MICHAEL O'LEARY'S cover photograph depicts Howard Pardue s General Motors built FM-2P Wildcat, based at Breckenndge in Texas. The “P" denotes a reconnaissance role and this aircraft is one of the few Wildcats modified with two camera ports in the fuselage

These two combat-ready Dominican Air Force P-51Ds seen on active patrol are part of a force of ten ex-Swedish and Israeli Mustangs maintained by the Dominican Republic as first-line fighter aircraft. They are kept on active alert against what the Dominicans consider to be their main threat - Cuba, whose air force operates MiG-21s and 23s. The aircraft in the background, FAD 1916, ex USAAF 44-72364, has been in front-line military service since 1944. Surely a record!

Sleuthing at Gatwick in 1947. A. J. Jackson does his strong-man act on the fuselage of the Monocoupe 60 G-AADG. In the foreground can be seen the mortal remains of D.H.60 Moth G-EBQX and barely visible on the extreme left is Aeroplane Monthly’s editor, aged five!

Grumman J2F-6 Duck N1196N seen in the air near Grumman Aerospace's Calverton, New York plant, before its flight to Oshkosh.