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Captain Edward V. "Eddie" Rickenbacker was a self-taught automotive engineer, an American fighter ace in World War I, and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver, a government military consultant during World War II, and a pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines. This accession consists of two letters from Rickenbacker to C. G. [Chris] Sinsabaugh, then editor of Automotive News, written during Rickenbacker's service in World War I.

Identifier

NASM.1988.0003

Creator

Rickenbacker, Eddie, 1890-1973

Date

1917 and undated, circa 1918

Provenance

Eleanor Whalen, Gift, 1987, NASM.1988.0003

Extent

0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder)

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This accession consists of two letters from Edward Vernon "Eddie" Rickenbacker to C. G. [Chris] Sinsabaugh, then editor of Automotive News. In the first letter, dated November 10, 1917, Rickenbacker tells his friend "Sincy" of his life as a new soldier, of his interest in aviation, and of becoming a pilot. The envelope is included with this letter. The second letter, undated, is written on a German post card form that Rickenbacker notes he picked up on the battle field at Marne. In this correspondence, Rickenbacker comments on his hospital confinement and on those race car drivers who have not enlisted.

Arrangement note

Collection is in chronological order.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Citation

Edward "Eddie" Rickenbacker Letters, NASM.1988.0003, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Aeronautics
Air pilots
World War, 1914-1918

Type

Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Correspondence