Ghost Wings magazine 

review by Eric Friedebach

August 2001

At a recent airshow, I had the pleasure of meeting two staff members from a relatively new military aviation magazine, Ghost Wings. Extremely polite and unassuming, they handed me a copy of their latest quarterly issue. Top notch graphics printed on glossy paper with plenty of color illustrations. Their current 50-plus-page journal included articles on:

The story of a historic Me-262, and the struggle to preserve it;

the search for the remnants of WWII aircraft in New Guinea;

an interview with Brig. Gen. Joe Foss (featured as America’s No. 1 Ace on the June 7, 1943 cover of Life magazine)

Along with several other feature articles, there were departments including book reviews, museum profiles, aviation artwork profiles, etc. This is a very well done publication. A major theme of Ghost Wings is the personalities behind the aircraft. We can build the greatest combat aircraft, but in the end, it is the individuals who fly (or design, build, or maintain) them that make the history.

What a refreshing concept! For over the past twenty years I have had the pleasure of turning a wrench on many historic aircraft. The smell of hydraulic fluid and avgas is a fine one, but what about the folks whose life depended these very things? Stories from the airshow ramp? Sure, I have heard them. Ghost Wings puts them on the front page, and as we read their stories, we find out they are heroes.

Adam P. Makos, in a recent Ghost Wings editorial, notes a U.S. World and News Report series that Americans are losing their appreciation for the concept of “heroes”. Makos writes that:

“Some experts feel this appreciation for “heroes” is fading because our schools no longer put much emphasis on American history. Some speculate that we have confused “hero” and “celebrity” to the point where they are now seen to be as the same. Is it possible that celebrity worship has taken over the concept of a hero, which was once considered a crucial element of our cultural identity?”

One more thing. Ghost Wings was started in 1994 by a group of middle school students. Most of the staff is still in high school. One is now in college. The funding for their start-up came from their personal savings and the proceeds of a garage sale. As I flip through their latest issue, I cannot believe it. But they are doing it.

Subscriptions are $18.00 per year at www.ghostwings.com.

What did you do when you were 16?

Commemorative Air Force, Inc.