile manufacturing plant in Columbus, Ohio. In 1907, he went to Firestone-Columbus Motor Car Company. In 1910, as Firestone's branch manager for the mid-West, he began racing the cars he was selling, and by 1912, the 22-year-old had turned to racing full time, becoming known as "King of the Dirt Tracks". In 1914, the year of this document, Rickenbacker set a world speed record of 134 miles per hour at Daytona. Two years later, in November 1916, Rickenbacker took his first ride in an aircraft (flown by Glenn L. Martin, who was just beginning his career in aviation). In 1917, intending to go to Britain to race, Rickenbacker enlisted in the Army instead, beginning his distinguished career as a fighter pilot. After the war, Rickenbacker returned to the automobile business before going into commercial aviation and later inspecting American Air Force bases in the Pacific in WWII.
Film Credits
1956-Air-Power (in person), 1936-Ace-Drummond (Writer), 2003-Nova (Other), 1950-The-Golden-Twenties (Other)
  • Search

Fast World-Wide Shipping

Fast FedEx and USPS shipping

Authenticity Guarantee

COA with every purchase

All Questions Answered

Contact us day or night

Submit an Offer Today

Get a quick response