The sun., 1919-02-02
DINNER TO ACE Is
SHOW WEEK EVENT
Banquet for Rickenbacker,
Americas Premier Avia-
tor. Tomorrow.

Plans for the elaborate banquet to be
given by the American Automobile Assoc
citation Contest Board to Capt. E v.
Rickenbscker, the leading American
Ace" during the New York Automobile
Show are complete and the demand for
tickets already has been large. several
hundred having been sold TO date.
The dinner Is to be held tomorrow
evening In the Waldorf-Astoria. and
the guests will include prominent hg-
ures in the automobile world, Secre-
tary Of War Baker. Major-Gen. W. L.
kenly OF the Department Of Military
Aeronautics, prominent statesmen and
other people of note. Representative
clifford Ireland of Illinois, a member OF
the A. A. \. Contest Board and a friend
OF Capt Rickenbacker. viii be a toast
master.
The dinner will be the biggest social
event of show week. To assist In max
Ing II SUCH the Automobile Dealers As
ISOLATION cancelled its own banquet,
which was scheduled for the same date
and will cooperate in the contest board 8
banquet. The Same Ia true OF the Motor
Club, which had planned a banquet for
Rick" and whose invitation he had ac-
cepted likewise other organizations de-
slrous of entertaining this Ace of Aces
who has twenty-six Boche planes to his
credit. Cooperating organizations in
clude the National Automobile Chamber
of Commerce. Motor and Accessory
Manufacturers Association. Automobile
Club OF America, Aero Club OF America,
Aircraft Manufacturers Association, &c,
A reception committee was appointed
to NEE. Capt Rickenbacher upon his
arrival from France. II included Ell
mer Thompson. secretary OF the Auto
mobile Club OF America Charles Brown,
president OF the New York Dealers AS
ISOLATION: c. II. Larson. chairman Of the
New York Show Committee: William
Allen OF the New York Motor Club. and
Fred Wagner, who has charge of the
tickets and seating. Tickets at SO may
be obtained at the Contest Boards ONCE.
sol Fifth avenue.
Rfckenbacker was Captain OF the
N!nety-fourth Aero Pursuit Squadron.
The day the armistlce was signed his
outfit was transferred from the First
Army TO the Third Army. II was the
only squadron in the Americn Air Ser
vice to accompany the Army of Occu-
patton. This distinction was given it
as reward for its unusually good
NoEk LOT elSnt D1Onuns on the western
front. This unit shot down siSty-nine
enemy planes, including the first and the
last Boche brought down BY Ameri-
cans. or this number Capt. R!cken-
hacker accounted tofiiciaD foe twenty
six German airmen.
Capt. R!ckenbaker plans to return 70
the automobile racing game this season.
lie updouotedly will be the most pic
turesque figure on the track in 1919.
lie enlisted early in 1917. For a time
after reaching France he served as
chauffeur to Gen. Persh!ng. but later
procured transfer to the aviation SER
vice. After completing his course Of
instruction in April. 1918. he won his
title Of Ace In one month by bringing
down FIVE German airp.anes Other VIC
tories followed IN quick succession.
His exploits we're recognized by the
highest military authorities and he holds
the Distinguished Service Cross with for
oak leaves. equivalent to Ave citations {;
the French Cro!x de Guerre. and the
decoration Of the Legion Of Honor.
In 1916. his last racing year. "Rick"
ranked third to Resta and Aitken In the
A. A. championship ratings. 1t Is said
that Rickenbacker may drive an Eng
l!sh Sunbeam"