Cessna L-19A (O-1E) Birddog
To replace its fleet of L-4 Grasshoppers used during World War II, the US Army selected a modified version of the civilian Cessna 170. The Army needed an all-metal aircraft with good visibility, and the Cessna 170 fit the bill. Cessna added bulged windows to the sides and additional ones to the rear and top of the wing. Designated L-19 Birddog, the first entered service in 1950.
Eventually over 3000 L-19s--redesignated O-1 in 1962--would serve with all branches of the armed forces, namely in the forward air control and artillery spotting role. It was especially valuable in Korea and Vietnam, though it was used far more in the latter, as it was reliable, quiet, and could operate from virtually anywhere. Some were even armed as "emergency gunships," though this was discouraged. FACs and observation pilots paid the price, as well--no single type of aircraft suffered more losses than O-1s, because their role required them to fly low and slow; it was also easy to shoot one down. (Captain Hiliard Wilbanks was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for covering a trapped US Army Special Forces team with his lightly armed O-1 in 1967. ) So popular was the O-1 that it was never quite replaced completely by the O-2 Skymaster and OV-10 Bronco in Vietnam; the last Birddog left US service in 1974.
Though painted as a US Army L-19A, this aircraft, 51-12303, was actually delivered to the USAF in 1951. It may have seen service in Vietnam, and was retired in 1973, to be sold as surplus. It was bought by a private owner, and flew until at least 1979, when it was involved in a nonfatal landing accident. 51-12303 may not have flown again, as it was donated to the US Army Artillery Museum at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1984. It was moved to the Kansas National Guard Museum in Topeka probably fairly recently and was restored; whoever did the restoration work did a nice job, since it looks like you could just fire it up and taxi it out.
Cessna L-19A (O-1E) Birddog
To replace its fleet of L-4 Grasshoppers used during World War II, the US Army selected a modified version of the civilian Cessna 170. The Army needed an all-metal aircraft with good visibility, and the Cessna 170 fit the bill. Cessna added bulged windows to the sides and additional ones to the rear and top of the wing. Designated L-19 Birddog, the first entered service in 1950.
Eventually over 3000 L-19s--redesignated O-1 in 1962--would serve with all branches of the armed forces, namely in the forward air control and artillery spotting role. It was especially valuable in Korea and Vietnam, though it was used far more in the latter, as it was reliable, quiet, and could operate from virtually anywhere. Some were even armed as "emergency gunships," though this was discouraged. FACs and observation pilots paid the price, as well--no single type of aircraft suffered more losses than O-1s, because their role required them to fly low and slow; it was also easy to shoot one down. (Captain Hiliard Wilbanks was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for covering a trapped US Army Special Forces team with his lightly armed O-1 in 1967. ) So popular was the O-1 that it was never quite replaced completely by the O-2 Skymaster and OV-10 Bronco in Vietnam; the last Birddog left US service in 1974.
Though painted as a US Army L-19A, this aircraft, 51-12303, was actually delivered to the USAF in 1951. It may have seen service in Vietnam, and was retired in 1973, to be sold as surplus. It was bought by a private owner, and flew until at least 1979, when it was involved in a nonfatal landing accident. 51-12303 may not have flown again, as it was donated to the US Army Artillery Museum at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1984. It was moved to the Kansas National Guard Museum in Topeka probably fairly recently and was restored; whoever did the restoration work did a nice job, since it looks like you could just fire it up and taxi it out.