Ghosts of the Air

I had the privilege of meeting Martin Caidin when I was a kid and he was doing the airshow circuit with his Ju 52. I was impressed and in awe. I was also very young. I am now an experienced airline pilot (and former USAF pilot) and am a bit less awed, but am still impressed with his accomplishments. I have read many of Caidin's books, particularly his writings about World War Two, and found them very absorbing. This is all background that helps explain why I am genuinely reluctant to give "Ghosts of the Air" two stars, but unfortunately the book deserves it.The book definitely needed a good editor, and comes across as more of a disheveled, ponderous telling of spooky tales with no opportunities for ego-stroking allowed to pass. He is extremely dismissive of anyone who disagrees with him, with perhaps the most egregious example being found on pp. 188-189 when in response to a skeptic he writes an extraordinarily arrogant narrative that doesn't really address the nature of the disagreement as much as it says, in essence, "look how important I am." The passage is quite lengthy, but here's a token smattering "As a member of AWA, AFA, CAF, VAC, SW (it's a long list) and many other aviation organizations, I've had numerous conversations with Yeager, Crossfield, Halaby, Bader, Galland, Gabreski, Johnson, Hoover, Poberezny, Jobst, Doolittle, Lear - it's another VERY long list." Blah, blah, blah....and so it goes on and on. The more he talked about himself the less impressed I got. Along with all the negative traits of a serial braggart, he also loves to use ridiculous jargon that I suppose he thinks impresses others (though probably not that many professional pilots.) There are way too many examples to cite in these pages, but I randomly flipped open the book to find one and found this on the first page I opened to (p. 211, if you care): "They had no warning of the neutercane they said didn't exist but that exploded out of 'nowhere' and with such fury it blew that station off the air and wrecked half the town. Made real garbage pie out of the joint." Garbage pie? Really? I mean, how cool are you? This is nowhere near the most egregious example of ridiculous vernacular, but merely the first one I came to.Some of the stories are genuinely compelling, and I do appreciate his taking time to try and write on the subject. I particularly liked the short anecdote about Captain Robert F. Tyler on p. 52. Unfortunately this story was very short, but I thought it was one of the most interesting, while much less interesting material droned on and on for pages (I especially tired of hearing about his exploits flying the Catalina.) The haphazard organization makes following the narrative maddening, and there are some things he is just not good at writing about, notably the time travel piece starting on p. 235 ("The Quantum Connection") which I like to call "Photons For Dummies" except that an actual book in the "Dummies" series would be factual and informative. This was a horribly written discussion of a subject about which he did not seem to be especially well versed, and certainly was not good at writing about: particularly painful is the fanciful imaginary dialogue with a physicist found on pp. 237-239. Groan.I wanted, really wanted, to like "Ghosts of the Air." I have liked Caidin's books since I was a pre-teen, but I just can't recommend this one unless you are extraordinarily interested in the supernatural and aviation: some of the stories are interesting, but much is unsourced, it is written in a very condescending tone, is terribly organized, and is in desperate need of editing. If the book was 100 pages shorter and less demeaning to those who disagree with the author's views it would have been a worthwhile investment of time. As for my copy, I recycled it. Literally.

The author's definitely a good writer, and is well-informed. I'd like to see more stories--either a "volume 2" or more stories in the original book with a bit of condensing of the original stories.

I could not put this book down.I was in the USAF, and then with a very large US airline after my discharge, and have experienced some of what he has described. Therefore, I believe what Mr. Cadin has written is true.I was lucky to be aboard his "Iron Annie" when it was being worked on in Miami, and got to take some photographs of it.And, as a bonus for the reader, his writing style is fantastic!

If you are interested in the weird and supernatural then this book is for you. You will find it hard to believe that the enclosed stories are real and yet the author has proof that they are. It is almost impossible to explain how these events take place and yet they do. This is the type of book you can't put down and if you are an aviation buff as I am, then you are in for a real treat. Hold on to your hat and hang on for the ride of your life. You will never look at an airplane again without thinking about this book! I purchased the book through Amazon and it arrived before its due date and in perfect condition.

For both his vast experience and the sheer drama of his own career, aviator and writer Martin Caidin is best for aviation non-fiction.

Talk about a great read. I found myself appreciating my fellow flyers all the more. You'll find that same appreciation going out to our military flight crews too.It is amazing how these kind of events demonstrate how little we are in control.

Great book for those that love aviation or are pilots. I have worked many airshows in the mid west and can tell you that some of what is in this book is a deja vu moment for me. When the crowds have gone and it just the ground handlers and the pilots working around the air craft especially the World War Two stuff you can fell and hear things that you just can't explain but, when the hair on the back of your neck goes up this book can explain some of what you have been touched by. The author has done his due diligence and research to try to back up his claims. I suggest you read this if you want to get a feel for what's out there.

Wonderful, honest and completely believable work.

Well written and pkenty to keep you up at night

Very good read.

Good condition, spooky stories, interesting read.

The author has only included ghost stories experienced by people he can vouch for and in so doing he rejected much of the material he received. Many of the accounts are fascinating and include much more than the sighting of apparitions! An excellent read providing much on which to contemplate.

A good read