Pictures tell a story—please ensure yours includes a brief historical explanation.
On Sept 25, 1918, First Lt Eddie Rickenbacker, age 27, found himself engaged in aerial combat near Billy, France during this war.
Flying alone on a voluntary patrol across enemy lines, Rickenbacker encountered seven enemy aircraft: five Fokker fighters escorting two Halberstadt observation planes.
Despite the overwhelming odds, he dove into the fight, shooting one Fokker out of control before turning to take down a Halberstadt reconnaissance plane as well.
His bold actions, carried out against superior enemy forces, displayed extraordinary courage and determination — far beyond the call of duty.
Over the course of the war, Rickenbacker flew more than 300 hours and achieved 26 aerial victories, becoming the most successful American fighter ace of World War I.
His skill, leadership, and valor earned him the Medal of Honor, awarded by President Herbert Hoover at Bolling Field on Nov 6, 1930.
Rickenbacker survived the war and went on to become a trailblazing figure in aviation and commercial air travel.
He passed away at the age of 82 on July 23, 1973, in Zürich.
I'm not familiar with side by side, dual seat biplanes from that era. Very interesting.
@otosan Yeah, me too. Anyone else have anything on this odd configuration?
Does it have 3 MG's?
"If brute force doesn't work you aren't using enough brute force." - mTk
War does not determine who is right, but it does determine who is left. - B.Russell
"Turn based games don't need a pause key". - mTk
"Overkill is underrated." - Col John "Hannibal" Smith
Senatus Populusque Romanus- SPQR - The Senate and People of Rome (circa 60 BC)
![[FGM] Bootie](https://i0.wp.com/thefewgoodmen.org/wp-content/uploads/wpforo/avatars/fgmbootie_193390399.jpg?resize=110%2C110 "[FGM] Bootie")
Sorry to say, but this image isn't real. The plane is Rickenbackers Nieuport 28, belonging to the 94th Fighter Squadron 'Hat in the Ring' and it was a single-seater plane. I have no idea what this image is supposed to represent.
This is Rickenbacker in front of the 'single seater' plane.
And this is how the original image should look before it was tampered with.
somebody photoshopped another pilot in in front of Rickenbacker.
Better than Eddie Rickenbacker. Don't take my word for it. Take Eddie's!
How come I did not know about this Medal of Honor winner?
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"If brute force doesn't work you aren't using enough brute force." - mTk
War does not determine who is right, but it does determine who is left. - B.Russell
"Turn based games don't need a pause key". - mTk
"Overkill is underrated." - Col John "Hannibal" Smith
Senatus Populusque Romanus- SPQR - The Senate and People of Rome (circa 60 BC)
Ever hear of Luke Air Force Base? Doh!Better than Eddie Rickenbacker. Don't take my word for it. Take Eddie's!
How come I did not know about this Medal of Honor winner?
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Nupe. 🤔
"If brute force doesn't work you aren't using enough brute force." - mTk
War does not determine who is right, but it does determine who is left. - B.Russell
"Turn based games don't need a pause key". - mTk
"Overkill is underrated." - Col John "Hannibal" Smith
Senatus Populusque Romanus- SPQR - The Senate and People of Rome (circa 60 BC)
Luke Air Force Base … in Glendale, AZ. One of the most famous.
Army recruits filled a street in NYC in April 1917 soon after President Woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany.
Small correction. W.Wilson asked Congress to declare war April 2. Congress formally declared war on April 6. By the Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war. The friction between the President as Commander in Chief and Congress's power to declare war has existed since at least 1789, almost since the beginning of the US. The framers of the Constitution knew there would be friction and they wanted it so that war could not unilaterally be undertaken by one entity.
The US has only formally declared war 5 times but has engaged in hundreds of military actions, most of which were initiated by Presidents. Congress often complains but has usually deferred to the Commander in Chief, thus expanding Presidential power.
President Harry Truman’s identity card from WW1. Truman was capt. of Battery D, 129th Field Artillery, 35th Div. Truman was the only US President to serve in the first World War. He served in France, participating in major campaigns including the Meuse-Argonne.
U.S. Marines training in France during WWI — learning battlefield skills alongside experienced French troops before entering front-line combat.
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." — Vegetius
"Do not hurry to the sound of the guns without knowing why they are firing." — British maxim
"In war, the simplest things are difficult." — Clausewitz
"No plan survives first contact with the enemy." — Moltke
"The side that can most quickly exploit success is the side that will win." — Guderian
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. 🪖🎲
Looking for a game? Challenge me here:
A soldier boy of the 71st Regiment Infantry, New York National Guard, says good bye to his sweetheart as his regiment leaves for training at Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, South Carolina/1917.
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." — Vegetius
"Do not hurry to the sound of the guns without knowing why they are firing." — British maxim
"In war, the simplest things are difficult." — Clausewitz
"No plan survives first contact with the enemy." — Moltke
"The side that can most quickly exploit success is the side that will win." — Guderian
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. 🪖🎲
Looking for a game? Challenge me here:
A French soldier of the light infantry training an American how to protect himself behind sandbags.
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." — Vegetius
"Do not hurry to the sound of the guns without knowing why they are firing." — British maxim
"In war, the simplest things are difficult." — Clausewitz
"No plan survives first contact with the enemy." — Moltke
"The side that can most quickly exploit success is the side that will win." — Guderian
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. 🪖🎲
Looking for a game? Challenge me here:
American troops visiting the statue of Alfred the Great in Winchester, Hampshire/1918
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." — Vegetius
"Do not hurry to the sound of the guns without knowing why they are firing." — British maxim
"In war, the simplest things are difficult." — Clausewitz
"No plan survives first contact with the enemy." — Moltke
"The side that can most quickly exploit success is the side that will win." — Guderian
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. 🪖🎲
Looking for a game? Challenge me here:
US troops practice going ‘over the top’ at Camp Lewis, American Lake, Washington/December 1917
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." — Vegetius
"Do not hurry to the sound of the guns without knowing why they are firing." — British maxim
"In war, the simplest things are difficult." — Clausewitz
"No plan survives first contact with the enemy." — Moltke
"The side that can most quickly exploit success is the side that will win." — Guderian
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. 🪖🎲
Looking for a game? Challenge me here:
American soldiers explaining American baseball to British soldiers/18 May 1918
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." — Vegetius
"Do not hurry to the sound of the guns without knowing why they are firing." — British maxim
"In war, the simplest things are difficult." — Clausewitz
"No plan survives first contact with the enemy." — Moltke
"The side that can most quickly exploit success is the side that will win." — Guderian
Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. 🪖🎲
Looking for a game? Challenge me here: