Piper L-4J Cub. Serial Number 13019

History

The early records of this aircraft are sketchy having been lost sometime shortly after the war. The aircraft was constructed at the Lockhaven plant with a USAAF serial number of 44-80723 (piper serial number 13019) and was assigned to the 9th Air Force on the continent. On 1.10.45 it was delivered to the AGF and after a short stint with them returned to the 9th Air Force on 24.1.46 to await disposal. Disposal took place on 17.10.46 with the aircraft then going to Switzerland. Several further owners on the continent, including a short spell with an aircraft manufacturer as their company hack, led to the import of the aircraft to Britain and U.K. registration in the 1970’s.

The aircraft was operated for many years out of Shoreham airport before being disassembled for restoration in the late 1980’s. This restoration proved quite protracted and the aircraft flew again in 2002 under different ownership. The current owner purchased the aircraft in Nov 2004 and again a lengthy period of corrective work was undertaken with the aircraft taking to the skies in January this year.