Eddie Rickenbacker , first published in 1946, is the biography of American World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker (1890-1973). The book portrays Eddie's life through World War II, providing details of his childhood, his career as a race-car driver and owner of the Indianapolis Speedway, his experiences in France as a highly decorated flier, his efforts to create a car company, and finally, his harrowing crash landing in the Pacific in 1942 followed by 24 days adrift at sea. Included are 10 pages of illustrations. Rickenbacker would go on, following the Second World War, to become the long-time head of Eastern Airlines.