Since Lensmen began in 1952, we have stored and catalogued every image or negative that was taken. There are over 4 million negatives in our archive, with a wide variety of subjects photographed. Some of our archives can be viewed online and we also have a very active Facebook page showing the archive imagery. Last week Ian Jackson spotted a photo of his father on our website that was taken in 1965. Eric Jackson was the Assistant Chief Pilot on the First Aer Lingus One-Eleven Flight at Dublin Airport. The aircraft flew from Dublin to Cork Airport. We are delighted to have such great photos of Irish history that families can share.
Background on Eric Jackson from his son Ian –
Born in Drumcondra in 1923, Dad went off to the UK on an engineering apprenticeship to the RAF in 1938. War broke out the following year and he spent the next 4 years fixing aeroplanes. In 1943, he was sent to Phoenix, Arizona to learn to fly. Through 1944 and 1945, he flew Lancaster bombers out over Germany. He was the flight navigator, responsible for getting the plane to the targets, and back safely. He joined Aer Lingus after the war, with just the skills that the fledgeling airline needed. He flew over 40 different types of planes in his flying career. He finished his career with Aer Lingus as Flight Operations Manager. He died in Moreton in the Marsh, in the UK, at the age of 79. He was a wonderful man!
