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In 1904, Rickenbacker's father, William, was killed at a construction site. Rickenbacker quit school immediately to work to support his family, working mostly industrial jobs. The last of these, working in a Pennsylvania Railroad machine shop, led him to pursue a career in the automobile industry. By 1910, Rickenbacker was racing his employers' cars, placing 10th in the 1914 Indianapolis race in a Duesenberg and in 1917, he went to England, intending to start the 1917 racing season in that country. When he went to England, rather than race, he enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Rickenbacker arrived in France on June 26, 1917. Given a rank of sergeant first-class, he was assigned as staff driver for Colonel William MitchellWilliam Mitchell refers to more than one historical figure: Billy Mitchell, father of the U. Air Force William D. Mitchell, U. Attorney General.. Interested in aviation, Rickenbacker was accepted into the Army Air CorpsWhat is now the United States Air Force (USAF) was formerly a part of the U. Army, namely the United States Army Air Corps or USAAC . It was established under this name by an act of Congress on July 2, 1926. During World War II its role grew greatly; the, and in March 1918Events January January 8 President Woodrow Wilson announces his " Fourteen Points" for the aftermath of World War I. February February 3 The Twin Peaks Tunnel begins service in San Francisco as the longest streetcar tunnel in the world (11,920 feet long)., he was assigned to the 94th Aero Pursuit Squadron, the first all-American air unit to see combat duty in World War I. He flew NieuportNieuport was a French aeroplane manufacturer founded in 1909 by Edouard de Nie Port. The company's full name was Societe Anonyme Des Etablissements Nieuport . Up until 1914 Nieuport specialised in the design and construction of racing monoplanes. In 1914 28 and SPAD XIII aircraft. On April 20April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). There are 255 days remaining. Events 636 Battle of Yarmuk: Arabs take control of Syria and Palestine away from the Byzantine Empire. 1653 Oliver Cromwell disbands Parli, 1918Events January January 8 President Woodrow Wilson announces his " Fourteen Points" for the aftermath of World War I. February February 3 The Twin Peaks Tunnel begins service in San Francisco as the longest streetcar tunnel in the world (11,920 feet long)., he shot down his first plane.
Initially disliked by his squadron mates, many of whom had degrees from prestigious colleges, his respect grew as his kills mounted. Rickenbacker won the French Croix de Guerre in May 1918 by shooting down five GermanThe Federal Republic of Germany ( German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland is one of the world's leading industrialized countries, located in the middle of the European Union. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark and the Baltic Sea, to the east airplanes. On September 24, 1918, he was named commander of the squadron, and on the following day he shot down two more German planes, for which he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, belatedly, in 1931. The most successful American ace left alive, the press dubbed him America's "Ace of Aces." He claimed his 26th and final plane on October 30, 1918, 12 days before the end of the war.
His 26 victories was an American record that stood until World War II. In the 1970s the Air Force reduced the number to 24.33, taking account of shared victories, and normalizing WW I scores with those in WW II. While the US Air Service credited "out of control" and other nonfatal victories, in terms of aircraft destroyed, Rickenbacker's tally was six airplanes and two balloons plus two balloons on the ground. He flew a total of 300 combat hours, more than any other U.S. pilot in the war.