1920 Rotogravure WWI Eddie Rickenbacker Squad Airplane Gas Attack Medical WAR1

This is an original 1920 World War I sepia Rotogravure of fellow comrades attending to those wounded by a gas attack at Jaulny. The second image shows Captain "Eddie" Rickenbacker in a Squad plane with which he was bringing down enemy flyers during the Argonne drive. The third image shows men of the 311th Machine Gun Company and the Medical Corps of the 78th Division on the road from Marcq to Cheviers. The final image shows Private Frank Maia of Company F, 312th Infantry on duty in Grandpre.

Besides an incredible (and good looking!) American military aviator (flying ace), Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was also a race car driver, automotive designer, owner and operator of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and head of Eastern Air Lines. Although these accomplishments, along with his many military medals and awards (26!), does not begin to describe the incredible life of Mr. Rickenbacker. One of his most miraculous experiences occurred when he was a passenger on a Douglas DC-3 airliner that crashed near Atlanta, Georgia. Along with some others, Rickenbacker was left unconscious overnight at the crash site. His injuries, which were so severe that the hospital medical staff were instructed to "take care of the live ones," leaving Rickenbacker without medical attention for a time, included a fractured skull, additional head trauma, a shattered elbow with a crushed nerve, a paralyzed hand, a crushed hip socket, several broken ribs, a broken pelvis, a severed hip nerve, a broken knee, as well as a blown out eye socket. Then, in 1942, Rickenbacker incurred yet ANOTHER near death experience when he was serving as a government military consultant. Rickenbacker was sent on a mission to survey living conditions, military operations and deliver a personal message to General Douglas MacArthur from the President during his tour of the Pacific Theater of Operations when his navigational instrument began miscalculating after pre-takeoff trouble. The air crew was eventually forced to evacuate the B-17 airplane over the Pacific Ocean. The men were adrift on lifeboats for several days, which left one man dead and the others in severe dehydration with severe sunburn and in near starvation conditions. At the time of the crash, Rickenbacker was still in recovery from the previously mentioned plane crash!

At the age of 92, Rickenbacker died in 1977 from stroke complications while seeking special medical treatment for his wife in Switzerland. Rickenbacker's wife was so completely heartbroken (and ill) that she shot herself "to death" in their home in Key Biscayne, Florida.

CONDITION

This 91+ year old Item is rated Near Mint / Very Fine. Light foxing and aging. Light wrinkling. - right margin. No natural defects. No surface rub. No tears. No water damage. Please note that there is printing on the reverse.

• Product Type: Original Rotogravure; Sepia
• Grade: Near Mint / Very Fine
• Dimensions: Approximately 10.5 x 8.5 inches; 27 x 22 cm
• Authentication: Serial-Numbered Certificate of Authenticity w/ Full Provenance
• Protection: Packaged in a custom archival sleeve with an acid-free black board (great for display, gift-giving, and preservation)

Keywords specific to this image: Historic Aviators, Air Force, Air Service, First Aid, Chemical Warfare, Famous Pilots, Warplanes, Military Aircraft, Injured Soldiers, Wounded Soldiers, Medical Attention, Medical Care, Destruction, Wartime, Warfare

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