Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-03-30
CAPTAIN EDDIE R|CHENBACHER, AMERICAS
GREATEST ACE, WILL ENTER RACING GAME

The automobile industry claims the
greatest aviator in the nation--no less
than Captain Edward V. Rickenback err,
the ace Of aces, the man who downed
more German planes than any other
man in the nation.
Rickenba cker will be remembered all
over the worldsas one of the nerviest
racing drivers in the country and a
daring race pilot who never flattered
and rare sportsman.
Rick" was the man who drove one
OF the big Maxwell cars in the grand
prize and the Vanderbilt cup races
here at the exposition in 1915, and is
well known locally.
In the final summing up of aviation
records he was officially credited with
bringing down &c German planes.
FIRED LAST SHOT.
One story from "over there relates
that he fired the last shot of the war.
The story states that he was flying
over the German lines at 1859 on the
morning of November IL, and that he
kept his hand on the trigger of his
machine gun for just 60 seconds, driv-
Ing Germans helter- SHELTER until the
minute was up and the war ended.
Captain Rick" was leader of the
94th aero pursuit squadron. In a re-
cent letter he said that on the day the
armistice went into effect his squadron
was transferred from the First army
to the Third army, and was the only
pursuit squadron in the American fly
Ing service to accompany the army of
occupation. This unit was credited
with bringing down 50 German planes
WILL RENEW RACING.
Captain RiclIenba cker plans to be
back in the automobile racing game
this season. His presence will do
much to bring about the racing boom
that automobile men predict for 1919.
He is one of the picturesque figures
of the war, and his mere entry I'M
doubtedly will draw thousands to the
track
Kicks" exploits won him decora-
ton after decoration. War censorship
allowed only the news of his repeated
victories to reach this country, but
since the armistice, wonderful tales
of his daring have come across the
ocean.
1t is known that he has received the
distinguished service cross with four
oak leaves, equivalent to five cita-
tions; the French Croix de Guerre and
the decoration of the French Legion of
Honor. He may have been honored
even further, but those decorations
were officially reported.
Captain Rickenbacker enlisted early
in 1917. His first job was as chauf- |
feur to General Pershing. That proved |
too slow for the daredevil of the speed |
ways, and he secured transfer to avi-
alton. After completing his course of |
instruction in April, 1918, the won his |
title of ace in one month by bringing
down five German planes. Then vic
tories came SO fast that "Rickenbacker
Downs Another Hun" was headlined in |
the papers every little while.
Captain Eddie had plenty of close
calls Probably his narrowest escape |
came in the closing days of hostilities.
when his machine was rammed by a
German during an aerial battle. One
OF Rickenbacker's wings was put out of |
commission, but he managed to regain
his own lines. There were three Ger
man flyers in the group he attacked,
but when the man who rammed Rick
enbacker's machine went hurtling TO
his death his two companions sought
safety in flight
CRITICIZED BY PALS.
Letters from members of his squad
ron indicate Rick" was criticized by
his pals for taking unnecessary
chances. He was the dare devil of a