May 2012 Vol 40 No 5 Issue No 469 (on sale March 27)

Contents Contents

COVER IMAGE: ROBERT TAYLOR’s dramatic painting,

entitled Caught on the Surface, depicts the final moments of U-461

in the Bay of Biscay on July 30,

1943, as a Short

Sunderland of 461 Sqn RAAF drops its depth charges. www.militarygallery.com

Corsair “Death Rattlers” Page 28

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FeaturesFeatures

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CAUGHT ON THE SURFACE The wartime recollections of Sunderland pilot Flt Lt Brian Landers CORSAIR COUNTERATTACK Philip Chinnery begins a series of articles on various aspects of aviation during the Korean War by looking at the exploits of Joe Wosser and the “Death Rattlers” of VMF-323 FORGOTTEN FOUNDER François Prins concludes his tribute to Sir David Henderson, who more than any other pioneered air power in Britain

See page 90 for a great subscription offer to offer to

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ROYAL DUXFORD To mark the forthcoming Jubilee Air Show at Duxford we present some scenes of royal visits from the archives of the Imperial War Museums SKYRAIDER REUNION Tim Manna describes how Kennet Aviation’s Douglas AD-4 was returned to its original Korean War paint scheme, and how two of its former pilots came to the UK to see its public debut. Includes the first air-to-airs by Lee Howard

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FREE 16-PAGE PULL-OUT AIR SHOW 2012 Hundreds of air shows and aviation events listed from around the world

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THE THIRD SHALL BE THE FIRST Jim Robinson marks the centenary of the formation of 3 Sqn RAF by briefly charting the unit’s 100 years of service

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ANGELS ONE FIVE Gary R. Brown marks the 60th anniversary of the release of a great British aviation film classic

DATABASE

WHITWORTH WHITLEY WHITL EY 16 16 PAGES OF PAGES OF DETAILDETAIL

69 ARMSTRONG WHITWORTH WHITLEY Martyn Chorlton tells the story of Bomber Command’s first modern long-range heavy bomber, which helped to form the backbone of the RAF’s bombing offensive during the early part of the Second World War

EY In News

Royalty at Duxford

Page 40 Cockatrice centenary Page 100

BELOW: John Beattie flies Kennet Aviation’s Douglas AD-4NA Skyraider, 126922/503/G-RADR, wearing its recently applied authentic Korean War paint scheme, over the Bristol Channel on June 22, 2011. LEE HOWARD

Dolphin at Hendon Page 6

Spitfire Mk I flies

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Vampire rolled out

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RegularsRegulars

NEWS All the latest preservation news, compiled by Tony Harmsworth AIRCREW James Kightly describes the work of an Avro Anson navigator. Illustration by Ian Bott DE HAVILLAND AIRCRAFT HERITAGE CENTRE Gary R. Brown continues our new “Museum Spotlight” series by visiting the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre FROM THE ARCHIVES Jarrod Cotter shows how The Aeroplane reported on Amy Johnson becoming the first woman to fly solo from

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England to Australia in May 1930, using extracts from the three issues of the time which covered the feat in some detail

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BOOK REVIEWS GIFTS EVENTS Event listings for May and June 2012

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FLYING VISIT Melvyn Hiscock talks to Adam Shaw, a pilot with the French aerobatic duo the CAPTENS, about his flying career Q&A, LOST & FOUND Your questions asked, and answered, with Mike Hooks, while Philip Jarrett seeks information on a curious fairing under the nose of a Halifax SKYWRITERS A selection of readers’ letters SERVICES AND NEXT MONTH IN AEROPLANE HAIRY MOMENT Our regular spot for your historic-aviation close calls

Invader unveiled

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Nimrod for Morayvia Page 12

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)

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