CATALINA
Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2018
- Messages
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We have been doing extensive research on the history of L-4J msn 12760 ( USAAF ser 44-80464) for the past two years.
We found a lot of interesting anecdotes and we continue to be passionate about this story.
But there are still some dark spots.
We look for other sources of information than the beautiful books of K. Wakefield, or the IARC, or the build sheets.
We were particularly interested in its transition from its storage in Germany in 45 to its first registration OO-GEK in 1947.
A testimony that should interest you comes from a lady pilot in Belgium, Cecile Heems: (translated from the French)
“One fine morning – it’s barely ten o'clock – a cloud of military Piper Cub invades the skies of Melsbroek. COGEA has acquired 30 aircraft – purchased from the US Army in Germany – and they land like an invasion of large grasshoppers. What a unique spectacle! They are all there neatly arranged wings against wings on the parking lot, still wearing their military uniform, namely a camouflage paint and a number plate.They will be revised, repainted in cheerful colours and resold throughout Belgium, perhaps even abroad. Most are already reserved for a few lunatics. Business is going well and the boss is in the air…”
We are almost certain by a Polish testimony, that these 30 planes came from Göppingen. We are looking for confirmation that our 44-80464 was indeed one of these 30 planes. Are there listings of the L-4 storred in Göppingen?
Do you have any other sources of information?
The first picture of msn 12760 ex-44-80464 then registered OO-GEK, here in Keerbergen in 1948.
We found a lot of interesting anecdotes and we continue to be passionate about this story.
But there are still some dark spots.
We look for other sources of information than the beautiful books of K. Wakefield, or the IARC, or the build sheets.
We were particularly interested in its transition from its storage in Germany in 45 to its first registration OO-GEK in 1947.
A testimony that should interest you comes from a lady pilot in Belgium, Cecile Heems: (translated from the French)
“One fine morning – it’s barely ten o'clock – a cloud of military Piper Cub invades the skies of Melsbroek. COGEA has acquired 30 aircraft – purchased from the US Army in Germany – and they land like an invasion of large grasshoppers. What a unique spectacle! They are all there neatly arranged wings against wings on the parking lot, still wearing their military uniform, namely a camouflage paint and a number plate.They will be revised, repainted in cheerful colours and resold throughout Belgium, perhaps even abroad. Most are already reserved for a few lunatics. Business is going well and the boss is in the air…”
We are almost certain by a Polish testimony, that these 30 planes came from Göppingen. We are looking for confirmation that our 44-80464 was indeed one of these 30 planes. Are there listings of the L-4 storred in Göppingen?
Do you have any other sources of information?
The first picture of msn 12760 ex-44-80464 then registered OO-GEK, here in Keerbergen in 1948.
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