The Cessna O-1 Bird Dog is a liaison and observation aircraft that first flew on December 14, 1949, and entered service in 1950 as the L-19 in the Korean War. It went to serve in many branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, was not retired until the 1970s in a number of variants, and also served in the Vietnam War.

History: One of a long line of civilian light planes converted to military use (like the Taylor, Piper, and Stinson "Grasshoppers" of World War II fame), the Cessna L-19 "Bird Dog" observation and Forward Air Control aircraft traced its origins to the Cessna 170, a 4-place civilian light plane, with its military power upgraded from 145 to 213hp.

The Cessna L-19 (later O-1) Bird Dog was produced to fulfill the US Army’s need for an aircraft that could perform liaison and observation duties as well as adjust artillery fire. They requested it to be constructed of all metal, as the fabric-covered liaison aircraft used during World War II had short service lives.

The Cessna L-19/O-1 Bird Dog is an all-metal, tandem seat aircraft with downward sloping sides to increase visibility. In 1950, the company began building 2,400 L-19s for the US Army, USAF, Navy and National Guard. They operated as artillery mspotter and forward air control aircraft during the Korean War.

2011年6月1日 · Cessna's Model 305 became better known as the L-19 Bird Dog - an apt name because of how well it enabled pilots and their rear-seat observers to search for and locate enemy ground positions. Once found, such targets were identified and their locations radioed to those who would respond with an air assault, artillery, or ground troops.

With the French, it may have served as a reconnaissance aircraft in either the Algerian War of Independence in North Africa or the First Indonesian War in Vietnam. Or it may have flown with French NATO forces in Europe. In 1971, the aircraft returned to the United States.

The Cessna L-19 “Bird Dog” was a relatively simple, strut-braced, high-wing, single-engine aircraft mainly used by American forces in the observation and Forward Air Control mission. Bird Dog’s contributed significantly to the FAC and personnel rescue missions during the Vietnam War.

2018年9月7日 · OE-1 were 60 original USMC Bird Dogs in the L-19A standard, becoming the O-1B in 1962. The OE-2 was the OE-1 but with Cessna Model 180 wings and a revised fuselage. These were redesignated to O-1C in 1962 and saw production total 27 examples. The O-1D line were TL-19D trainers modified for the Forward Air Control (FAC) role with the USAF.

2013年10月22日 · Originally called the L-19, these planes saw extensive duty during the Korean War from 1950–53, often in the hands of veteran World War II fighter and bomber pilots. The Bird Dog was re-designated the 0-1 in 1962 and was flown in Vietnam until that war ended in 1975.

The L-19A/O-1A was an aircraft designed by Cessna to serve as a Liason/Observer. It was based on the Cessna 170 but with the crew in a tandem configuration. L-19’s served in both the Korean War and Vietnam War. They were operated by the US military in the Army, Air Force, and Marines. It was retired from US military service in 1974.