Arthur C. Jackson

1918 - 2015

CANTERBURY – Arthur C. Jackson, of Canterbury, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at the Birches Residential Community in Concord, with his family by his side. He was 96 years old.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on May 15, 1918, Arthur was the middle son of Mrs. Sarah and Mr. Andrew Jackson. His brothers were Albert Jackson (1917-1998) and Daniel Jackson (1922-1938).

Arthur attended Brooklyn Polytechnic High School, in New York, graduating in 1936. He then worked for the Sperry Gyroscope Company, before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. His success at bombardier school in Big Springs, Texas resulted in his retention there as trainer until he enrolled in an advanced navigation program at Ellington Air Field near Houston. After receiving his navigational certification, Arthur was assigned to an A-26C Invader squadron and ordered to the Pacific in preparation for the planned U.S. invasion of Japan. While island hopping across the Pacific, Arthur and his crew learned of the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and of Japan's surrender. Jackson was initially assigned to Tacloban airbase in the Philippines, then to Atsugi, Japan, where he served in a variety of assignments including with an Air Sea Rescue unit flying Catalina amphibious aircraft. Arthur served in Japan with the U.S. occupying forces until late 1946. Upon his return to the United States, he left active service, but remained in the Air Force Reserves until 1971 when he retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Arthur enrolled in the Modern School of Photography in 1947, then worked in the photographic department of Pratt Institute in New York. Given his wartime experience and work with Air Intelligence, Arthur was recruited by the newly formed Central Intelligence Agency in 1951. As a specialist in photography and photo-analysis, he worked in the CIA's Technical Service Division (later renamed the Office of Technical Service) for the remainder of his career. His responsibilities involved the use and development of new methods and technologies for clandestine photography, including miniature and concealed cameras, document copying, and long-distance imagery. His foreign postings included Germany, Taiwan, Japan (Okinawa), and Panama, and his assignments took him to nearly every country in Western Europe, Asia, and Latin America. His work-sometimes undertaken at great personal risk--was an essential part of the intelligence gathering process during the Cold War, and the images, information, and cryptographic intelligence he and his colleagues obtained provided the U.S. Government with invaluable information, especially regarding Soviet and Chinese military capabilities. Mr. Jackson retired from the CIA in 1974.

Although he chose a career in the clandestine services, Arthur earned international renown for his prowess as a rifle marksman. His shooting career began on the Brooklyn Polytechnic High School Shooting Team, on which he won his first competitive medals in 1934. Within only a few years, his love for the sport, and his willingness to devote long hours to practice helped him garner numerous state and regional championships. He eventually went on to become one of the most successful American shooters in the history of the sport, earning multiple National, Pan-American, and World Championship titles. He set five world records, and represented the United States on three Olympic Teams: 1948 (London), 1952 (Helsinki), and 1956 Melbourne), winning a Bronze Medal at the 1952 games. Arthur continued to shoot successfully at the regional, national, and international levels well into his seventies. His final international competition was the Palma Match held in Raton, N.M. in 1992. In addition, he coached young shooters and published numerous articles about shooting and the history of shooting sports. In 1999, Arthur Jackson was inducted into the U.S. International Shooting Hall of Fame.

Upon his retirement from the CIA, Arthur and his family moved to Wolfeboro, where they lived until 1991, when they moved to Canterbury.

A loving and supportive father, and a deeply devoted husband, Arthur is survived by Nancy, his wife of 58 years; his five children, Diane, Thomas, Robert, Sarah and William; and his eight grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be held Friday, Jan. 9, at 12:30 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 9 Bonney St., Penacook, followed by a burial at the New Hampshire State Veterans' Cemetery in Boscawan at 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to SOME (So Others Might Eat) at SOME.org, telephone, 202-797-8806 ext. 112.

To view an online obituary and memorial please go to wbennettfuneral.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bennett Funeral Home, in Concord.