1943 Piper L-4A "Grasshopper"

[tsmgguy]

This is Piper L-4 "Grasshopper" 43-29080, delivered to the US Army on 28 May 1943. It's a complete restoration, and an 80 mph aircraft any way you slice it. It spent its war years at Ft. Polk, LA, and was sold on the civilian market in early 1946. I am the seventh owner, and have had it for the last 24 years.

Information

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[Surpmil]

Interesting, even to those of us who aren't "plane guys" Piper J-3 Cub - Wikipedia

Congrats on finishing; that's always the hard part of restorations...

Do you have info on its service history or who flew it in service?

[USGI]

That is so neat! I don't know a lot about them, but one of the older guys at the plant I retired from was a member of the CAP and owned a similar plane. The local museum here has several models and fly them regularly. Here are pictures of one I took 12 years ago while taking my Grandsons through the museum. I may have a picture showing more of the specs. If I find it, I'll add it later. - Bob

[tsmgguy]

Do you have info on its service history or who flew it in service?

Unfortunately part of the process of selling these aircraft after WWII by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation was to dispose of all records and provide fresh logbooks. All I have is a copy of the original USAAF data card that shows delivery on 28 MAY 1943, ferry to Ft. Polk, and ferry again to the disposal site. All records since then are civilian.

The paint scheme is a guess on my part based on original Piper blueprints and a photo of several L-4s on the flight line at Ft. Polk in about September, 1943. This aircraft was not pictured, but the general L-4 40/41 scheme with the last two digits of each serial number on the fuselages could be seen. I scaled the markings from the photo, knowing that the rudder "buzz" number was generally 6" in height.

[tsmgguy]

A few more pics:

[Bob Womack]

Lovely! My first flying lesson was in a CAP L-19.

Bob

[Rockandroll]

I was a UH-1H crew chief at Fort Stewart, GA in the 1990’s. My crew and I were amazed at watching one these birds do touch a go’s on the approach ramp. The guy had a head wind for sure and lifting off in about 50 feet. It was quite a sight for helo guys.

[Salt Flat]

My Uncle, Herman Nelson was in the U.S Army 1943-1945. He was a Corporal in the 515th Field Artillery Battalion out of Fort Lewis Washington. I found this photo of his unit while doing Genealogy research online. I believe you can see 2 of the L-4 aircraft in the photo along with the 155mm “Long Tom” Guns. All of this (men, aircraft, artillery and support equipment) were shipped to England and then to France and on to Germany. Two battle Stars awarded to all. Credit to this website: Untitled Document Salt Flat

[Matt_X]

Correct me if I'm wrong about this being an L4. I took this photo Sept 1989 at an event marking the 60th anniversery of Doolittle's blind flight. The L4 is taking off from the former Aircraft Radio Corp runway.

It was one of the few, if not only, military planes at the event.
Attachment 115654

[echo1]

When I worked in ag in the late '70s, we had an L4 air ambulance. It had the turtle back hinged, but was a 2 holer. We hung a fresh engine on it once, after some ground run time, we changed the oil and tweaked the carb. By then it was mid afternoon and the wind come up pretty good.The pilot cranked it back up, pointed it into the breeze, and it jumped up in about 50 feet. It was so windy they the driver was able to hover and go backwards. Eric Trinkle, RIP
PAX