Writer

Mark Phelps

Aviation journalist Jack Elliott Shapiro, 94, died November 20&nbsp;in New Jersey. Under the pen name of Jack Elliott, he was a prolific writer, having contributed to numerous aviation publications, including AIN. But he was best known as the author of the weekly column "Wings Over New Jersey," published for more than 38 years in New Jersey’s Newark Star-Ledger. The column is thought to be the longest-running aviation column in any mainstream publication, ever.

 


Elliott was raised in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and had his first airplane ride in 1933 at age nine in a New Standard biplane. He served with the U.S. Army in multiple combat theaters during World War II, participating in the liberation of Rome in June 1944, after which he flew to southern France in the back of a Waco glider.

 


He earned his pilot certificate in 1954, later adding commercial, instrument, glider, and seaplane ratings. By then he had begun his journalism career, first with the Long Island Press, and later with the Star-Ledger, where he worked his way up to the Sunday editor position. He began writing the aviation column in 1963, continuing to contribute weekly after he left the paper for a career in aviation public relations. A book compiling his most memorable columns, titled Adventures in Flying, was published in 2008.

 


Elliott belonged to a host of aviation organizations and received multiple awards for journalism, culminating in his induction to the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame in 1986. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Esta-Ann, children Amy and Stephen, and grandson Hudson.

 


His last Wings Over New Jersey column, published Dec. 30, 2001, closed with these words:

 


“I have had my share of happy landings over the years…and a few bumpy ones. I would wish for all my good friends and loyal readers that they may have as many happy landings in the future as I have had in the past.”

Aviation Journalist Jack Elliott Flies West

Jack Elliott, author of the longest running aviation column in a mainstream media outlet at 38 years, dies at 94.

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