After the war, Rickenbacker became involved in the aviation industry, initially working as an executive for various automobile and aviation companies. He later founded his own airline, Eastern Airlines, which became one of the largest airlines in the United States. Rickenbacker served as the president of Eastern Airlines from 1929 to 1938 and from 1940 to 1944.
During World War II, he continued to serve the United States as a general in the U.S. Army Air Forces, overseeing production and procurement of aircraft. Despite an aircraft crash that led to him being stranded on a life raft in the South Pacific for 23 days, he survived and played an important advisory role to Gen. Henry Arnold.
Throughout his post-war career, he also served on various government committees and commissions, often focusing on aviation and air transportation. He also published several books about his life and experiences during the war.
Eddie Rickenbacker died at his home in Zurich, Switzerland, on July 23, 1973, at the age of 82. He is remembered not only as a fearless war hero and aviation pioneer, but also as a respected leader in the aviation industry and a tireless advocate for the advancement of aviation technology.