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The Aeronca L-3 group of observation and liaison aircraft were used by the
United States Army Air Corps The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical ri ...
in
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. The L-3 series were adapted from
Aeronca Aeronca, contracted from Aeronautical Corporation of America, located in Middletown, Ohio, is a US manufacturer of engine components and airframe structures for commercial aviation and the defense industry, and a former aircraft manufacturer. F ...
's pre-war Tandem Trainer and Chief models.


Design and development

In 1941, the
United States Army Air Corps The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical ri ...
ordered four examples of the Aeronca 65 TC Defender, designated YO-58, for evaluation of the suitability of light aircraft for observation and liaison purposes. (It also placed similar orders with Piper and
Taylorcraft Aircraft Taylorcraft Aviation is an airplane manufacturer that has been producing aircraft for more than 70 years in several locations. The company builds small single-engined airplanes. The Taylorcraft design is a conventional layout: high-wing, fabr ...
). Service tests during the US Army's annual maneuvers proved successful, and resulted in large orders being placed. In 1942, the O-58 was redesignated L-3.Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p. 31.Mondey 1996, p. 8. When American forces went into combat after
Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the Naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the ...
, the Army Air Force used the L-3 in much the same manner as observation balloons were used during
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
—spotting activities and directing artillery fire. It was also used for liaison and transport duties and short-range
reconnaissance In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities. Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops ( skirmishe ...
which required airplanes to land and take off in short distances from unprepared landing strips. Liaison pilots would train on L-3s before moving on to front-line aircraft like the Piper L-4 or the
Stinson L-5 The Stinson L-5 Sentinel is a World War II-era liaison aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces, U.S. Army Ground Forces, U.S. Marine Corps and the British Royal Air Force. It was produced by the Stinson Division of the Vultee Aircr ...
. Some L-3s were shipped to
North Africa North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in t ...
, and subsequently given to the
Free French Forces __NOTOC__ The French Liberation Army (french: Armée française de la Libération or AFL) was the reunified French Army that arose from the merging of the Armée d'Afrique with the prior Free French Forces (french: Forces françaises libres, la ...
in the area at the time. At least one of the aircraft served with US forces in Italy.And minimally one other did service in Normandy, as reported by the Detroit Free Press on 25 June 1944, with a photograph indicating transport of medical supplies to the advancing front-line regiments. The TG-5 was a three-seat training glider of 1942 based upon the O-58 design. This aircraft retained the O-58's rear fuselage, wings, and tail while adding a new front fuselage in place of the engine. In all, Aeronca built 250 TG-5 gliders for the Army. The Navy received three as the LNR-1.Swanborough and Bowers 1963, pp. 32–33.


Variants

O-58 designation replaced by L-3 designation in April 1942Adcock, 2005, p.21 *YO-58 – Four aircraft with a Continental YO-170-3 engine. *O-58 / L-3 – production order of 50, most used for training in the US. *O-58A / L-3A – Fuselage widened four inches and extended greenhouse canopy. 20 built. *O-58B / L-3B – Modified canopy and additional radio equipment. 875 built. *O-58C / L-3C – As O-58B/L-3B but with radio equipment removed for use as trainer. 490 built. *L-3D – Aeronca 65TF Defender. 11 aircraft impressed. *L-3E – Aeronca 65TC Defender. 12 aircraft impressed. Continental engine. *L-3F – Aeronca 65CA Defender. 19 aircraft impressed. *L-3G – Aeronca 65L Super Chief with side by side seating. 4 aircraft impressed. Lycoming engine. *L-3H – Aeronca 65TL Defender. 1 aircraft impressed) Lycoming engine. *L-3J – Aeronca 65TC Defender 1 additional aircraft impressed. Continental engine. *JR-1 – Three L-3Cs supplied to the
US Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
. *TG-5 – 250 were built as training gliders for the USAAC. *TG-33 – TG-5 converted for prone pilot.Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p.584. *LNR – Three TG-5s supplied to the
US Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
.


Operators

; *
Brazilian Air Force "Wings that protect the country" , colours = , colours_label = , march = Hino dos Aviadores , mascot = , anniversaries = 22 May (anniver ...
L-3C ; * Cuban Air Force - received 11 L-3Bs under Lend-Lease. ;: *
Chilean Air Force "With full speed to the stars" , colours = Indigo White , colours_label = , march = Alte Kameraden , mascot = , anniversaries = 21 March ...
30 L-3B delivered to Chile via Lend-Lease program in 1943, all delivered to civil aero clubs. 4 Survivors (CC-KGA at La Ligua, CC-SHA at Chile's Aviation Museum. Two examples in the hands of restorers at Tobalaba airfield, Santiago, and Los Angeles.) ; *
Dominican Air Force The Air Force of the Dominican Republic ( es, Fuerza Aérea de República Dominicana), is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic, together with the Dominican Army, Army and the Dominican Navy, Navy. History At ...
- received 3 L-3Bs in 1943. ;: *
United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
*
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
; * ''Aviación Militar'' – received three L-3Bs.


