Old USAAF WW2 L-bird pic – help asap!

Hi Guys

I’m new,. I know it’s a long time since you asked about the old L16,. Well I think it might be mine, not 100% yet but is the only one in the UK

It was at RAF Finmere in Bucks I bought it in 2014 to restore it.

the reg is 47-797 and was originally painted in 1950 as A-797 and used by the 1st Cavalry possibly in Korea.

It was flown by the US commanding officer at RAF Upper Heyford in the 70,s where the fighting 55th were based.

Feel free to check out my site www.aeroncal16a.co.uk , all signed off now should be flying in August

Keep these old birds flying.

Dave Crompton

Nice one chaps!

TT

Aeronca L-16A Grasshopper. (A bit like a narrow Pushpak TT!!).

Could it be the then, N797US, now G-BFAF?

In the 1960-70s it was owned by pilots from 55th fighter squadron, 20th TFW at Wethersfield, then Upper Heyford and used to attend a lot of VAC fly-ins. The last owner, an F-111 flight commander IIRC, sold the aeroplane to a local farmer when he went back stateside in 1977.

The aeroplane (still in its USAF livery as 47-0797) is hangared at Finmere, but hasn’t flown a while.

Now there’s a nice project……:rolleyes:

Another thought – could the 55 on the cap indicate the 55th TFS at Wethersfield?

Thanks guys for all your help – we’ll probably never know the history of the pic but at least we have pretty much ID’d the type of machine..

ATB

TT

It’s an L-16 or a civilian Champ.
Date?
Probably 50s or very early 60s. Why?
-The flight jacket, notice the old AF insignia…it was current then.
It was retired in the 60s. (BTW: The design was re-introduced in the 90s…it’s embossed into the metal buttons of the current service dress uniform).
-Also, the squadron baseball cap that the sergeant is wearing (with the numbers) is pure 50s.

Also, notice the children’s clothes…though I’m no expert, the boys with short pants look pre-60s. They look like something my UK brother in law would have worn to school back in the 50s.

Is it one of the US Aero Club ones based at places like Chelveston in the 50s/60s?

Been blitzing the forums on this one – general consensus – Aeronca L-16 Champ, probably 1950s-1960s – i noticed the door too -and the paint flaking on the leading edges.

Plus there is a tie down rope in the background so shes not going anywhere for a while…or has been there for a bit…

Cheers chap

TT

Does the newspaper not have a date for when it was taken? I’d definitely say post war from the crews uniforms – thing is though, check out the kid closest to the Aeronca, wearing what looks like a polo shirt, it looks very out of place compared to the older looking clothes of the kids, and looks relatively modern, say 1970s/1980s. I’d say the photo is majorly staged, why would you let the kids that close to the aircraft anyway? I’m going to take a complete stab in the dark and say the Aeronca’s actually privately owned and the ground crewman/pilot are civilians dressed up for the occasion, as well as the fact the door seems to be a different colour/not completely painted in parts

edit – plus one of the kids has fairly long/scraggy hair, and I think it’s a boy – or an ugly girl! I’ll place my bets on it being some 1940s day out for kids at a local airfield

Cripes Rob – that was quick! I agree with you it does look like an Aeronca – so as its military is it an L-3 or and L-16? Googling it, it looks more like an L-16 and the flight gear looks post war – including the sgt stripes on the guy kneeling….

Thanks mate

Thoughts anyone?

TT

Looks like an Aeronca 7 series to me – check out this photo of Aeronca Champ at Eggesford owned by ‘ChampMagic’ on here

Door seems identical, plus it seems like a compact version of the Cub, which the Champ looks like!