February 2010

Derek Erskine—Double Survivor

In this first part of a two-part feature, Rob Neil relates the story of Derek Erskine’s RAF service in World War Two. One of very few of “the few” still alive today, Derek also survived a second hazardous aviation career as an early topdressing pilot.

Hellcat Recovery

Aircraft recovery missions are Mark Sheppard’s speciality. In this issue, Mark describes the wartime history and subsequent recent recovery of a Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat from Lake Michigan.

Tomcat Remembered

In 2006, Pacific Wings’ UK correspondent, Peter Cooper, was extremely lucky to join VF-31 and VF-213 aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt for the final carrier training missions undertaken by the remarkable Grumman Tomcat.

Record—For a Day

Jill McCaw describes the outstanding effort by New Zealand’s gliding legend, Terry Delore, when he broke another world gliding record recently (and briefly)

Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya

Wellington-based writer and photographer Erik Roelofs travelled to Uruguay last year, where he and fellow writer/photographer Paul van den Hurk spent time with the Uruguayan Air Force.

Letters from War—Two Days in August

In another poignant “Letter from War”, Don Harward speaks from a soldier’s heart about two dark days in Afghanistan.