ON THE COVER:
This rare color image illustrates a Lockheed Lightning Mk. I in USAAF use but still carrying the Royal Air Force serial of AF132. Both Britain and France ordered the Lightning as the Model 322-B and Model 322-F. The two countries standardized on the nonturbosupercharged Allisons so the fighters would have similar powerplants to their Curtiss P-40s, which was obviously a mistake. When France surrendered, its Lightning order was taken over by Britain. In the end, Britain only received three Lightnings. With America’s entry into the war, 40 completed planes were seized and used for coastal defense and training. They were designated RP-322 — the R stood for Restricted because of the non contrarotating propellers while the P was, of course, for Pursuit. The Lockheed model number 322 was used for the designation. This very well-worn and unarmed RP-322 wears Lockheed’s interpretation of an RAF day fighter camouflage scheme while the Y-32-B on the cowl is a training code. (USAAF)

FEATURES:

ONLY DEATH WAS CHEATED
Wildcat pilot recalls what was like to ditch in the North Atlantic / by Roland Bates

HELLCAT ROLL-OUT
After years of restoration work, Yanks Air Museum has rolled out their rare Grumman F6F-3 / by Michael O’Leary

ART CHESTER’S RACERS
Besides creating some of the Golden Age’s most successful racers, this “backyard” engineer also designed the powerplant installation for the prototype Mustang / by Tim Weinschenker

COST OF WAR
Once again, we visit our files to find images of destroyed and damaged WWII aircraft / by Michael O’Leary

EVEREADY TO THE RESCUE
Teenager with his faithful flashlight saves a flight of lost Fairchilds / by Randall Smith

PURSUIT CALLED TOMMY
This Thomas-Morse S-4C is over a century old and still flying / by Roger Cain

DEPARTMENTS:

MESSAGE FROM PUBLISHER

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

LOG ENTRIES
Profiling the amazing flying career of Moye Stephens / by Mark Bingham

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

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

AIRLINES
News and views from the readers of Air Classics