The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-11-07
BY ROBERT TALLEY
NEA Service Writer

NEA Service Writer
NTASHINGTON, Nov. Capt.
w Eddie Rickenbacker, who
won fame as Americas "Ace of
Aces" by shooting down twenty-six
enemy aircraft in the World war,
began as a tombstone maker and
once was under surveillance by
Scotland Yard as a suspected Ger
man spy.
In a cemetery at Columbus, O.,
the city where he was born, there
stands a tombstone over his fathers
grave that was carved by his own
hands. One of the most cherished
possessions that his mother kept
beside her during the days when
her son was fighting in France was
a small piece of marble chiSeled in
the shape Of a book and bearing
the inscription "Holy Bible" an
other piece of his youthful handi-
work.
Young Rickenbacker quit his So
s-week job at the tombstone works
when he was Is. Auto racing held
a strange fascination for him and
Barney Oldfeld, the speed demon
of a generation ago, was his idol.
He turned from marble to motors,
went to work in garage and
eventually became race driver
and q great one, too.
So 1t came about that when the
United States declared war he was
in England, trying to promote a
series Of auto races. When the
declaration came he returned to the
United States Immediately.
Scotland Yard agents, ready to
suspect any man as a German spy
in those nervous especially a
man named Rickenbacher Che later
changed t he spelling to Ricken-
hacker to remove the Teutonic sug-
gestion) -shadowed him back to
this country. Of course, their sus-
picions proved groundless
n n
II ICKENBACKER arrived in New
N York when the war fever was
at It's height, burning with great
ambition. He wanted to be an air
fighter. He wanted to enlist the
star automobile racers in this coun-
try into an all-star uit Of fighting
pilots, believing them eminently
qualified by their racing experience.
But official enthusiasm for his plan
could not be aroused in Washing
ton and the movement died.
Then, a little later, General Per-
shing needed a chauffeur to drive
his car in France. The army wanted
the best auto driver in America,
and naturally the job was offered
to Rickenbacker.
He jumped at the chance, enlisted
in the infantry and sailed the fol-
lowing day with the first American
contingent on the ship with Cen
eral Pershing and his party. They
landed in France on June 8, 1917.
Rickenbacker drove PerShing's
auto at the front, but nursed his
desire to become an aviator. Final
", his chance came.
On a shell-torn French road near
Toul one day the auto of General
William Mitchell, chief of the army
air service, stopped suddenly, block
ing a line Of staff cars. Mitchell's
chauffeur got out, lifted the hood
and tried to start the motor, but
failed.
Then Rickenbacker, who CHANGED
to be driving Major Townsend F.
Dodd. aeronautical officer, came up.
He dived into the old twin-siX Pack
ard engine, found the trouble and
got the car started in jiffy.
IRON that time on" says General
Il Mitchell, "this man interested
me greatly. He never was late and
always well turned out, neat in his
personal appearance, punctilious
and gentlemanly. We gave him
many missions to execute which re-
quired Judgment and discretion,
and always he kept doing better
and better"
Some days later Rickenbacker,
having first obtained permission,
applied to General Mitchell for a
place in the air service. He said he
felt sure his familiarity with auto
mobiles and motors and his expert
ence Is a racing driver would help
him as pilot.
Rickenbacker was transferred to
the air service, bat to a ground out
fit in charge OF motors. Frequent
pleas for permission to learn to fly
we're met with the reply that he was
too valuable a man on engines.
Determined, Rickenbacker hit on
a bold plan. With the connivance
of young medical officer he got
himself reported sick and sent to a
hospital for two weeks, though there
was nothing wrong with him.
When he returned, he insisted
that his absence had proved that
he was not indispensable, that the
man who replaced him could tend
TO the motors just as well as he.
Rickenbacker won. his point-and
became a flier.
LIE learned to fly" says General
Il Mitchell, Gin three weeks. He
worked at it constantly and dis
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