Cessna L-19A (O-1A) 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.
Built as a L-19A, 51-12129 never served in the US Army, spending a 20-year career assigned to the French Army (Armee de Terre). Retired in 1972, it returned to the United States and was bought by a private owner. It was acquired by Planes of Fame in 1995 and restored as an aircraft of the 183rd Aviation Company ("Seahorses"), assigned to the II Corps area of South Vietnam. Army O-1s mostly served in the reconnaissance role, spotting targets and radioing in their locations to either ground units or USAF FACs, but occasionally acted as FACs on their own--or, in the case of the 183rd, undertook their own airstrikes. A few of the company's Birddogs were armed with twin M60s and attacked targets that the USAF deemed too small for airstrikes. This was extremely dangerous, and was not continued for long.
51-12129 is configured as a FAC with two spotter rockets beneath the wings, and carries early war US Army markings, though some Army fixed-wing aircraft retained these markings throughout the Vietnam War; the bright insignia were also a big target, and Army aircraft and helicopters started adopting a more subdued scheme around 1966. This is a beautiful restoration. That's my friend Darren on the left, getting a shot of the TBM Avenger parked behind the O-1.
Cessna L-19A (O-1A) 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.
Built as a L-19A, 51-12129 never served in the US Army, spending a 20-year career assigned to the French Army (Armee de Terre). Retired in 1972, it returned to the United States and was bought by a private owner. It was acquired by Planes of Fame in 1995 and restored as an aircraft of the 183rd Aviation Company ("Seahorses"), assigned to the II Corps area of South Vietnam. Army O-1s mostly served in the reconnaissance role, spotting targets and radioing in their locations to either ground units or USAF FACs, but occasionally acted as FACs on their own--or, in the case of the 183rd, undertook their own airstrikes. A few of the company's Birddogs were armed with twin M60s and attacked targets that the USAF deemed too small for airstrikes. This was extremely dangerous, and was not continued for long.
51-12129 is configured as a FAC with two spotter rockets beneath the wings, and carries early war US Army markings, though some Army fixed-wing aircraft retained these markings throughout the Vietnam War; the bright insignia were also a big target, and Army aircraft and helicopters started adopting a more subdued scheme around 1966. This is a beautiful restoration. That's my friend Darren on the left, getting a shot of the TBM Avenger parked behind the O-1.