Flight Journal June 2025

FEATURES

Royal Navy Wildcats
Grumman’s carrier-based fighter
excels in His Majesty’s Service
By Clive Rowley, MBE RAF (Ret.)

“Big Juicy”
R.K. Smithley battles the Los Angeles
Wildfires in a DC-10 fire bomber
By Jan Tegler

Hunting the Hunters
Memories of a night intruder pilot
By James P. Busha, as told by James F. “Lou” Luma,
Flying Officer RCAF 418 Squadron, and later First
Lieutenant USAAF 802nd Reconnaissance Group

Tales of the 21
Lethal Cold War icon
By Barrett Tillman

The Gooney Turns 90
Still one of the most important transport aircraft of all time
By Geoff Jones