ON THE COVER:
A classic image of young men going off to war. In just a matter of days, the majority would be dead. The crew of Boeing B-17G USAAF 42-102700 “I’ll Get By” was photographed prior to loading up in their bomber. Assigned to the 412th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group, the Fort was on an 8 February 1944 mission to attack German targets when an 88mm flak round impacted the left wing. This resulted in an explosion and uncontrolled fire. The Fort immediately headed down. Pilot Capt. Elmer Bockman; Copilot Capt. Bob Baber; Navigator Ray Dallas; Bombardier Frank Sohm; Flight engineer/top turret gunner Oscar Walrod; Radio operator Bill Hill, and Capt. Jasper Kaylor were killed in action. Ball turret gunner Don Phillips; Waist gunner Barney Lipkin, and tail gunner Walt Collyer managed to escape by parachute and became POWs as the aircraft crashed at Cesny-aux Vignes, near Caen, France. (USAAF)

FEATURES:

IN A FORGOTTEN FILE
A small library photo collection reveals a connection to a combat veteran Flying Fortress / by Nicholas A. Veronico

STORM OVER THE PACIFIC
Airacobras and Thunderbolts of the 318th Fighter Group tackle the Japanese Empire during WWII / by Steve Blake

COLORS OF WAR
This month, we present rare color images of Allied and Axis fighters and bombers / by Michael O’Leary

TYING UP THE MYSTERY LIBERATORS
Searching out the histories of post-war Liberators along with a gallery of B-24 nose art / by Nicholas A. Veronico

DEPARTMENTS:

MESSAGE FROM PUBLISHER

WARBIRD & CLASSIC REPORT
This month, we cover lots of extra news along with a report on a newly arrived de Havilland Mosquito / by Doug Fisher

LOG ENTRIES
The wacky world of Waldo Waterman / by Mark Bingham

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

DOWN MEMORY’S RUNWAY
Glorious aircraft from aviation’s past / by Norm Taylor

AIRLINES
News and views from the readers of Air Classics