ON THE COVER:
The 1942 film Air Force came along just when America needed something positive about the war. The film is the fictionalized story nof a Flying Fortress crew fighting during the early months of the war in the Pacific —
right from a group of Forts departing Hamilton Field and flying into the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. It is considerably better than most war films of the time and has some really outstanding footage. Around ten “shark fin” B-17B, B-17C, and B-17D variants were used in filming, which took place at Drew AAF near Tampa but the star of the movie was the “B-17D 40-5564” named Mary Ann. The plane was actually B-17B 38-584 that was credited, for unknown reasons, as a B-17D throughout the film. After the movie was completed, the rare B-17B was utilized for War Bond tours. (USAAF)

FEATURES:

EJECT! EJECT!
The full story behind an extremely dramatic aviation photograph / by Marshall Wainwright

FROM TRACKER TO TANKER
In need of a new fire bomber, the Grumman TS 2A Tracker was chosen to fulfil the mission / by Steve Whitbey

STORM OVER THE PACIFIC
With Part Two of the book-length history of the 318th Fighter Group during World War Two, the unit’s aircraft take the war directly to the Japanese / by Steve Blake

COLORS OF WAR
Further selection or rare images illustrating the camouflage schemes and markings of Second World War aircraft / by Michael O’Leary

DEPARTMENTS:

MESSAGE FROM PUBLISHER

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

LOG ENTRIES
The Glenn Miller Conspiracy / by Mark Bingham

FRIDAY NIGHT OLDIES
More surplus ex-military aircraft before million dollar restorations / by Doug Fisher

DOWN MEMORY’S RUNWAY
Flying machines from aviation’s glorious past / by Norm Taylor

AIRLINES
News and views from the readers of Air Classics