Welcome To

The History and Aviation Writing of John Sponauer

From the dawn of flight to tomorrow's air combat, one of my life passions is learning about aviation and military issues....and I've been one lucky student.  Over the last several years, I've had the chance to meet, interview, and learn from some extremely experienced and talented people.  Some are former military pilots, others are avid historians, and others fly on the razor's edge to this day, putting the muscle in US foreign policy.  

Please take a minute to read through some of my work, and drop me a line!   I'd love to hear from you!

[ HISTORIC AVIATION ]	[ MODERN AVIATION ]

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ALSO BE SURE TO READ:

Refighting "The War"
Ken Burn's "The War" 
September 18, 2007

"Back To The Future of War"
Entry into the 2005 "Principles of War" Essay Contest
February 2005

Thunder Run:  An Interview with David Zucchino
April 6, 2004

High Flight
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. 

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth 
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; 
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds...and done a hundred things 
You have not dreamed of...wheeled and soared and swung 
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, 
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung 
My eager craft through footless halls of air. 
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue 
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace 
Where never lark, or even eagle flew. 
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod 
The high untrespassed sanctity of space 
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. 

About three months after he wrote "High Flight," 19-year-old Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr., was killed in a midair collision flying a Spitfire V over Tangmere, England.  He is buried in the churchyard cemetery at Scopwick, Lincolnshire.