The Rickenbacker was both stylish and well built, and yes, Captain Eddie was involved. Prior to his stint as an aerial ace in World War II, for which he received the Medal of Honor and the French Légion d'Honneur and Croix de Guerre, Rickenbacker had been Pershing's driver, an appointment that in part derived from his pre-war career as a successful auto racer.

During World War II, as a civilian on an inspection tour in the Southwest Pacific Theater at the behest of the Secretary of War, Rickenbacker survived the ditching of a B-17 and drifted with several other survivors aboard a life raft for about three weeks before being rescued. He performed several other high-level missions during the war, and afterwards became CEO of Eastern Airlines ... another distinguished name in the category of Things That Are No More.