An American Piper L4 Grasshopper light aircraft of the USAF drops the leaflets intended for Japanese soldiers calling for surrender on Luzone Island in the Battle of the Philippines. Pacific Theater of Combat Operations, World War II.
Location: Bamban, Luzon, Philippines
When the photo was taken: 1945
Piper L-4 Grasshopper
The Piper L-4 Grasshopper is a communications and spotter aircraft. Single-engine strutted monoplane with top wing and fixed landing gear. Military version of the mass-produced light-engine aircraft J-3 “Cub”. The Cub, like the English Taylor Aircraft D, was a modernization of the E-2, designed by G. Taylor of the Taylor Aircraft Corporation. Taylor Aircraft, having changed owners, became Piper Aircraft, where a group of designers improved the aircraft. Since 1931, the J-3 was built in series at the Piper plant in Lock Haven.
In the summer of 1941, the military version of the J-3, the short-range reconnaissance spotter YO-59, was submitted for military testing. After their successful completion, serial production of aircraft for the US Army Air Forces began. A total of 5,548 copies were manufactured for military orders. Since 1942, O-59 was renamed L-59, later – L-4.
During World War II, the Piper L4 Grasshopper was in service in the United States from late 1941, in France from 1943, and in Brazil from 1944. Since December 1941, American O-59s took part in patrolling the US coast. From September 1942 they were stationed in Great Britain as communications aircraft. In November 1942, Piper L4 Grasshoppers took off from ships during the landings in North Africa. These aircraft were later used as spotter, ambulance and communications aircraft in Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, Burma and China. Since June 1944, after the invasion of Normandy, aircraft of this type were actively used in Europe. Military versions of the Piper L4 Grasshopper ceased production in 1945, civilian versions in 1950.
The Piper L4 Grasshopper was withdrawn from US service in November 1947.