Need help researching 1943 Piper L-4B serial# 43-1285

[L-4Pilot]

Gentlemen,

I own Piper L-4B 43-1285 and I am trying to locate information on 4th Army, 428th Field Artillery Battalion during 1944.

I have the original factory records on the aircraft along with the AAF aircraft card showing that my plane was shipped to Camp Roberts, Calif. by rail and assigned to Army Ground Forces March 1943.

I have located an accident report indicating that the plane went down Dec. 12th 1944, three miles NE of Camp Chafee Arkansas, cause CRLEF (crash landing engine failure). According to the accident report the L-4 was assigned to 4th Army 428th FA Bat on that date. The aircraft was trucked to Camp Chafee and sold as damaged surplus Jan. 23rd, 1945. I have the AAF Bill of Sale from that transaction, the plane was purchased for $111.00.

I am trying to fill in the gap from March 1943 until the accident in December of 1944 and believe the plane was with 4th Army during that time. The 4th Army had relocated to Ft. Sam Houston Jan. 1944 and was engaged in field training and maneuvers in surrounding states during 1944.

I have been unable to locate much information on the 428th FA Bat and would appreciate any help with regard to this matter.

Pictures of the aircraft can be seen on the L-4 facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4 ... 2753435388

Thanks,
Steve

[TonyM]

deleted post

[L-4Pilot]

I did find some additional information on 4th Army. They arrived at Ft. Sam Houston January 1944 and that year trained and equipped 9th Army and 15th Army which were then deployed overseas.

I found two additional L-4 accident reports designated as 4th Army aircraft. They were damaged in landing accidents in Indiana on December 2nd four days before my aircraft went down. Both of the other two L-4s were B models and were assigned to the 883 Field Artillery Battalion.

It seems that the L-4 pilots were actively training with artillery battalions for deployment with 9th and 15th armies when they had their accidents. I have a detailed six page accident report on the way that may answer some of the questions that I have about the 428th designation. I will have the pilot name who was involved in the accident and can then pull his record.

Steve

[ZeamerB17]

bump