Highland Lakes Air Museum

Stinson L-5 Sentinel

The L-5 was developed for military use from the commercial Stinson 105 Voyager. Six Voyagers were purchased by the AAF in 1941 as YO-54s for testing but were found lacking. Quantity orders for heavily modified Voyagers began in 1942. These aircraft, renamed as Sentinels by the AAF, were first procured as O-62s before the designation was changed to "L" for liaison in April 1942. Between 1942-5, the AAF ordered 3,590 L-5s, making it the second most widely used AAF liaison aircraft. The unarmed L-5 with its short field takeoff and landing capability was used for reconnaissance, removing litter patients from front line areas, delivering supplies to isolated units, laying communications wire, spotting enemy targets for attack aircraft, transporting personnel, rescuing Allied personnel in remote areas and even as a light bomber.

Sentinels were widely used during the first years of the Korean War, serving with most US Army divisions, with a US Marine Corps observation squadron, and with a US Air Force Air Rescue Squadron. Sentinels were also used by the ROK Air Force. The ROK Army took over responsibility for artillery observation in mid-May 1951, using L-4s and L-5s acquired from the US. The L-5 remained operational until replaced by the all-metal Cessna L-19 "Bird Dog".

The Sentinel served training and utility functions in Japan, Europe or the US with the Air Force until 1955 and with the Army until the mid-1960s. Some even went to foreign Air Forces. Large numbers were distributed to Civil Air Patrol squadrons where they continued to be useful for training or search-and-rescue missions up to about 1970.

The L-5 based in our hangar is privately owned. The aircraft’s history is currently being investigated.