ON THE COVER:
The spirit of a WASP pilot is perfectly captured in this photograph of a WASP preparing to take Lockheed P-38G-10-LO USAAF 42-13994 to its next assignment. (USAF)

FEATURES:

MYSTERY OF THE MISSING WASP
Gertrude Tompkins remains the only WASP still “missing in action” / by Howard Carter

THE SMASHER
Part Two of our extensive history of Paul Mantz and his B-25 Mitchell camera ships. Mantz and these aircraft were instrumental in developing Hollywood aerial photography /
by Scott Thompson

AN AIR GUARD ANNIVERSARY
It’s the 100th anniversary of the Colorado Air National Guard and that milestone was supported by a very special photo flight / by Mark Bingham

B-17 AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
What does it mean to the operational and near-operational Fortresses? / by Scott Thompson

OLD 590
The brief story of a photo-recon Mustang flying in a forgotten war /
by Jack Canary and Robert Bourlier

DEPARTMENTS:

WARBIRD & CLASSIC REPORT
There is lots of news this month — highlighted by Air Corps’ P-47D Thunderbolt and Yanks Air Museum’s P-63 Kingcobra /
by Doug Fisher

FROM THE COCKPIT
Concluding our article on what it was like to prepare and fly the mighty
Rare Bear for the Reno Air Races. We also present some exclusive aerial photography / by Matt Jackson

FRIDAY NIGHT OLDIES
Surplus ex-military aircraft before today’s multi-million-dollar
restorations / by Doug Fisher

DOWN MEMORY’S RUNWAY
Variety of aircraft from aviation’s glorious past / by Norm Taylor

AIRLINES
News and views from the readers of Air Classics