What is it???
- Thread starter Nonato
- Start date
G
gwar
Guest
piper L-4
Yeah, indeed.
It is a Grasshoper...from the First ELO (Liaison and Observation Squadron) that fought in Italy with the 1st GAvCa. These 11 pilots everyday's routine was to face the german flak (huge in Northern Italy, as you know), armed with...binoculars!
They were assigned the control of artillery for the Allied Divisions (American, British and Brazilian). Furthermore, they helped in the surveillance of that region. Some of those boys also made a few special ops for the Allies, flying RAF Westland Lysanders in the Austrian-Italian border.
Unfortunately we don't have Pipers in CFS3...but who knows, if I'm a good boy maybe Santa brings me a Sentinel in Brazilian colours...:redf:
It is a Grasshoper...from the First ELO (Liaison and Observation Squadron) that fought in Italy with the 1st GAvCa. These 11 pilots everyday's routine was to face the german flak (huge in Northern Italy, as you know), armed with...binoculars!
They were assigned the control of artillery for the Allied Divisions (American, British and Brazilian). Furthermore, they helped in the surveillance of that region. Some of those boys also made a few special ops for the Allies, flying RAF Westland Lysanders in the Austrian-Italian border.
Unfortunately we don't have Pipers in CFS3...but who knows, if I'm a good boy maybe Santa brings me a Sentinel in Brazilian colours...:redf:
grizzly50
Charter Member
Non, what you need to do is write a letter to Jayc...er, Santa, and maybe he'll see that you get one.:redf::isadizzy::costumes::friday::d
grizzly50
Charter Member
It's done and on its way...Yupiiiii:ernae:
:costumes:
Non, yeah, I figured as much. LOL :ernae: :costumes::costumes::friday::dNonato,
That is Piper L-4B with a Continental A-65 engine. It has been modified with a Jeep radio and antenna for communications with artillery batteries, you can see the long whip antenna in the photo. They originally left the states with a long wire reel antenna with a little parachute type cone mounted on the top of the rudder. These radios were useless and all were ripped out when the artie units received their aircraft. I have owned two of these aircraft and they are excellent flying aircraft and extremely forgiving and docile.
For some really good reading on this aircraft you should purchase "Janey a Little Plane in a Big War". Written by Alfred W. Schultz who flew the same L-4B all the way thru WW II from Italy to Berlin. I met Al at a meeting with the Army Aviation Heritage Association in Atlanta shortly before he passed on, he was a Hell of a man and soldier.
These L-4 pilots flew some of the most dangerous missions imaginable and had bounties on their heads. Many were lost to AA fire and several were shot down by 109s in Italy.
This little aircraft was responsible for the destruction of more German troops, material, and vehicles than any other tactical aircraft operated by the USA in WW II.
Thanks for posting that picture,
Steve
That is Piper L-4B with a Continental A-65 engine. It has been modified with a Jeep radio and antenna for communications with artillery batteries, you can see the long whip antenna in the photo. They originally left the states with a long wire reel antenna with a little parachute type cone mounted on the top of the rudder. These radios were useless and all were ripped out when the artie units received their aircraft. I have owned two of these aircraft and they are excellent flying aircraft and extremely forgiving and docile.
For some really good reading on this aircraft you should purchase "Janey a Little Plane in a Big War". Written by Alfred W. Schultz who flew the same L-4B all the way thru WW II from Italy to Berlin. I met Al at a meeting with the Army Aviation Heritage Association in Atlanta shortly before he passed on, he was a Hell of a man and soldier.
These L-4 pilots flew some of the most dangerous missions imaginable and had bounties on their heads. Many were lost to AA fire and several were shot down by 109s in Italy.
This little aircraft was responsible for the destruction of more German troops, material, and vehicles than any other tactical aircraft operated by the USA in WW II.
Thanks for posting that picture,
Steve
Very brave pilots indeed, one would think this was one of the most dangerous jobs in wwII, unarmed, probably slow. and if they were spotting would not have a great deal of altitude. I think german flak at low to mid altitude was very accurate. not to mention enemy aircraft, brave men indeed.
D
Doolittleraiders
Guest
Take a look...On the Left a Brazilian Piper Grasshoper, on the Right a Brazilian sentinel...from 1st ELO
Will be uploaded soon...
Is that L-5 available?
Ryan