Surviving aircraft

Aside from 15 L-3s (2 L-3, 7 L-3B, and 6 L-3C) that remain on the US civil registry as of June 2016, a number have also found their way into museums * 42-7796 - O-58A airworthy with Mark A. Henry of Dickinson, Texas *42-7798 – O-58A airworthy with Blake W. Henderson of Westmoreland, Tennessee. * 42-14773 – L-3 airworthy with Audie L. Hollon of Milan, Missouri. * 42-36152 – O-58B airworthy with Lee H. Montgomery in
Corsicana, Texas Corsicana is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. It is located on Interstate 45, 56 miles northeast of Waco, Texas. The population was 23,770 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Navarro County, and an important Agri-busin ...
. Previously with the Alamo Liaison Squadron in
San Antonio, Texas ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_t ...
. * 42-36200 – L-3B on static display at the
National Museum of the United States Air Force The National Museum of the United States Air Force (formerly the United States Air Force Museum) is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is the ...
at
Wright-Patterson AFB Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place just east of Dayton, Ohio, in Greene and Montgomery counties. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbu ...
near
Dayton, Ohio Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater ...
. * 42-36639 – L-3D on static display at the Silent Wings Museum at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport in
Lubbock, Texas Lubbock ( ) is the 10th-most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of government of Lubbock County. With a population of 260,993 in 2021, the city is also the 85th-most populous in the United States. The city is in the nort ...
* 43-1844 – O-58B airworthy at the Port Townsend Aero Museum in
Port Townsend, Washington Port Townsend is a city on the Quimper Peninsula in Jefferson County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,148 at the 2020 United States Census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County. In addition ...
. * 43-26772 – L-3B on static display at the Air Zoo in
Kalamazoo, Michigan Kalamazoo ( ) is a city in the southwest region of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Kalamazoo County. At the 2010 census, Kalamazoo had a population of 74,262. Kalamazoo is the major city of the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropol ...
. * 43-26819 – L-3B on static display at the Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio in
Santiago, Chile Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated region, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, whose ...
. * 43-27184 - L3-B Being restored in Sturgis, Mi. 058B-13213 NC 47262 * Unknown – L-3B on static display at the
Museum of Flight The Museum of Flight is a private non-profit air and space museum in the Seattle metropolitan area. It is located at the southern end of King County International Airport (Boeing Field) in the city of Tukwila, immediately south of Seattle.< ...
in
Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is a port, seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the county seat, seat of King County, Washington, King County, Washington (state), Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in bo ...
. * Unknown – L-3B airworthy at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in
Addison, Texas Addison is an incorporated town in Dallas County, Texas, in the United States. Addison is situated to the immediate north of the city of Dallas, with a 2020 census population of 16,661. Addison and Flower Mound were the only two Texas municipalit ...
. * Unknown – L-3 airworthy at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center in
Elmira, New York Elmira () is a city and the county seat of Chemung County, New York, United States. It is the principal city of the Elmira, New York, metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses Chemung County. The population was 26,523 at the 2020 census ...
. * Unknown – L-3 on display at the Vintage Flying Museum in
Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is the List of cities in Texas by population, fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the List of United States cities by population, 13th-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, T ...
. * Unknown – L-3B airworthy at the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in
Hood River, Oregon The city of Hood River is the seat of Hood River County, Oregon, United States. It is a port on the Columbia River, and is named for the nearby Hood River. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 8,313. It is the only city in Oregon whe ...
. * Unknown – L-3E airworthy with Air Group One of the Commemorative Air Force in
El Cajon, California El Cajon ( , ; Spanish: El Cajón, meaning "the box") is a city in San Diego County, California, United States, east of downtown San Diego. The city takes its name from Rancho El Cajón, which was in turn named for the box-like shape of the ...
. * Unknown – L-3E under restoration with the Spirit of Tulsa of the Commemorative Air Force in
Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the U.S. state, state of Oklahoma and List of United States cities by population, 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. ...
. * Unknown – L-3E airworthy with the Missouri Wing of the Commemorative Air Force in Portage Des Sioux, Missouri. * Unknown – O-58B airworthy with Nicholas S. Kapotes of
Pompton Plains, New Jersey Pompton Plains is a census-designated place (CDP) comprising the majority of Pequannock Township, Morris County, New Jersey, United States. It is in the valley of the Pompton River, which forms the eastern border of the community, the townshi ...
. * 43-26861 – O-58B airworthy with James S. Tate of
Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and t ...
. * Unknown – L-3 on static display at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. * 058B2692 – L-3B airworthy with Air1 Aircraft of
Westfield, Massachusetts Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. Westfield was first settled by Europeans in 1660. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population w ...
. * 058B6212 – O-58B airworthy with Bruce Gapstur of
Belle Plaine, Iowa Belle Plaine is a city in Benton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,330 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area. History Belle Plaine was founded in 1862 when it was certain the railroad wo ...
. * 058B-8272 – O-58B airworthy with Todd H. Dickens of
Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont (United States), Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Meckl ...
. * 31316 – 65-TAC-L3 airworthy at
La Victoria de Chacabuco Airport La Victoria de Chacabuco Airport is an airport serving Chacabuco Province in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of Chile. It is between the villages of El Colorado and Casas de Chacabuco, north of Santiago city. The airport is in a broad vall ...
in Chile. Registered as CC-AVO.


Specifications (L-3C)


See also

* Aeronca Chief family


Notes


References

* * * * * * * * *


External links


L-3 page at the National Museum of the United States Air Force



L-3 page at Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio de Chile
{{USN glider aircraft L-03, Aeronca Aeronca aircraft High-wing aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1941