America's First Ace

October 8, 2009

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Profile America — Thursday, October 8th. America’s first fighter ace was born on this date in 1890 in Columbus, Ohio — Eddie Rickenbacker. He drove four times in the Indianapolis 500 mile race, and ended up owning the famous track years later. In World War I, he flew for the legendary 94th Aero Squadron in Europe, shooting down 26 German aircraft and observation balloons and earning the Medal of Honor for his exploits. After the war, he started a car company bearing his name and later put together Eastern Airlines, which he headed for many years. Now there are more than 31,000 airline departures on an average day across the U.S. You can find these and more facts about aviation in America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p. 498
www.centennialofflight.gov
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 1031
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2009edition.html