Ace Of Aces: Eddie Rickenbacker (1954)

[Music] greatest drama written by you the American people and brought to you by the General Tire and Rubber Company in cooperation with your friendly General Tire dealer the greatest drama the memorable living stories of a great among us this chapter ace of aces the story of captain Eddie Rickenbacker the place was Washington it was December 1942 captain Eddie Rickenbacker was relating one of the grimmest tales of the Second World War the story of his three weeks adrift in a life raft in the Pacific Ocean our prayers were answered and if we hadn't had or I hadn't had seven witnesses I wouldn't dare tell the story world seagull landed on my head and gave us food to sustain us for two days and sufficient bait through the use of its intestines in order that we may catch a couple of fish afterwards Secretary of War Stimson commented welcome I said it once before and I say it now again the usual rules of faith do not apply to you thank you sir the rules of fate had never applied to Eddie Rickenbacker ever since the beginning in Columbus Ohio at the turn of the 20th century Eddie had made his own rules his family lived on the wrong side of the tracks grinding poverty produced a kid who was tough stubborn and rebellious his father couldn't handle him neither could his teachers neighbors predicted he would come to a bad end then his father died and Eddie became breadwinner of the family no more school the boy found a job in a shop which produced those newfangled gasoline buggies one day he read that two brothers named wright had actually flown an airplane they became his heroes perhaps he too might become an aviator but first he had to learn all of us to know about cars Eddie was fifteen when he took his first automobile ride the next step automobile racing Indianapolis 1911 the first 500-mile race in history it was beginning among the drivers entered was 21 year old Eddie Rickenbacker his first big race seven hours of mental and physical agony he didn't hope to win if he finished in the money that would be enough other drivers crashed through the fence but the rules of faith didn't apply to Eddie he didn't win but he did finish in the money soon he was famous as a daredevil of the tracks by 1916 he stood third among the speed kings that year he earned $40,000 next year he might well become America's top ranking driver but Eddie gave it up for a chance to become an aviator 1917 the United States a declared war on Germany Rickenbacker enlisted as a Doughboy hoping to get transferred to the Air Corps it didn't work out that way Eddie became a driver for General Pershing staff his requests for transfer rejected too old not enough education too good a driver it seemed he would serve out the war behind the wheel then Eddie met general Billy Mitchell America's first great advocate of airpower Mitchell took a liking to the young speed demon he pulled a few strings and Eddie got his transfer in that brand-new officer's uniform you were the proudest pilot in the Air Force your outfit was the 94th squadron in defiance of the enemy you named it the heaven the ringed squadron but could you a novice hold your own against the German aces you soon proved that you could hold your own and more April 1918 your first encounter with the enemy you were flying a routine patrol when several German pilots jumped you in a moment there was a wild scramble in the skies you fought for your life swinging behind a German plane you lined him up in your gun sights he peeled off trying to escape but you hung on and a moment later he went down in flames the first kill of many soon you were a captain and an ace decorated for bravery you became commander of your squadron a born leader you set an example of determination and courage for your men the 94th quickly became the outstanding group in the American army it led all others in bombing missions and enemy planes brought down you're a fighting leader in the air daily searching for Germans your score of victories grew steadily as the months passed twelve Germans shot down by September 1918 twenty-two by October 26 by November in recognition of valor more decorations for you and your men when the war ended in November you were America's ace of aces peace at last hands that had held guns were now outstretched in friendship and with peace thoughts of the future you would not go back to automobile racing you had learned where you belonged your future was in aviation to Detroit in 1919 went Eddie Rickenbacker after his discharge from the Army with financial backing he began the manufacture of automobiles sternly realistic he knew aviation was then still in its infancy somehow he would get back into flying later on right now he wanted to make money his was the first American stock car to use four-wheel brakes newly-married he seemed slated for success but his car was too advanced for the public and the company failed Eddie took a job selling automobiles but the United States did not forget her ace of aces Eddie Rickenbacker was the most decorated flier of the first world war now with President Herbert Hoover looking on he received the most highly prized decoration of all the Congressional Medal of Honor a proud moment for Captain Eddie his wife and sons there was another proud moment when Eddie was named divisional Sales Manager of the General Motors Corporation he worked hard gained the trust of his superiors but Eddie still loved planes and in 1933 came the chance to go back into aviation at that time Eastern was a rundown operation against the advice of friends Eddie took over and set to work reorganizing the airline he was constantly traveling flying the routes revamping the operation from top to bottom his knowledge of flying and instinct for leadership came into play as he had inspired his men of the old 94th squadron so now he inspired his co-workers at Eastern hard work brought results the line began to make money then in 1938 unless eddie bought the line he was out he went to Wall Street for financial backing all he could offer his security was his name and record but that was enough he got the money ownership of the line involved even more work and greater responsibilities new planes were ordered the most modern the industry could produce Rickenbacker personally supervised details of construction a happy moment as one of the new airliners was christened by the then first lady mrs. Franklin D Roosevelt the event had its humorous side mrs. FDR couldn't break the champagne bottle then tragedy in 1941 Eddie was flying south near Atlanta Georgia the airliner crashed Rickenbacker had been trapped in the wreckage with broken ribs and gasoline burns although in terrible pain he refused to be removed until the last passenger had been rescued it was hours before he could be taken to the hospital the doctors gave him up for lost but as usual the rules of fate didn't apply to Eddie he recovered 1942 America was at war and again you tossed your hat into the ring back on your feet you helped to boost morale on the homefront then a visit with the boys of the new 94 squadron you wish them good luck and good hunting too old to fight but for you general Arnold commander of the Army Air Force had a more important duty a mission to MacArthur in the southwest Pacific Hickam Field Hawaii first leg of the long flight you taught there with the GIS while your plane was being made ready [Music] next stop Canton Island 1,800 miles away with a good ship and a good crew the length of the half was nothing to worry about or so you thought far out in the Pacific the plane went off course lost over the ocean fuel tanks almost empty you took command when the tanks were empty you ordered a crash landing in the ocean things happen quickly water flooded the ship as she hit the sea you knew she'd sink fast only a few seconds to float the life rafts and abandon the plane in the confusion food and water was forgotten as you watched the plane go down eight men adrift on three rafts for food only a seagull a few fish in some rainwater 24 days passed one man died the others were close to death you had given up all hope when the night was lit with flares and a plane landed nearby rescue it was hard to believe they had found you in the nick of time another day might have been too late they brought Eddie and his men to the air force base at some more suffering from starvation exhaustion shock covered with sores from long exposure to the scene into the hospital for rest and treatment prognosis unfavorable but again Eddie cheated death two weeks later he was ready to go on and complete his mission then home to Washington the army had prepared a hero's welcome but for Eddie the three most important people on the field for his wife and sons drifting on that raft he had been certain he would never see them again it was good to be back he had proved with his life as a pilots and airline executive that the rules of faith did not apply to him Eddie Rickenbacker ace of aces [Music] but greatest drama was brought to you by the General Tire and Rubber Company and your friendly General Tire dealer who sells America's top quality general tires and tubes be with us next week at this time when the General Tire and Rubber Company and your General Tire dealer presents another chapter from the greatest drama [Music]