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On May 5, 1944 Stinson received AAF Technical Instruction TI-1629 Addendum No.1 authorizing them to institute the fuselage changes for production of the L-5B “for performing light utility cargo and aerial evacuation missions.”
The prototype “mock-up” aircraft 42-99574 was completed on April 24th and test-flown by the military at the factory field on the 28th. It was accepted for delivery on May 2nd and the first production airplane was accepted on June 3rd.
Little known is that both the L-5B ambulance and L-5 observer were produced on parallel assembly lines until July 17, 1944 when production of the earlier type was terminated. During the 44-day period from June 3rd to July 17th a total of 93 L-5’s and 55 L-5B’s rolled off the assembly line. Serial number 42-99574 was sent to Wright Field and the next ten production examples were delivered to the 12th Air Force in Italy on August 14th.
Of the 712 B-models built before the L-5C was introduced, only 15 are known to still exist. Of those, 11 are presently in flying condition.
JG
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Of course I do. Besides you…
Phil Nash (AK), basket case w/ casein wings
Ron & Stuart Lee (Australia), under restoration
Chris Bergen (CA), restored, not currently flying
Mike Long (Australia), flying
Darren Crouser (TX), flying
Pima Air Museum (AZ), display only, not airworthy
Duncan Cameron (NV), from India, resto. pending
Diego Trevisan (Italy), flying
Ed Soderbloom (WA), flying
RNAF Museum (Netherlands), flying
Bill Barclay (CO), flying
Ron Fagen (MN), flying
CAF Joe Foss (SD), flying
I-AEGB (Italy) Restored in 90’s by Italo Battioli, current owner and status unknownThere is supposedly one at a museum in Beijing, but the s/n is unverified. Ron & Stuart Lee own another B-model (VH-CRO) but it was severely damaged by the previous owner in a flying accident and repair is doubtful.
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