ON THE COVER:
Magnificent photograph of a PBJ-1H Mitchell being prepared for delivery to the US Marine Corps where it would go on to serve with VMB-613. Heavy armament included a 75mm T13E1 cannon and 14 Browning M2 .50-caliber machine guns There were four in the nose section, four package guns (two on a side) holding four guns, two in a power operated Bendix Model R turret, two in the Bell Type M-7 tail turret, and one in each slightly staggered waist position. For students of military aircraft paint schemes, this view is of interest since the open nose section shows areas of over spray, portions painted in sprayed aluminum, areas of natural aluminum, and some portions in zinc chromate. (North American Aviation)

FEATURES:

HEADING TOWARD GREATNESS
Our new feature “Prototypes” highlights the first aircraft built from an intended series of production machines. Sometimes the production run amounted to thousands of planes, sometimes it simply ended with the prototype. In this first installment, we look at the Boeing Stearman Model 70 / by Michael O’Leary

“GARY, YOU BETTER GET BACK IN THAT THING!”
Over a half-century after it happened, the unusual incident of a pilot ejecting from a Convair F-106 is recounted. The ejection is not that unusual but the fact that the deltawinged interceptor continued on to land itself certainly is / by Howard Carter

WAR OF THE WINGED TORPEDOES
This top-secret program went on for several years and was only put to use during the very final days of the war against Japan. A B 25J pilot tells of his experiences with the GT-1 glide torpedo / by Maurice E. Smith

MUSTANG NAMED FRANCIS DELL
Now owned and operated in Germany, this P-51D carries the markings of a famous Duxford-based fighter group / by Darren Harbar

COST OF WAR
Continuing our series on WWII aircraft that are definitely out of action / by Michael O’Leary

VINTAGE WINGS OVER OREGON
We visit the annual Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum and view some unusual aircraft / by Roger Cain

YANKS SAVES A CAT
Yanks Air Museum rescues at PBY-6A Catalina that was facing a very uncertain future / by Michael O’Leary

DEPARTMENTS:

MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER

WARBIRD & CLASSIC REPORT
All the vintage and veteran aircraft news from around the world plus details of a tragic crash at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome / by Doug Fisher

AIR CLASSICS GIFT GUIDE
Some neat items for the aviation enthusiast this Christmas season

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

AIRLINES
News and views from the readers of Air Classics