Cpt. Rickenbacker, as he should be referred to, was one of America's greatest war heroes. After the war he left the air service to run his own automotive company, before becoming general manager of Eastern Airlines. He served the US president in WW2, plus also owned and operated the Indianapolis Speedway. He survived two plane crashes, one in 1941 in Atlanta and another as a civilian in a military crash in the Pacific in 1942 - Rickenbacher was acting as an aviation adviser. In the latter crash, he survived being in a raft for 24 days. Died just after he published his memoirs.

Biography last updated 28 Dec 2013