ON THE COVER:
During WWII, the Curtiss Kittyhawk/Warhawk series of aircraft fought the enemy from unreported fronts of the Second World War. This is highlighted by Steve Blake’s article on the 82nd and 110th Tac Rec squadrons in this issue. The Royal Air Force and our other Allies also used the P-40 to good advantage. The P-40 is known, of course, for carrying fearsome “shark’s mouth” markings on the nose. This started with the RAF Kittyhawks of No. 112 Squadron in North Africa. In this photo, a confident Lt. A.R. Costello, complete with red silk scarf, poses with his aircraft at Side Heneish, Egypt, during April 1942. Costello had flown Gloster Gladiator biplanes against the Germans until the Kittyhawks arrived.

FEATURES:

COST OF WAR
Rare photographs of WWII combat aircraft that have been knocked out of action / by Michael O’Leary

THE CIVIL SAVAGES
American citizens could purchase surplus nuclear-capable North American AJ Savages and put them to work as fire-bombers / by Milo Peltzer

SOUTH PACIFIC RECON
Airacobra and Warhawk pilots of the 82nd and 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons went aloft to meet the enemy over some of the world’s most hostile terrain / by Steve Blake

DOWN IN THE DESERT
The loss of the only USAF C-121A converted to a civilian airliner / by Howard Carter

THE BATTLE OF GRAVENEY MARSH
How the crew of a shot-down Junkers Ju 88 faced off against a platoon of the London Irish Rifles / by Lloyd Hoskins

DEPARTMENTS:

MESSAGE FROM PUBLISHER

WARBIRD & CLASSIC REPORT
Saving an S-2 Tracker, MiG 23 accident at Willow Run, and all the current vintage and veteran aviation news / by Doug Fisher

FRIDAY NIGHT OLDIES
More great Kodachromes of surplus military aircraft / by Doug Fisher

DOWN MEMORY’S RUNWAY
More photos of interesting vintage American aircraft /
by Norm Taylor

AIRLINES
News and views from the readers of Air Classics