ON THE COVER:
CJust a few years ago, it would have been almost imaginable to think we would have five flying de Havilland Mosquitoes — World War Two’s “Wooden Wonder.” Thanks to Avspecs and dedicated owners, we can now witness these magnificent machines where they belong — in the air. Photography by Michael O’Leary

FEATURES:

FIGHTER PILOT REUNION
At age 99, WWII Mustang pilot Pete Petersburs goes aloft in a dual-control P-51D to show that he still has the “right stuff” / by Nicholas A. Veronico

PORT MORESBY’S COBRAS
The concluding chapter in the history of the 8th and 35th Fighter Groups as the Airacobras and their pilots took on everything the Japanese could throw at them. These deadly aerial battles over New Guinea stopped Japan’s planned invasion of Australia / by Steve Blake

MOSQUITO MISSION
We go airborne with the de Havilland “Wooden Wonders” belonging to Rod Lewis and Charles Somers and learn the histories of these important survivors / by Michael O’Leary

COST OF WAR
With the December issue, we return to the “Cost of War,” illustrating the huge losses suffered by Allied and Axis aircraft during the Second World War / by Michael O’Leary

HITLER’S BUMBLEBEE
This little aircraft was created as a low-cost, lightweight primary trainer but as Germany’s fortunes began to crumble most were pressed into service on the combat fronts / by Stefan Degraef

DEPARTMENTS:

MESSAGE FROM PUBLISHER

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

LOG ENTRIES
Remembering that there are “giants among us” / by Mark Bingham

DOWN MEMORY’S RUNWAY
Classic American aircraft from aviation’s glorious past / by Norm Taylor

AIRLINES
News and views from the readers of Air Classics