Saturday, November 14, 2009

Mystery Person

Who is the man standing beside Coolidge?

15 comments:

Chuck Kelly said...

Eddie Rickenbacher

PJM said...

Wow, that was a record time for a win.

I am shocked!

Do people know about Eddie Rickebacher?

GeezerNYC said...

I have to assume a lot of people are familiar with Rickenbacher. He was America's most famous aviator until Lindy showed up on the scene. He was a WWl flying ace,as well.

Lizbette said...

+JMJ+

My kids have read books on Rickebacher.
Coolidge is so cool. Great photo!

Downtown Indy said...

We've heard about him.

Around the time of this photo, he bought a plot of land near here called the 'Indianapolis Motor Speedway' and he owned it up until the end of WWII.

Lady Anne said...

Next question is, who is the youngster on the other side? Did Rickenbacher have a son?

jim smith said...

He was also the first President of Eastern Airlines and kept that job until the early 1960s. Did a lot to popularize commercial passenger aviation. Was thought dead in a crash sometime in the early 1940s and was ultimately found alive with his companions in an inflatable life raft. But, to put it mildly, he was not much of a social or political liberal.Jim

Anonymous said...

I read a bio of Rickenbacher when I was in the 5th grade. It wasn't in the curriculum, I found a biography at the library. It was a big thick book, I didn't make it all the way through.

Elise said...

Never heard of him but seems like a cool guy.

Merideth in Wyoming said...

Wasn't Rickenbacher the one who shot down the German Red Baron?

pakurilecz said...

Rickenbacher did NOT should down von Richtoffen aka Red Baron. The Red Baron was shot down by a Brit
I met Rickenbacher when he was touring to sell his autobiography. He was doing a book signing tour

SmartGirl 1953 said...

Cool

al-in-stpete said...

It took all of two seconds to use Google images and find "Coolidge model airplane" at Gettyimages.com.

14th September 1925: American Lieutenant and aviator Eddie Rickenbacker (1890 - 1973) (2nd from R) shows U.S. president Calvin Coolidge (1872 - 1933) (C) a model airplane on the grounds of the White House, Washington, D.C. Rickenbacker had extended an invitation to the president to attend the New York Air Races. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Hummer Man said...

Great Picture! This is one of my favorite old videos of Arthur Godfrey talking with Eddie Rickenbacher starting at the 5:30 mark on this youtube video. Another aviation legend is in here too Captain Merrill, one of Eddie's closest confidantes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6VfkKjlhXs

Gina said...

In Columbus, Ohio there is an air national guard based called Rickenbacker after him.