ON THE COVER:
For Steve Blake’s in-depth article on aerial combat in the Aleutians, artist Steve Cox created this fantastic painting of Lockheed P-38E Yellow 76 USAAF 41-2221 Spirit of 76 roaring through the terrible Aleutian weather as it escorts a couple Consolidated B-24D Liberators to safety. The lead Liberator has taken flak damage while the Bell P-39 Airacobra joined the formation after having become separated from its 57th Fighter Squadron mates. This particular Airacobra is featured in the John Houston documentary Report From the Aleutians. In that film, it carries the earlier round national insignia but by the time of the painting, the bars and red surround have been added to the aircraft. Spirit of 76, possibly the most colorful of Aleutian Lightnings, fought through the entire war and was scrapped at the conclusion of the conflict. For more on Steve Cox’s artwork, please see the advertisement in this issue.

FEATURES:

COLORS OF WAR
This month, we feature a selection of Thunderbolts, Mustangs, and other American-built combat planes showing their colorful markings / by Michael O’Leary

R WAS FOR RACE
The triumphs and tragedies of the Granville Brothers’ R-series of racing aircraft / by Tim Weinschenker

RARE ROTORS
An amazing “barn find” uncovers a cache of virtually extinct early helicopters / by Nicholas A. Veronico

WAR OF THE ALEUTIAN LIGHTNINGS
Concluding the history on how the Lockheed P-38s of the 54th Fighter Squadron combined with other USAAF and USN units to destroy the Japanese Invaders of the Aleutians / by Steve Blake

DEPARTMENTS:

MESSAGE FROM PUBLISHER

WARBIRD & CLASSIC REPORT
All the latest vintage and veteran aircraft news plus a look at Kermit Weeks Boeing 100 and the Boeing P-26s that have arrived at Legend Flyers / by Doug Fisher

LOG ENTRIES
Is it time to question what is really real when it comes to historic aircraft? / by Mark Bingham

FRIDAY NIGHT OLDIES
Vintage Kodachromes of surplus ex-military aircraft / by Doug Fisher

DOWN MEMORY’S RUNWAY
Historic American aircraft over the decades / by Norm Taylor

AIRLINES
News and views from the readers of Air Classics