Flight Of Four 'L-Birds' Overflew MacArthur Parade Field At Fort Sam Houston

Members of the Alamo Liaison Squadron in San Antonio, TX performed a flyby routine during “Salute to Veterans,” a Veteran’s Day celebration that took place today on Fort Sam Houston’s MacArthur Parade Field. The flight of four L-birds, or liaison aircraft, included two contemporary Legend Cubs along with vintage Piper L-4 and Taylorcraft L-2 aircraft.

The Salute to Veterans event commemorated military veterans with a full regalia color guard, a firing detail, a naturalization ceremony, a presentation of the French Legion of Honor to 19 World War II veterans, and the flyby. The event was hosted by U.S. Army North (Fifth Army). Over 400 were in attendance.

Alamo Liaison Squadron (ALS) operates and maintains vintage WWII aircraft. The organization is designated by the Texas Historic Commission as a bona fide flying historical museum. ALS appears at airshows, parades, fairs, and other population gatherings serving to promote aviation education and safety. The group was founded on the mission of keeping alive the memory of the forgotten heroes, the Liaison Pilots, who provided vital functions such as observation, spotting, artillery fire control, forward air control, communications, command and control, medical evacuation, plus many other functions that just “needed done” on the battlefield.

ALS operates from historic Cannon Field, established in 1981, by Bill Stratton, Hardy Cannon, and a group of men in San Antonio, Texas. Cannon, a Master Mechanic who in 1982, led the complete restoration of a 1941 Stinson L-1, a 1941 Taylorcraft L-2, a 1942 Aeronca L-3B, a Piper L-4, a 1942 Stinson L-5, and a 1942 Interstate (L-8) S-1A. In 1984, Cannon published a book, Box Seat Over Hell: The true story of America’s Liaison Pilots and their light planes in World War Two. This book tells the story of courageous men and their romance with the sky... of men who flew in combat armed only with a pistol who attacked the enemy in aircraft made of tubing, wires and fabric.

The Legend Cub is an airplane with origins in the Sport Pilot movement, created 70 years after the vintage Piper design--widely recognized as one of the most prevalent and useful aircraft at the onset of general aviation. It is a versatile, and remains a wildly popular, airframe that has been repeatedly imitated. Today’s Legend Cub is a recreational flyer’s wish list, designed as a traditional slow flying, docile handling airplane with modern airframe enhancements and comfort features. It is known for dependable, safe flying operation.

American Legend Aircraft Company manufactures the Legend Cub and Super Legend, both FAA-certified aircraft for sport, recreation and training. American Legend Aircraft Company is located in Sulphur Springs, Texas (KSLR). Alamo Liaison Squadron operates and maintains a flying museum of L-birds, and modern aircraft, from its base at Cannon Field (53T).

(Image provided by American Legend Aircraft Company)

FMI: www.als-cannonfield.com