It was September 25, 1918, a momentous day for Captain Edward Vernon Rickenbacker. On his first morning as commander of the 94th "Hat-in-the Ring" Aero Squadron, Rickenbacker took his SPAD on single patrol over Verdun, where he encountered two Halberstadts and their escort of five Fokkers. In minutes, the man who was to become America's "Ace of Aces" had made two kills and was headed for his own lines.

When the United States entered WWI, Eddie Rickenbacker gave up his $40,000-a-year auto racing career to serve as General Pershing's staff driver. But once in France, Rickenbacker was eager for combat and argued his way into flight training. The future ace won his commission in January 1918, scoring his first victory after only six weeks of front-line flying.

Rickenbacker's 94th Aero Squadron was the first American unit to participate actively on the Western Front. The 94th originally flew Nieuports, but in 1918 they were replaced by SPADs, a less maneuverable but faster-climbing pursuit plane that accounted for most of the squadron's victories. Rickenbacker scored 21 of his victories in a SPAD. His official score was 22 planes and four balloons–all within seven months. Rickenbacker received 19 decorations for bravery, including the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. The most prized of his citations was the Medal of Honor.

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