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Welcome to Lbirds.com - a website devoted to the Liaison Aircraft of WW II, the men who flew them, and groups operating or restoring them.

Article - A Liaison Aircraft Overview

The Second World War was an epic period in American history. American military organizers were able to successfully transition from a relatively small, under-equipped, peacetime professional force to perhaps the most powerful military force in the world in the space of approximately four years. They did this with a primarily civilian army and a fabulous combination of industrial ingenuity, flexibility, and entrepreneurship. One of the best examples of this ingenuity was displayed in the development and use of small liaison aircraft.

Piper L-4 sketch from wartime Piper advertising bookletThe liaison aircraft had their origin in the light plane industry developed in the United States. All but one of the major "L-bird" designs were based on civilian models currently available on the market. The United States unique form of government and understanding of personal rights, responsibilities, and freedom had led to the developement of aviation as a tool not only for military purposes, but for the average citizen. After World War I and the advancement of aircraft technology, increasingly larger numbers of individuals used aircraft for their personal enjoyment, transportation, and business opportunities.

Although aircraft had been used from their earliest origins for battlefield observation, reconnaissance, and other military purposes... Read More Here


Have you ever wondered what the L-birds looked like in action? Check out this video clip of some Piper L-4s and Stinson L-5s being used for medical purposes in the Phillipines.


Here are a few links for you to further your search for liaison aircraft information:

Alamo Liaison Squadron - www.als-cannonfield.com
International Liaison Pilots Association - www.centercomp.com/ILPA
Sentinel Owner's and Pilot's Association - www.sentinelclub.org
Army Wings and Wheels - www.armywingsandwheels.com
The Stinson Club - http://www.stinsonclub.org



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All images and text are © 2008, 2009 and forward by the webmaster or their resepective author(s). All rights reserved. All opinions expressed are the webmaster's own and do not reflect on any organization. If you are interested in using information or photos on any of these pages please email the webmaster first. Some of the content here is from personal interviews and research. Some of it is from the public record and is available to others through books, documents, and libraries. A large number of the images are from the National Archives via Footnote.com. If you have questions, comments, or concerns please contact the webmaster at ryan@lbirds.com.