ON THE COVER:
Pilot Lt. Lee Maxwell waves from the cockpit of B-17F-1-BO 41-24366 of the 353rd Bomb Squadron, 301st Bomb Group, at RAF
Bassingbourn as the Fort taxis out for a mission. Interestingly, the bomber was initially to be supplied to the Royal Air Force as FA681 but this did not happen. Puffin’ Hussy II flew five combat missions before it was grounded and used for spare parts to repair B-17F Flying Flit
Gun. Once spares were available, Puffin’ Hussy II was put back into the air and then went to the 346th Bomb Squadron, 99th Bomb Group, in Algeria. It was then transferred to the 429th BS, 2nd BG, for a period before returning to the 99th BG. During March 1944, the F model was
declared “War Weary.” Armament was removed and some extra seats were installed. Assigned to the 14th Fighter Group, the Fort, now named K.O., was used to carry personnel, mail, and supplies. Coming in for a landing at Aghione, Corsica, on 17 August 1944, the Fort crashed and exploded. Twelve of the 15 people aboard were killed. (USAAF)

FEATURES:

BULLDOG
Okay, you want to own an example of a classic Royal
Air Force biplane fighter. One problem — none exist for sale. So, what do you do? Build your own! / by Roger Cain

SOUTH PACIFIC TAC RECON
In this concluding episode of the 82nd and 110th Tac
Recon Squadrons at war, the P-39s and P-40s are
replaced with Mustangs to carry the war directly to the
Home Islands. Illustrated with over three dozen rare
photos / by Steve Blake

COLORS OF WAR
For December, we have picked some particularly rare and unusual photographs from our files. We recently acquired a collection of “assembly ship” bomber images
and will be presenting those in a future installment /
by Michael O’Leary

GHOST OF ATKA ISLAND
At the top of the world, freezing fog occasionally parts to reveal the wreckage of a WWII Liberator bomber. What is the story
behind this strange survivor? / by Nicholas A. Veronico

KEEPING THE PROPS TURNING
Our historic Warbirds are rapidly heading towards a
big problem — a lack of engines. Find out what three concerned parties are doing about this worrisome
situation / by Dennis Nobile

DEPARTMENTS:

MESSAGE FROM PUBLISHER
Thoughts and musings on the vintage aviation world /
by Michael O’Leary

WARBIRD & CLASSIC REPORT
Lots of news to report this month along with a look at
what is going on at the Castle Air Museum /
by Doug Fisher

LOG ENTRIES
Can aviation be in our DNA? / by Mark Bingham

FRIDAY NIGHT OLDIES
Our Canadian Editor digs into his Kodachrome slides to find interesting examples of surplus military aircraft /
by Doug Fisher

CHECKLIST
Latest in aviation literature

AIR CLASSICS GIFT GUIDE
With the Christmas season rapidly approaching, we present some great gift suggestions

DOWN MEMORY’S RUNWAY
Wonderful flying machines from aviation’s past /
by Norm Taylor

AIRLINES
News and views from the readers of Air Classics