Air Classics October 2021

 

GET THE DIGITAL ISSUE AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

 

ON THE COVER:

 

Classic view of a Thunderbolt and its pilot. Captain Edwin Fisher and P-47D-27-RE 42-26919/E4*E Shirley Jane III of the 377th FS, 362nd FG, display a most impressive tally of missions and destroyed Axis equipment. On 29 June 1944, Fisher intercepted and shot down three V-1 buzz bombs. He also had seven confirmed aerial victories and was the only ace in the 377th.

Fisher stayed in the post-war USAAF but was killed in the crash of an AT-6F near Norristown, Pennsylvania, on 28 March 1947.

 

FEATURES:

 

CROSBY’S RACERS

In a very short period of time, Harry Crosby created two of the more radical aircraft of the Golden Age of Air Racing / by Tim Weinschenker

 

SUN-SETTERS’ SAGA

Part Two of the history of the 339th Fighter Squadron as they blazed a trail of glory across the Pacific during WWII / by Steve Blake

 

THE FIRST WARBIRD?

Was this Lockheed Lightning the foundation of the modern Warbird Movement? / by A. Kevin Grantham

 

COLORS OF WAR

Further installment of rare color images of military aircraft from the Challenge archive / by Michael O’Leary

 

FRANCES’ FINAL FLIGHT

What happened to this Sikorsky amphibian and its crew on a transatlantic record flight? / by James Thompson

 

WINGS OVER OSHKOSH
Some of the fantastic aircraft that attended AirVenture 2021 / by Roger Cain

 

BUILDING THE FLYING FORTRESS

In Part Five, we continue with the examination of the B-17F / by Michael O’Leary

 

WARBIRD & CLASSIC REPORT

This month, we present a greatly expanded look at the world’s vintage and veteran aircraft / by Doug Fisher

 

ASK NICK
A lost Stormbird / by Nicholas A. Veronico

 

AIRLINES
News and views from the readers of Air Classics

 

DOWN MEMORY’S RUNWAY
Some military aircraft whose flying days are definitely over / by Norm Taylor