War Machine

James "Rhodey" Rhodes is Tony Stark's personal pilot and one of the playboy's oldest friends. Rhodey has often donned
the Iron Man armor when the burden has been too much for his friend, but has also established his own identity as the War Machine.

Origin

James Rupert Rhodes was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He first met Tony Stark while flying combat missions in Vietnam.
Rhodes' helicopter had been shot down by Viet Cong rocket fire, and while trying to get the aircraft airborne again, he encountered Stark
in a bulky prototype suit of powered armor. At that moment the Viet Cong attacked, and Stark, in his suit, helped to drive them off.
Together, Rhodes and Stark made their way to a nearby enemy base where they stole another helicopter, flying it back to the American lines.

After the end of the Vietnam War, Stark, who had secretly become the superhero named Iron Man, offered Rhodes a job as his personal pilot,
and Rhodes soon became one of Stark's closest associates and confidants as well as Stark Industries' chief aviation officer.
As a result, he had numerous adventures with his employer where his daring and skills were valuable assets.
When Tony relapsed into his alcoholism, James Rhodes took over the Variable Threat Response Battle Suit (War Machine).
James Rhodes took up the superhero identity of Iron Man for some time, and would return to using this suit.

James Rhodes becoming Iron Man

Creation

James Rhodes was created by Bob Layton and David Michelinie and first appeared in Iron Man # 118 (1979).
The War Machine armor first appeared in a cameo in Iron Man # 281 and fully in Iron Man # 282.
James Rhodes first became War Machine in Iron Man # 284.