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ON THE COVER:
Pilot Chuck Gardner brings Yanks All-American Air Museum’s Curtiss Kittyhawk in tight with the camera plane for a portrait of the classic fighter. Photography by Michael O’Leary

FEATURES:

WEATHER RECON: LIGHTNING STYLE!
The P-38s of the 154th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron comprised a little-known unit that undertook a vital task for the Allied bombing campaign / by Steve Blake

TAKING THE WAR TO HITLER
We conclude our two-part article on creating the North American P-51B — the first truly effective USAAF long-range escort fighter / by Lowell Ford and James W. Marshall

UP-GUNNING THE PRIVATEER
The Consolidated PB4Y-2 proved to be an extremely effective weapon for attacking Japanese shipping and airfields. As the war moved closer to the Home Islands, numerous plans were put in place to heavily increase the Privateer’s armament / by Nicholas A. Veronico

YANK’S KITTYHAWK
The Curtiss Kittyhawk owned and operated by Yanks All-American Air Museum was originally built for the Royal Canadian Air Force. After extensive service protecting that nation’s vast coastline, it was sold surplus, converted into a weather modification platform, and flown next to massive thunderstorms — at night! Today, this P-40 is an immaculately restored Warbird and one of the centerpieces of this growing museum / by Michael O’Leary

BUILDING THE FLYING FORTRESS
Part Three on our extensive series on America’s most famous bomber sees Boeing fighting against financial losses and the Air Corps attempting to force the government into purchasing more aircraft / by Michael O’Leary

WHERE GOONEY BIRDS ARE REBORN
How Basler is keeping one of the world’s most classic aircraft flying — and working / by Ralph M. Pettersen

WARBIRD & CLASSIC REPORT
Latest vintage and veteran aircraft news from around the world / by Doug Fisher

AIRLINES
News and views from the readers of Air Classics

CHECKLIST
Newest in aviation literature / by Nicholas A. Veronico

DOWN MEMORY’S RUNWAY
More classics from aviation’s glorious past / by Norm Taylor