Eddie Rickenbacker

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient. Withaerial victories, he was Americas most successful fighter ace in the war. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters and a pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines.

Edward Rickenbacker was born in Columbus, Ohio, to Swiss Germanspeaking immigrants. From childhood, he loved machines and experimented with them, encouraged by his fathers words A machine has to have a purpose.

Source: Wikipedia