The Stinson L-5 was the only purpose-built L-bird and the second most widely used liaison aircraft in WWII. It was rugged and powerful. The L-5 was called the Flying Jeep as it could perform many of the same duties.
The Aeronca L-3 joined similar Grasshopper-types in spotting, directing artillery fire, transport, short-range reconnaissance, and training. Some served in North Africa for the Free French Forces.
The Taylorcraft L-2 was an observation and reconnaissance aircraft built for U.S. Army Ground and Air Forces in WWII. L-2s were powered by a 65-horsepower engines and served stateside for training operations.
Interprète Volant, originally written in French, is a first-hand account of the 72nd Liaison Squadron on its march through southern France and into Germany prior to the end of WWII in the European theater. The writings begin in September 1944 with a french interpreter being enlisted into the 7th American Army to assist French and…
Evolution of the Liaison-Type Airplane 1917-1944, Army Air Forces Historical Studies: No. 44, produced by AAF Historical Office, April 1946. A detailed look into how the U.S. arrived at the point where a diminutive airplane, collectively known as L-birds, or liaison aircraft, became some of the most imposing forces in the Allied victory of WWII.…
Excerpted from The Field Artillery School Thesis: Should Observation Aviation be an Organic Part of the Division, by Robert Q. Brown, 1936–1937 Summary and Conclusions – Pre-WWII The use of observation aviation in open offensive warfare is essential to the success of a basic force. Therefore in order to develop the maximum striking power of…
Excerpted from Report of the General Board, United States Forces, European Theater. Mission: Prepare report and recommendations on the provision of liaison aircraft to ground force units and for HORSEFLY control of fighter-bomber close base in support missions. Liaison Aircraft Definition The term liaison aircraft is applied to an unarmed and unarmored single engine airplane…
This WWII documentary film titled, “Perishable Rush,” shows how the Army Air Forces during World War II flew wounded men from Pacific battle areas to mobile army surgeons hospitals, hospital ships, and finally major hospitals and eventually home towns in the United States. Fast forward to the 3:18 mark to see L-4 in action. At…
The story of one WWII American airman who went missing when a crew of nine were shot down in August, 1944, and parachuted out of their B-24 Liberator in northern Italy. April 28, 1945, following the advancement of Allied forces north of the Gothic Line. “British headquarters had been established in a wardamaged building that…
Advertorial from Flying magazine, March 1945
Flying unarmed Piper L-4 Grasshopper, Stinson L-5 Sentinel and Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman light aircraft, the 159th Liaison Squadron flew courier and aerial reconnaissance missions and dropped munitions and supplies to American and Philippine forces fighting in the Battle of Luzon, and rescued many wounded soldiers. While the film is 20 minutes in length, the liaison…
Collier’s for February 17, 1945Wing Talk, edited by Frederick R. Neely FROM Mrs. W. B. Mohney, Topeka, came the suggestion that “an article in your magazine on Grasshopper planes would be interesting—not the Grasshopper of the Air Corps, but of the Field Artillery. It is a very important part of the Army and most people…
January 20, 1945 – “In view of 12th Army Groups’ recommendation that two L-4s in the Arty Air Sections of Army, Corps, Brigade, Division and Group HQs be replaced by L-5s as the latter are received as replacements, the comparative information below should be of interest.” Advantages of the L-5 over the L-4 [true advantages…