8x10” vintage sepia toned photo shows World War I flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient Rickenbacker smiling for cameras while wearing his uniform and his Medal of Honor. Rickenbacker was in training with the U.S. Army in France when the US declared war on Germany in 1917, eventually winning a spot in the 94th Aero Squadron where he shot down 5 planes in just under a month earning the French Croix de Guerre military decoration. By the end of the war, Rickenbacker had shot down 26 enemy combatants, his record remaining in place until Joe Foss matched it during World War II. For his service, Rickenbacker was presented the Medal of Honor in 1931. During World War II, Rickenbacker bolstered war support, inspecting troops, operations and equipment and performing diplomatic duties. In 1942, while delivering a secret message to General MacArthur, Rickenbacker’s plane had to ditch at sea and Rickenbacker and the plane’s crew drifted at sea for 24 days. Photo is signed with blue ink below “With My Best Wishes Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker 1918-1967.” These dates indicating when Rickenbacker became an ace and when he signed the photo. Exc. display. From the Richard Merkin Collection and comes with Hake’s COA.