Eastern Air Lines  Douglas DC-8 -21  N8607     (c/n   45428)

                                       

                                              In 1952, when the British de Havilland D.H.106 Comet was making sensational headlines, Capt
                                              Rickenbacker was in England hoping to order 35 of them, thus jumping the gun on other US carriers
                                              to be the first to offer pure jet service.   Unfortunately, as we know, things didn't work out that way
                                              and, in the event, Eastern were rather late in ordering US made jets, the first DC-8 not entering
                                              service until early in 1960.   This particular aircraft was the one which crashed into Lake Pontchartrain
                                              on 25 February 1964 after taking off from New Orleans Arport in bad weather.