A Harrier GR.3 of IV(AC) Sqn caught in the hover at RAF Gütersloh, West Germany, in 1987. The RAF’s first-generation Harriers are the subject of this month’s Database. See page 57. VIA BOB MARSTON

See page 30 for a great subscription offer to offer to

Atlantic endeavours Page 24 A jolly good adventure Page 42 Spitfire XVI nearly ready Page 82 Contents

March 2011 Vol 39 No 3 Issue No 455 (on sale January 25)

Features16OperationTaxableSqnLdrLesMunrogivesapersonalaccountofhow617Sqnplayedakey role in assisting the D-Day landings

24 Battle Honours In the first of a new series, Martyn Chorlton describes one of the many actions that earned 423 Sqn RCAF the right to emblazon “Atlantic 1942– 1945” on its Standard

32 Hooks’ Tours A selection of fascinating colour images taken by veteran aviation photographer Mike Hooks in 1967 during a visit to the FEAF in Singapore

34 Ramrod to Munster Stephen C. Ananian describes his first combat mission in a P-51 Mustang, which resulted in him being hit by flak and baling out into a hostile sea

42 Three Men in a Biplane In this month’s Hidden History Ellie Parsons charts the adventures of Wilfred Blake and crew, who set off to fly around the world in a D.H.9

50 Booker’s Beauties Richard Paver looks at the work of Personal Plane Services, which has been restoring aircraft since 1947

DATABASE

63 Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1/3 & T.2/4 Hawker historian Chris Farara details the development of the first generation of the unique Harrier “jump-jet”, as used in RAF service. Includes scale drawings by Juanita Franzi and cutaway illustration by Frank Munger

58 Brothers in Flight After more than 70 years Norman Wilson has located the crash site of his brother’s Wellington, as Chris Richards reports

80 Harrier’s Final Bow A brief description of the historic events that led to the iconic V/STOL jet being retired from UK service, compiled by Jarrod Cotter

82 RAF’s “new” Spitfire Louise Blackah describes how Spitfire Mk XVI TE311 is nearing its return to flight with the BBMF at Coningsby

86 Wintry Waddington A brace of images taken more than 65 years apart showing two generations of Avro bombers in seasonal settings at the Lincolnshire base

In News

U-boat killer Cat flies Page 7

Flug Werk FW 190 Page 9

Lancaster rebuild Page 10

Dewoitine revival Page 12

COVER IMAGE RICHARD PAVER photographed Spitfire XVI TE184 on September 4, 2010 while en route to Duxford’s Battle of Britain Air Show. It was restored by Personal Plane Services – see the feature beginning on page 50.

route to Duxford’s

Regulars

6 News All the latest preservation news, compiled by Tony Harmsworth

22 Aircrew This month James Kightly turns the serchlight on a Sopith Camel nightfighter pilot. Illustration by Ian Bott

49 From the Archives 60 Q&A Your questions asked, and answered, with Mike Hooks

89 Book Reviews 93 Events Events listing for February and March

94 Flying Visit This month Melvyn Hiscock puts the questions to Tiger Club member Richard Pearson

97 Services and next month in Aeroplane 100 Readers’ Album Evocative scenes from Croydon Airport taken in 1936 by reader Richard Gardner’s father Vic Gardner

102 Skywriters A selection of readers’ letters

106 Hairy Moment Our regular spot for your historic-aviation close calls

Canberra to Ireland Page 14

established 1911 established 1911

established 1911 Aeroplane traces its lineage back to the weekly The Aeroplane, founded by the legendary C.G. Grey in 1911 and published until 1968. It was relaunched as a monthly magazine in 1973 by Richard T. Riding (Editor for 25 years until 1998)

1968. It was relaunched as a monthly magazine