Hi Dan

Yes a handful of Piper L-4's of the 4th Division in Northwest Europe
were equipped with this field improvisation. It involved strapping three
bazookas on the left strut of the aircraft. The pilot would fire them
by reaching out the window and hauling on a lanyard.

Here are a couple of interesting notes on the L-4 and its effectiveness.

(a) The L-4 was such a menace to the German Army, that if a soldier shot
one down, he was sent to the rear for 15 days leave,

(b) The L-4 engaged in air-to-air combat. No ****!!! 1st Lieutenant
Duane Francis was flying an L-4 when he encountered a Fielser Storch.
He and his observer began to exchange sire arms fire with the crew of
the Storch. Guess who won??? Yep, the crew of the L-4. Not only did they
shoot down the Storch, they landed and captured its crew. Talk about
the ultimate in humility.


(c) While piloting an L-4, 1st Lieutenant Alf Schultz threw his
aircraft around to violently, that it caused the pilot of the pursuing
Bf-109 to fly his fighter into the ground. I guess he was so intent on
shooting the little warbug down that he lost all situation awareness.
Akin to target fixation I would think.


Cheers...Chris