6 - Battle of Britain
Issue 6 - Battle of Britain: Contents
24 September 2010
The letter that changed the course of history... The Battle of Britain... Spitfire or Hurricane – which was the best fighter in the Battle of Britain?... RAF Bentley Priory - HQ Fighter Command... Kent's place of pilgrimage... London's monument... Corpo Aereo Italiano... Battle of Britain spirit flies on in the RAF... Across the Channel... Messerschmitt Bf 109E cockpit... 'Defender of London' 1940...
Issue 6 - Battle of Britain: Editors Introduction
23 September 2010.
It was with some humility that I chose the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain as the subject for this issue of Aviation Classics. As I witnessed several occasions marking the event, it struck me how much widespread national respect there still is for those who fought that crucial aerial battle.
Issue 6 - Battle of Britain: Spitfire or Hurricane
22 September 2010.
A special preview feature from Aviation Classics - Which was the best fighter in the Battle of Britain? Squadron Leader Clive Rowley MBE RAF Ret'd uses his first-hand experience as an RAF fighter pilot and former Officer Commanding Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to argue a debate that has gone on for 70 years!
Issue 6 - Battle of Britain: Corpo Aereo Italiano
21 September 2010.
A special preview feature from Aviation Classics - Luigino Caliaro highlights the participation of the Italian Regia Aeronautica during the late stages of the Battle of Britain.
Current Issue: Lockheed P-38 Lightning
On January 27, 1939, Lockheed test pilot Ben Kelsey took the prototype XP-38 Lightning into the air for the first time. The big, twin-engined, twin-boomed fighter was to become one of the most easily identifiable fighters of the Second World War, and was to be the only US fighter aircraft to remain in production throughout the conflict. Its unusual design had a number of advantages. The guns, being grouped close together in the nose, gave the P-38 a tremendous concentration of firepower. The tricycle undercarriage made ground handling simple when compared with the tailwheel designs common to the period. The P-38 was used across the world, undertaking long range fighter escort, fighter-bomber and reconnaissance missions in Europe as well as across the Pacific and Far East.
This issue of Aviation Classics tells the whole story of this ground breaking aircraft, as well as the people behind the development and operational success of this beautiful machine.
PLUS:
• Next issue on sale: 30th March 2012
