ON THE COVER:
As noted in last month’s installment of “Colors of War,” the Fairey Battle was slaughtered during the Battle of France. There were numerous reasons for this — the aircraft itself, poor intelligence and planning, along with the stubborn refusal to send the Battles into combat with effective fighter escort. The type was hurriedly withdrawn from front-line service but hundreds remained in storage and it was decided to use these planes for a variety of training duties. The biggest user was the Royal Canadian Air Force. The RCAF received its first eight Battles in August 1939 and hundreds would follow. They were employed as dual control trainers, target tugs, and gunnery trainers with the many bombing and gunnery schools of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan based at fields across Canada. This fascinating photo shows a well-worn Battle preparing for another gunnery flight. The pilot does not even bother to shut down the Merlin as the gunner trainee in the rear cockpit hands down a canvas bag of spent casings while an armorer prepares to hand up a fresh .303-caliber machine gun as the next gunner trainee looks on. The .303 was less than an effective weapon and Luftwaffe pilots derisively referred to it as a “paint scratcher.” (RCAF)

FEATURES:

THE FLIGHT OF GLIMPY
How the US Navy mated Piper NE-1 Cubs with an M-class airship / by Adam Stanton

COST OF WAR
Rare WWII combat photographs from the Challenge archives / by Michael O’Leary

FAILED PHOENIX
As jet aircraft technology moved forward, McDonnell created the Model 119A/220 to appeal to both the military and civilian markets / by Steve Wolff

DAY OF THE PRIVATEER
The four-engine PB4Y-2 played an important part in the Pacific War before going on to enjoy a decades long career as a fire-bomber. Yanks Air Museum will celebrate the type this coming March / by Nicholas A. Veronico

BOEING’S DEATH ANGEL
Although a financial failure, the Boeing Y1B-9A would help pave the way for modern strategic bombing / by Martin Walton

AVOIDABLE DISASTER
National Transportation and Safety Board’s report and conclusions on the tragic mid-air collision between the CAF’s B-17G and P-39F / by NTSB

DEPARTMENTS:

MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER

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

LOG ENTRIES
Our fascination with endurance flying / by Mark Bingham

FRIDAY NIGHT OLDIES
More ex-military aircraft in the days before multimillion- dollar Warbirds / by Doug Fisher

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

AIRLINES
News and views from the readers of Air Classics