|
Saturday, 23 February 2008 |
|
 GHOSTRIDER. The code name used by U.S. Air Force Captain Jonas S. Jeffries. Ever since his childhood in Chicago, Ghostrider has made a point to not be noticed. After joining the Air Force, he became an aeronautical engineer and became a skilled and fearless pilot. That fearless nature was needed for flying a stealth fighter, which required very low-altitude "nap of the earth" flying without activating sensors or guidance systems. Ghostrider joined the Joes in 1988 when he was chosen to fly the Phantom X-19 stealth fighter. The other Joes could never seem to remember his code name, and referred to him as "what's his name" among themselves and often called him "Stealthy" or some other nickname, embarrassed to admit they forgot his name. On his first mission with the Joes, Ghostrider knocked out Cobra Island's radar system during the Joes' participation in the Cobra civil war. While the combination of his low flying and radar-eluding jet got him to the island virtually undetected, he was spotted by two underwater Cobra BUGG vehicles, but he destroyed the subs before they could transmit his location. His success enabled the Joes to land a reinforcements on the island undetected. He later participated in the defense of a volcanic island that emerged from the ocean in the Gulf of Mexico. Cobra was trying to occupy the island and the Joes wanted to push them off. In the end, the island sunk back beneath the sea on its own. A short time later, Ghostrider returned to Cobra Island. While a large group of G.I. Joe aircraft distracted Cobra's defenses while the stealth pilot snapped pictures of cargo on the island's airfield. To get the best angle for taking the photos, Ghostrider had to buzz the control tower. Some time later, he fought Cobra fighters over the nation of Punta del Mucosa. During the Joes biggest operation to date, the Battle of Benzheen, Ghostrider flew deep into enemy territory to snap spy photos of a Cobra Terror-Drome launch base. With Slip-Stream as his co-pilot, he braved anti-aircraft fire to complete the mission. The two pilots were hit by enemy fire and barely survived after crash-landing their fighter on the deck of the U.S.S. Flagg. The mission was a success but the loss of the fighter upset both Joes. Ghostrider, like most former Joes, is currently a reserve member of the team. During the global conflict known as World War III, Ghostrider took part in a number of missions launched from the U.S.S. Flagg, engaging Cobra fighters over the United Kingdom.
Ghostrider's code name was never mentioned in any of the comics besides one mention on the letter page. Supposedly, this was to avoid any confusion with the Marvel Comics character "Ghost Rider".
(GI 76, 77, 80, 115, 119, 132; SM 16, 28; AE 32; Figure: 1)
|
Classic G.I. Joe Guide 
