America's greatest ace of the war was investigated as a German spy, and he was not even German. Edward Rickenbacher's parents were Swiss immigrants — but in 1917 the name was enough on its own, and he had already been looked at for working for Germany. So he anglicised it: the "h" became a "k," and he added the middle name Vernon because he wanted one. Newspapers had been drifting towards the new spelling since 1915, with his encouragement. He then went to France and shot down twenty-six German aircraft, more than any other American, under a name he had rebuilt to survive his own country's suspicion of him.

W. Britain has him on the ground and pleased with himself: overseas cap, wings on the breast, Sam Browne belt, breeches and laced field boots, a cane in his hand and no aeroplane anywhere. He was twenty-seven and a mechanic by trade in a squadron largely made of college men, which is part of why he was good — he understood the engine. The cap repays a look as well: it is the fold-flat overseas cap that replaced the campaign hats the Montana Hats artillery are still wearing. On a shelf or an airfield diorama he belongs with the other aces — Richthofen and Bishop.

W. Britain model 10089. 1/30 scale (approximately 60mm), matte-painted metal. Single standing figure on a sculpted groundwork base. Boxed.