CESSNA L-19 BIRD DOG · The Encyclopedia of Aircraft David C. Eyre (2024)

Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Light liaison and observation monoplane

Power Plant:

One 172 kw (230hp) Continental C-470-11 six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine

Specifications:

Armament:

Target marking rockets

History:

In 1950 the Cessna Aircraft Company of Wichita, Kansas, won a competition for the design of a liaison and observation monoplane for the US military services with the Model 305A, a development of the commercial Model 170 with similar wings, tail unit, and undercarriage. Construction of the prototype commenced on 8 September 1949, this aircraft (N41694) flying for the first time on 14 December 1949.

The specification required the aircraft to carry a considerable amount of military equipment, and it was able to be fitted with skis or floats.

The Model 305 was entered in a fly-off at Wright Field, Ohio, in April 1950, competing against the Luscombe T-8FL, the Piper PA-18 Super Cub, a re-designed Taylorcraft L-2 and the Fletcher FL-23, the latter being lost in an accident during the evaluation. The Cessna was deemed the winner of the competition and an initial order was placed for 418 examples.

The type was ordered for the US Army. 2,486 Model 305As were built, known as the L-19A by the military and O-1A as the Tri-service designation. It was followed by the OE-1 / O-1B for the US Marine Corps, about 60 of these being diverted.

Further variants were developed, including the L-19AIT instrument trainer; TL-19A dual-control trainer; and XL-19B and XL-19C experimental variants fitted with the XT50 and XT51 turboprops.

Other variants included the Model 305B / TL-19D instrument trainer with dual controls, of which 310 were delivered, which had comprehensive instrumentation, radio and navigation equipment, etc. The Model 305C became the L-19E / O-1E and was an improved L-19A, of which 469 were delivered. Between 1957 and 1960 Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan delivered 14 L-19E-1 and eight L-19E-2 variants.

The Model 305E became the O-1D, O-1E, O-1F, these being conversions for the USAF for Forward Air Control (FAC) work, having increased weight, and the O-1G had further weight increases. The Model 305M, known as the L-19E or O-1E, was produced between 1962 to 1964 and examples were also supplied to Italy and Malta. The Model 321 became the OE-2 or O-1C and was a re-designed variant for the US Marines known as the Bird Dog II, 27 being delivered. The Model 325 was an agricultural model for the civil market but only four were delivered.

In mid 1950, conflict in Korea broke out, and the need for the Cessna Bird Dog became acute. Cessna at Wichita was urged to deliver L-19s quickly and the first examples were delivered to the US Army in December that year. Forward Air Control tactics had to be quickly developed. They marked targets with smoke grenades, flares or folding fin rockets and guided fast-jets on to targets. These skills were again called on in the early 1960s when the war in Vietnam commenced, production of the L-19E being re-instated for the US forces in that conflict, the type then becoming known as the O-1, first operations beginning in May 1963. Up to that time the Vietnamese Air Force [VNAF] had been operating a small number of L-19s which had been taken over from the French Army when it left that area.

The Bird Dog was an important part of the fleet of aircraft used by the USAF, US Army and US Marine Corps in the Vietnam conflict, some 463 being lost in combat or operational situations, but in due course it was found that a good FAC aircraft needed some type of offensive capability and thus the Model 337 Skymaster was developed as a replacement. In later years the North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco was used in this role in the conflict. Two Model O-1s were fitted with M-60 machine-guns in the rear co*ckpit in May 1966 to combat Vietcong anti-aircraft gunners and became known as ‘Little Puff’. When US forces left south-east Asia in 1972 surviving Bird Dogs were transferred to the VNAF Air Force and served to the end of the conflict. The type was finally retired from US service in the mid 1970s.

During the Vietnam conflict more than 50,000 Australian military personnel served, a number of RAAF and RAN pilots being attached to American units, such as the US Army 135th Assault Helicopter Company. Some 36 pilots flew Cessna Bird Dogs in the FAC role, a number of operations being known to have taken place in Cambodia and Laos, and reconnaissance missions were made into North Vietnam. Australian pilots also flew missions with the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, USAF, with the McDonnell F-4C Phantom.

In 1957 a modified version known as the L-19E, or Model 321, appeared, incorporating new equipment, and a later model Continental engine. Production continued into 1961. All late production aircraft had provision for the attachment of Edo amphibious floats. In 1962 the Bird Dog was designated O-1 in the air-observation-post category, and received a considerable amount of use in the Vietnam war, with a number of Australian personnel flying the type.

Late in the Vietnam conflict the Australian Army took possession of a Bird Dog (serial 14883). This aircraft was damaged at Vung Tau airfield, was recovered from the aircraft graveyard and was rebuilt by No 161 Reconnaissance Flight, named ‘Bunny II’, making its post restoration flight on 2 May 1971. It was brought to Australia, and displayed at the Army Aviation Centre at RAAF Amberley, QLD for some time until the opening of the Army Base at Oakey, QLD where it bas been placed on display in the Army Museum.

Records have indicated the United States lost 178 Cessna O-1s during the Vietnam War to small arms fire, 230 during operations, and 55 in ground attacks.

Between 1962 and 1986 an American company, Ector Aircraft of Odessa, Texas, obtained and re-manufactured Cessna Bird Dogs for the civil market, completing approximately 40 as the Mountaineer and Super Mountaineer.

In later years the type has been very popular with the warbird movement and some 20 examples have been imported, most of these being aircraft left in Vietnam by the American forces, which have been recovered for restoration. In the United States the type is very popular, with the International Bird Dog Association being formed, this organisation on one occasion having a meeting at the Kansas Aviation Museum when 44 Cessna Bird Dogs attended.

A number have also been registered in New Zealand.In 2019 four Cessna O-1A projects were imported to New Zealand from Thailand, two undergoing restoration and the other two being placed on the market for sale as projects.