USAAF Liaison Pilot

Unarmed pilots flying Stinson L-5 Sentinels and Piper L-4 Cubs for courier work, artillery spotting, short-range observation over friendly territory, and officer transport.

The Story

3,590 L-5s were delivered between Nov 1942 and Sept 1945, making it the second-most-used light liaison aircraft of the war behind the L-4. Originally designated O-62 ("O" for observation), it became L-5 in April 1942 when the Air Corps decided "liaison" was the more useful umbrella.