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Was working outside in the sunshine/heat on Sunday 18th July (just gone by)
Whilst (mildly) arguing with a family-member, this particular a/c flew past, VERY LOW.
We live in North Norfolk, inside what is known as LFA.5 (where Mil’ traffic is cleared down to 250-500ft, in places)
Well, this ‘Shoulder-Wing-Mounted’ a/c passed overhead, alas, approaching behind dense trees.
I wuz more involved in arguing (roofing-felt, delay), when this “thing” passed overhead, VERY LOW
It (thankfully), interrupted the mild-arguement & being an a/c ‘fan’ since 1965+, I looked up.
Only things that I caught (graphically), were these….
1, Shoulder mounted wings, like you’d see on a Storch, Auster or suchlike,
2, Yellow underside paint
2a, Wing Struts – (solid, pair of ?)
3, Seemingly thin Black serial underneath the Port-wing
4, Most importantly, the “Mid-War” USA “STAR” Insignia (NO-BAR !), seen underneath it’s starboard-wing.
Latter, like you’d see on a ‘Midway SBD Dauntless’ or a VERY early production F6F Hellcat (McWorther ?)
The same kinda 1942-1943 ‘Blue Roundel’ with Star only, that you’d see on a 93rd BG Hardwick B.24-‘D’ Liberator
(B.24-‘D’ – the birdcaged-nosed variety)
That kinda threw me, as I looked-up, because I just did NOT recognise the (individual) plane**
** (Hey, I’ve NOT been to an airshow since the last RAF Waddington show, in 2014)
“If” I were to hazard a guess, I woulda said that it looked like a ‘Piper-Cub’ – (& maybe was ?)
Never seen this individual a/c before, so, would LIKE to know what it is & where it was based.
Ironically, it WAS taking the exact same flightpath as we often see Eurofighter Typhoons here.
Lastly, it WAS headed over Eastwards, towards the direction of RAF Marham (tho’ prob’ not it’s destination)
Have seen an 80-yr-old Blue d.h “something” also headed same way, towards Gt.Massingham (before now)
I thought that the 1942/1943 insignia (Midway-era), was a nice-touch !!!!
Thanks in advance for ANY help identifying it (please)
By: J Boyle - 21st July 2021 at 06:50
A nice example of a post-war U.S. Army L-18 or L-21 (a re-engined and improved version of the J-3, the basis of the wartime L-4s) in the aforementioned yellow finish.
In addition to their U.S. Army service, some of which were in Europe, some were supplied to allies were later sold as civil aircraft throughout Europe. Others, once their military career was over, were used by flying clubs in American bases. After that service, again, many were surplused locally.
Don’t feel bad about the ID, many otherwise knowledgeable warbird enthusiasts don’t know the various Liaison types..either WWII types of the post-war models
By: Hornchurch - 21st July 2021 at 06:26
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Hi J.B – I fear that I “may” have inadvertently “found” my candidate…… (with a Faux-Pas !)
I reckon that it was THIS – Below – My initial-shock (low), then, seeing the markings, late.
As the sun WAS mighty-bright (beautiful weather), on Sunday, it appears it had “A Bar” after all
Super-low-down & disappearing fast (mid-arguement), I caught the starboard roundel, last.
Even at this angle (attached shot), you can see how prominent the Blue roundel is, but not the bar !
Anyways, I sincerely believe that it WAS this plane, below = G-FUZZ
Embarrassingly (for me), it appears with hindsight, that it’s Korean//Vietnam-era (Ooops !)
So much for me missing (visually), the bloody ‘Bar’ (Laughs !)
Anyone tell me where it’s based, plus, where it “might” have been going on Sunday ?
P.S – Just goes to show how ‘weak’ my light-a/c identification really is….
Now, “if” it were a Halifax, a Stirling, Baltimore or Marauder…..
By: J Boyle - 21st July 2021 at 05:05
The circle and star was in use from July 1942 to July ’43.
If the underside was yellow, what colour was the top?
American Liaison (AOP in the UK) were not yellow in combat operations.
Some Navy trainer and Ambulance Pipers were yellow.
Yellow was used in some post-war Liasion and trading Pipers used by the Army and USAF…but they would have had the post 1947 star and bar with red stripes.
The black serial under the wing sounds like some of the RAF trainers (I have seen them on Harvards). It is not a USAAF marking.
A high wing single engine aircraft leaves a lot of leeway…
Piper, Aeronca, Taylorcraft, Stinson, Howard…all would have had U.S. Military colours in the war.
Additionally, there is no reason why it couldn’t have been an Auster (UK Taylorcraft) in disguise.
Additionally, it could be a post-war civil type painted up…or even a homebuilt or obscure limited production design.
I have seen many aircraft wearing faux military colours.
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July 20, 2021 at 10:43 pm