[Rarebooks] FS: THEY FOUGHT WITH WHAT THEY HAD Inscribed by Walter Edmonds to Eddie Rickenbacker

[Charles Agvent]

 From our new Internet-only Catalogue which has just been posted on our 
website: http://www.erols.com/agvent
It contains 57 AVIATION & SPACE items including a selection of books 
from the library of leading World War I Ace Eddie Rickenbacker, as well 
as books signed by Neil Armstrong, Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, 
and Antoine Saint Exupery, and some interesting 19th century aviation 
material.

EDMONDS,  Walter D. (RICKENBACKER, Eddie). THEY FOUGHT  WITH  WHAT
THEY  HAD. THE STORY OF THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN THE SOUTHWEST  PACIFIC,
1941--1942.  Boston: Little, Brown & Company 1951. First Edition. This
copy  INSCRIBED  and SIGNED by the author on the half-title page:  "To
Eddie  Rickenbacker/from  Walter D. Edmonds." Medal  of  Honor-winning
World  War  I  aviator  Eddie Rickenbacker first gained  fame  in  the
formative  years  of  auto  racing  as a  driver.  Before  owning  and
operating  the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he participated in some of
the  first 500-mile races held there finishing in tenth place in 1914.
Rickenbacker  flew  a total of 300 combat hours, reportedly more  than
any  other U.S. pilot in World War I, and his 26 victories as a  pilot
constituted  an  American record that stood until World War II.  After
the  war, he started an unsuccessful automobile company, but his  most
lasting  business endeavor was his lifelong leadership of Eastern  Air
Lines  which Rickenbacker transformed from a small airline to a  major
international  transportation company. According to a typed note  from
Rickenbacker's  son  laid  into  the book, Edmonds  was  a  friend  of
Colonel  Hans  Adamson  who  was with Rickenbacker  on  a  mission  to
deliver  a  secret  message  to   General  MacArthur  when  they  went
off-course  and ditched their plane in the Pacific in 1942 dangerously
close  to  Japanese-held enemy territory. They were adrift with  their
crew  for 24 days and given up for dead, but thanks to the  insistence
of  Mrs.  Rickenbacker  the search persisted and  they  were  located.
According  to  Rickenbacker, who assumed a role of  leadership  during
this  time,  each person on the raft converted to  Christianity  after
the experience. Very Good, lacking the dustwrapper.            $250.00
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CHARLES AGVENT
291 Linden Road
Mertztown, PA  19539-8750
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