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L-3 /
O-58 Grasshopper
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Photo:
Robert Deering 1991 Midland International Airport (MAF) Midland, Texas |
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The L-3,
originally designated O-58, was the military
version of the Aeronca Model 65 Defender.
This high-wing, light airplane could operate
from small, hastily-built flying fields. The
Army ordered the first O-58s in 1941 to test
the use of light aircraft for liaison and
observation missions in direct support of
ground forces. Between 1941 and 1943,
Aeronca Aircraft Corp. of Middletown, Ohio,
built more than 1,400 of these aircraft for
the Army -- 875 of them were L-3Bs.
During World War II, Aeronca L-3s joined similar "Grasshoppers" in artillery fire direction, courier service, front-line liaison and pilot training. In 1942 Aeronca developed the TG-5, a training glider based on the O-58. The three-seat glider had a front fuselage replacing the engine, but retained the rear fuselage, wings and tail of the powered version. Aeronca built 250 TG-5s for the Army. Built during WWII, the L-3B on display found its way into private hands as surplus after the war. Completely restored by its previous owner, Paul Grice of Waynesville, Ohio, the airplane was flown to the museum in 1984. |
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 Photo: Robert Deering 10/18/2012 National Museum of the USAF Wright-Patterson AFB (FFO) Dayton, Ohio |
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