The Story

I bought this book because it was recommended to me by David W. Menard, the noted aviation historian and photographer, after I asked him some questions about American liaison aircraft used in Europe during World War II. Dave suggested that I contact Terry Love, the author, and the result was that I now have a copy of the book. I’m glad I bought it, because it certainly fills a gap in my library, and fills me in on some of the “L” types that were used during the war, and the reason why they were developed at that time. Although the book was originally published in 2001, I was not aware of it until now.

The book begins with the story of the development of aerial observation even before World War I, and the role of Army aviation following the end of hostilities. By the late thirties, the US Army had several fairly high performance observation types, including the obsolete O-46A and the more modern Curtiss O-52 and North American O-47A. These were all fairly complicated planes, and were not entirely suited to the roles that Army observation airplanes would play during the war. Like the British Westland Lysander and the German Henschel HS-126A, they were examples of bureaucratic overkill. When some prophetic Army officers suggested the use of light planes of the Piper, Taylorcraft, and Aeronca category, initial reaction of the high brass was negative, but after the manufacturers supplied a few of their airplanes for use in various Army maneuvers during late 1941, the higher-ups finally realized that light planes of this type would be very useful in such tasks as directing artillery fire and providing liaison services for the army ground forces. They were light, easy to maintain, burned automobile fuel, and could be repaired by mechanics with minimal skills. In addition, a liaison pilot did not require the degree of training required of fighter and bomber pilots.

Another type used by the Army was the STOL aircraft. Three prototypes were ordered, from Stinson (YO-49), Bellanca (YO-50), and Ryan (YO-51). These were influenced by Germany’s Fiesler Fi-156 Storch, which had been demonstrated in the US before the war. The Stinson O-49 got the production contract, and was produced in small numbers during the war. They were, however, used in combat throughout the world during the war, although they were fairly complex and difficult to maintain in the field. They were later redesignated L-1.

The mass produced light planes, on the other hand, were mainly produced by Taylorcraft (O-57/L-2), Aeronca (O-58/L-3), and Piper (O-59/L-4), and these were produced in large numbers over a short period of time, mainly because they were merely adaptations of planes produced pre-war for the Civilian Pilot Training Program. Stinson produced a model similar to its 3 place Model 10A, although it was upgraded into an excellent liaison type that lasted through the Korean War. A few light planes impressed by the military were also used, but these were obtained from private owners. Incidentally, before the war, Taylorcraft began producing light planes in England, and these became the basis for the Auster AOP series. A few Interstate L-6’s were also used, but they were not produced in large quantities, and were never sent overseas. The author also includes some operational history, and tells about the use of LST aircraft carriers and the Brodie wire launch system used towards the end of the war.

When the Army developed a glider program based on the Waco CG-4A glider, it was discovered that the few training sailplanes then available were totally unsuited as military glider trainers, so the simple expedient was to convert L-2’s, L-3’s and L-4s into training gliders, which had similar flight characteristics to the bigger Waco’s. These were produced in substantial numbers, and some were reconverted to light planes after the war, and a few are still flying. The training gliders were even experimented with as radio controlled flying bombs, but the project was abandoned. I flew a Piper J-3C-65 Cub in the fifties that had originally been built as a glider, and didn’t realize it until I checked the manufacturer’s plate.

The Book

The book serves several functions. For the historian, it tells a story that has not, to my knowledge, been told before. It is fairly complete, although it does not give a lot of details on some of the impressed light planes. For the modeler, it contains a wealth of information on the various liaison types. There are some useful color profile drawings on the Stinson L-1, Aeronca L-3, Piper L-4, Stinson L-5, and a Taylorcraft TG-6A training glider. Photos are mainly from official or manufacturer’s sources, but they are useful in establishing color schemes and markings for the airplanes in question. A series of ten three view drawings, presumably in 1/72 scale, will prove useful to modelers wishing to do conversions or scratch built models. Since 1/72 kits are available on the O-46, O-47, L-1, L-4, the Auster AOP, this book will provide essential information on these aircraft. By the way, the Airfix Auster AOP would make a good basis for a Taylorcraft L-2 conversion, while the KP L-4 kit is also useful in building a J3C-65 in 1/72 scale. Both would be good for training glider conversions.

The book has some minor problems, mainly in a few strange grammatical constructions that only an English professor would notice, but in addition, he identifies a postwar Stinson 108 as a Model 10A type impressed during the war. But other than that, it is an excellent book, and certainly well worth the price if you have any interest in modeling these little known but highly effective World War II warbirds. Highly recommended.

Obtaining the Book

When I emailed the author, he suggested either contacting the publisher or ordering it direct from him. I chose the latter route, and the book arrived several days later. I am entirely satisfied with the book.