Two for The L-5 Gurus

[Jack Cook]

L-5 25th Liason Squadron 5th Air Force New Guinea 1944

and now a flight of 2

[bdk]

Here are some more photos from this squadron:



This one was during a maintenance run:



Check out the second one after I colorized it:

[Jack Cook]

These are so perdy they look like they could have been taken yesterday

[JDK]

Just back from a bit of Pacific time travel:

[bdk]

These are so perdy they look like they could have been taken yesterday

Well, last Monday anyhow!

P.S. No pixels were harmed in the process of creating my previous post.

[Taylor Stevenson]

Once again you made my day, Jack!

[Second Air Force]

Here is a CBI L-5 from the 40th Bomb Group. Notice the O.D. B-29 in the background.


Scott

[akdhc2pilot]

The L-5 in the photo at Chakulia, India (150 miles west of Calcutta) in 1944 actually belonged to the 71st Liaison Squadron. The split yellow / black tail number was used on all their aircraft and pretty much identifies it as such. I have photos of two aircraft a couple serial numbers away that were also flown by the 71st. This particular aircraft (42-99637) survived the war, was sold to the Indian government in 1946 and was registered as VT-CCZ.

The photos of the two 25th Liaison Squadron L-5's were taken over Port Moresby, New Guinea, sometime between August and November 1944. These two aircraft arrived in New Guinea in early August, 1944, transferred to the Philippines with the 25th in December and both survived the war, eventually to be sold by the Foreign Liquidation Commission (FLC) in the Philippines in August, 1947. Their ultimate fate is unknown.

Jim Gray

[Second Air Force]

Jim,

Thanks for clearing up the "40th Bomb Group" L-5. I had wondered why or if the Group would have an L-bird assigned for staff use or some other purpose, and you've answered my question. The multi-colored serial number identification method is interesting as well.

Scott

[akdhc2pilot]

It's true that many bomber and fighter squadrons received a token L-5 for courier and staff use, but in this case I'm quite sure it belonged to the 71st LS.

[mustangdriver]

L-5 25th Liason Squadron 5th Air Force New Guinea 1944

and now a flight of 2

Same group markings as the one in the NMUSAF.

[RyanShort1]

Well, I'm now officially an L-5 guru... I got checked out on Saturday and had quite a blast!

Ryan