'Good Grief Rickenbacker!'?

[yobanfa]

who does it refer to? and why do we say it?

[Clanad]

Though not familiar with the phrase here in the U.S., my guess would be a reference to Eddie Rickenbacker, the famous American ace pilot of WW I, winner of the Croix de Guerre, Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion d'Honeur and the Congressional Medal of Honor. Before and after the War he was a well known race car driver. I realize that a more contemporaraneous reference would be to the Rickenbacker guitar, however I find no reference to the phrase in my usually dependable sources. It does have a vaguely onomotopaeic ring to it...

[north star]

This is not going to be very helpful but I remember this from phrase from a film something like, but not necessarily 'Police Acadamy". The phrase is said in response to a subordinate (Rickenbacker (Rickenbracker) ?) saying something really stupid and the superior rolls his eyes upwards and says "...."
Something to ponder in the bath tonight.

[Tim123]

I remember the phrase from a TV advertising campaign in the 1970s. I think it was for Wrangler jeans.

[Papaleekie]

John Lennon played a Rickenbacker guitar in the early Beatle days.