Eastern air lines legends:
Eddie Rickenbacker
Lieu
Few names in American aviation ring as loudly as Eddie Rickenbacker’s. A legendary World War I fighter ace and Medal of Honor recipient, Rickenbacker brought national stature and firsthand flying experience to Eastern Air Lines when he became the airline’s general manager in 1935, later serving as its president during a period of rapid growth and transformation.
Under Rickenbacker’s leadership, Eastern evolved from a regional air mail operation into one of the country’s leading commercial airlines. He placed a strong emphasis on safety, discipline, and pilot professionalism—values shaped by his own background as a combat aviator. Known for his hands-on management style, Rickenbacker maintained close relationships with Eastern’s pilots and took an active interest in aircraft performance, operations, and route development.
During his tenure, Eastern expanded its route system along the East Coast and into the Midwest and South, helping solidify Atlanta’s role as a major aviation hub. World War II further defined Rickenbacker’s impact, as Eastern played a critical role in military transport and training missions in support of the war effort, reinforcing the airline’s national significance.
Although his later years with Eastern were marked by labor and management challenges, Eddie Rickenbacker’s influence on the airline remains enduring. He helped shape Eastern’s identity as a pilot-driven airline—one built on rigor, reliability, and innovation—leaving a legacy that continues to define Eastern Air Lines’ place in American aviation history.
Captain Gerald Vernon Frost, 86, was born and raised in Urbana, Illinois, in 1939. He attended military school as a young boy and developed a passion for aviation.
In 1956, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served at the Amarillo, Texas Air Force Base Training Command as an instructor for four years.
He landed his dream job as a pilot for Eastern Air Lines in 1963 and eventually became a captain, flying various commercial aircraft on both domestic and international military routes.
After 22 years with the company, Captain Frost retired early, much earlier than he wanted to, due to back problems.
Though aviation defines much of his career, Frost’s expertise reaches far beyond flight. He has been an avid photographer since 1952. Naturally, his position as a pilot allowed him to travel extensively, capturing images of landscapes, people, and cultures across the country. His photographs have been exhibited in several local venues and have won numerous awards.
Following his retirement from Eastern in 1985, Frost merged his passion for aviation and photography with his expertise in computer science and web design, teaching himself digital rendering. Through this art form, he brought the aircraft he once flew back to life.
More of his work is viewable on the organization’s Art Gallery page.
Frost was a longtime member of the Retired Eastern Pilots Association (REPA), where he served as treasurer for 15 years. In that role, he applied his vast technical skills to overhaul the organization’s financial management system.
He was inducted into the REPA Hall of Fame in 2010. Below are pages from the following season’s REPA publication recognizing his induction and lasting impact within the association.
Portrait of Captain Jerry Frost (REPArtee Magazine, Summer 2005 Issue).
Jerry is also a devoted husband and father, having been married to Marge for over 50 years and raising four children.
- Margaret Bartlett
- December 30, 2025