Eddie Rickenbacker (born Edward Rickenbacher, October 8, 1890 – July 23, 1973) was an American fighter pilot in World War I and a Medal of Honor recipient. With 26 aerial victories, he was the most successful and most decorated United States flying ace of the war. He was also a racing driver, an automotive designer, and a long-time head of Eastern Air Lines.
Rickenbacker was one of a few celebrities who participated in campaigns to rally World War I veterans to the British cause before the attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1942, he toured training bases in the southwestern United States and England. He encouraged the American public to contribute time and resources and pledged Eastern Air Lines equipment and personnel for use in military activities. Under Rickenbacker’s direction, Eastern Air Lines flew munitions and supplies across the Atlantic to the British.
In 1942, with a letter of authorization from Henry L. Stimson, U.S. Secretary of War, Rickenbacker visited England on an official war mission and made ground-breaking recommendations for better war operations. He inspected troops, operations, and equipment, serving in a publicity role to increase support from civilians and soldiers. Later, he worked with both the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces on bombing strategy, including work with air chief marshal Sir Arthur Harris and general Carl Andrew Spaatz.
In October 1942, Stimson sent Rickenbacker on a tour of air bases in the Pacific Theater of Operations to review living conditions and operations. In addition, he was to deliver a secret message from the president to General Douglas MacArthur. After visiting several air and sea bases in Hawaii, Rickenbacker was provided with a B-17D Flying Fortress (AAF Ser. No. 40-3089) as transportation to the South Pacific. Due to faulty navigation equipment, the bomber strayed hundreds of miles off course while on its way to a refueling stop on Canton Island. When the airplane ran out of fuel, the pilot, Captain William T. Cherry Jr., was forced to ditch or water land the airplane in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean.
A U.S. Navy patrol OS2U-3 Kingfisher float-plane rescued the survivors on November 13, 1942, in the Ellice Island chain (now Tuvalu). All were suffering from exposure, sunburn, dehydration, and near starvation. He had lost 40 pounds (18 kg), but after a few days of rest, Rickenbacker completed his assignment and delivered his message to General MacArthur.
Still determined to support the war effort, Rickenbacker suggested a fact-finding mission in the Soviet Union to provide the Soviets with technical assistance with their American aircraft. To get approval for this trip, Rickenbacker approached Soviet diplomats, rather than President Roosevelt. By trading favors with the Soviet ambassador and with Stimson’s help, Rickenbacker secured permission to travel to the Soviet Union.
Prior to leaving on his fact-finding mission in 1943, Rickenbacker went on a speaking tour of the country on behalf of the war effort. It was during this time that a series of rumors started to spread, claiming Rickenbacker was anti-Union, pro-communist and a dupe for big business in war materials.
The Press were generally unkind in their criticism of Rickenbacker, such as this blurb from The Urbana (Ohio) Daily Citizen from April 13th:
Outlawing strikes of any nature for the war’s duration today headed Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker’s list of recommendations to the Ohio legislature for “legislation which will I1 eliminate the racketeers and all those who are prostituting the principles upon which fair labor practices and labor organizing should be based.” “Are we to have two armies in this war–one to fight for their country and another to fight for dollars and power?” Rickenbacker asked. “You can answer that question with proper legislation. “And–if you answer it that way -you won’t be the first state to do it. Others have already had the courage to do so.
“But – when you enact such legislation, let it be fair to the millions of honest men and women of labor who want to do the right thing. See that it does not en• croach on their right to organize or to engage in collective bargaining in a fair and straight-forward manner. “If certain drastic curtailments are necessary, let them be limited to the duration of the war.” Rickenbacker then outlined 11 steps which he feels should be taken. They were:
1. Outlaw strikes of any nature for the duration.
2. Suspend the 40-hour week and make it a 48-hour week, nationally without overtime. 3. Ban overtime payments and prohibit double-time payments. Put workers on an incentive or bonus basis so that those who produce will earn more.
4. Suspend the closed shop and the check-off system in all plants handling war contracts. Give any American the right to work without interference, regardless of whether he or she is affiliated with any labor organization. 5. Empower any employer in any warplant to end wasteful use of manpower and to discharge any employe-union or non-unionwho engages in or encourages slowdown of work.
6. Force unions to incorporate and thus have the same legal and financial responsibility as any other organization or business. 7. Require that make a public accounting annually, listing salaries, wages, bonuses and expense accounts paid to union offices and agents–and dues and assessments collected from members. Require that each member of a union receive a detailed financial statement at least once a year. 8. Prohibit unions from making political contributions to local politicians as well as to federal or local political parties. 9. Establish a procedure for the election of officers annually and require a report as to the method of election and a certified copy of the election showing how many votes were cast for and against each candidate. 10. Prohibit excessive initiation fees and dues. 11. Eliminate the refusal of membership to competent workmen. “One of the most pernicious evils is the ‘closed union’ which actually gives the union the right to deny an American citizen the opportunity to earn his daily bread in an occupation for which he is fitted,” said Rickenbacker.
On April 12, 1943 he addressed the Ohio State Legislature to refute the claims. That address and several others were broadcast nationwide. Here is that address:
