The Piper Cub and Forgotten WWII History
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2024
- The History Guy remembers how a small, slow, simple plane may have been one of the most powerful aircraft of the Second World War. The Piper Cub is history that deserves to be remembered.
This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As images of actual events are sometimes not available, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
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Script by THG
#wwii #thehistoryguy #aviation
Thank you for this information about my Dad "Bazooka Charlie" and his L4 plane, Rosie the Rocketer. Recently his plane was located in a small museum and returned to the US to be fully restored by Colin Powers and the Collings Foundation. The plane is now on display at their museum . A book is currently being written about my Dad as well. I think the plane will also be on display at this coming summer's EEA Aviation Show in Oshkosh, WI.
My pleasure!
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel Yarnhub had featured Rosie the Rocketeer and Major Carpenter in a video.
Carol Apacki @The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered I was going to reply at the beginning to mention that Maj. Charles Carpenter's plane is in fact on display at The American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA where I volunteer at, but Carol already did, so I'll just tack on to her comment.. The plane is on display once a month May thru October during our Event Weekends.. The hangar is not open every day.. I will say it is a thrill to talk to our customers and tell them the story of Maj. Carpenter and how he hung those six bazookas off his strut and how his granddaughter painted the art work on the nose of his newly restored plane..
Your Dad was a very brave man.
It is an honor and a pleasure to tell you what mad respect I have for your father as well as the other brave L4 pilots. However, your father showed a special kind of bravery mixed with mad genius and I am so glad he was on our side! Thank you!
I do love that you not only tell the historical story, but always where possible, continue the story as to what happen to the various people following the historical event. I really do appreciate that.
And now... the REST of the story! 😸
Paul Harvey would approve. 👍
I second this. Thank you for your work History Guy.
I come for the story, stay for the coda =)
Aye Eye
Hear! Hear!
As an Asheboro, North Carolina senior in high school student I learned to fly in a surplus J-3. from a dirt strip. I soloed Easter Sunday mooring i1950. Grounded in the mid sixties for vison problems I still miss it at 90 years of age. Thank you for the history lesson.
Hi Harris! You went to Asheboro HS?? I did too. But before that was SAMS. Do you know what I'm talking about?
I’m doing my primary training in my dad’s 1941 j-3
A young lady in our church has 200 hours in the family’s 1946 J3 on their ranch. Her name is actually “Piper” and she has her private pilot’s license at 16 years old! Her Dad flies the Sikorsky Sky-Crane on fire-fighting missions. Mom is a EMT…what a dynamic family!
I was watching a interview with a German infantry soldier and the guy asked him what plane of the allies did he fear the most he said that they all feared the piper the most because when you seen it the artillery would be falling on them soon.
Good comment. It's amazing the various perspectives we miss when learning military history. Thanks for sharing.
As stated in the vid the Germans also were sinking many ships off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts sinking many ships. The Civil Air Patrol was formed and began flying patrol missions searching for the subs and calling in bombers to attack them. German sub activity soon dropped considerably. After the war a German Admiral was questioned as to why they stopped the sub activity off Americas coasts? He replied "Those damn little yellow airplanes always circling overhead!"
@88Gibson LesPaul The US artillery doctrine was the best in WW2.
The US had invested big in Self propelled guns reconasaince and motorized towed artillery.
For example the obsolete M3 lee tank was converted into to the self propelled gun M7 priest who's blessings saved alot of GI's asses.
@88Gibson LesPaul US also pioneered time-on-target barrages, where many pieces coordinated their firing so all their shells landed at the same time so as to not give anybody time to hide or move equipment. Fearsome indeed
@@terryboyer1342: During WWll, I lived in Pass-a-Grille Beach, an island at the
entrance to Tampa Bay, where the rubber from South America was unloaded. We had black out at night, scattered sub spotting towers,
and night beach curfew. There was an occasional huge bale of rubber
washing up on the beach. I was the Coast Guard mascot 1942-46.
My Grandfather was a tanker under Patton. In a battle he was surrounded with several other tanks in a town for I believe roughly a week. A Piper Cub would fly over and drop supplies, and at night the men would crawl out to collect the ammunition and food. My Grandfather always spoke highly of the Piper Cubs, because he knows they saved his life!
I heard similar stories from my Dad who was in the 734th heavy artillery with General Patton. He always spoke well of these guys and the Rangers who scaled the cliffs on D-day.
It may have been my father in that Piper Cub! He was with 46th FA Bn in Patton's 3rd Army. He has orders for the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster for dropping supplies to a unit stranded East of the Saar River in Nov. 1944. The mission lasted 4 or 5 days. He recounted that they removed the radio and extra seat so as to hold more supplies. I would have to look at his orders to get the exact dates and number of sorties (something like 10).
@@johnc6757 there is enough information with what you said that makes me think this is my grandfather you are talking about. We know that after the battle of Metz they crossed the Saar and that is when they were surrounded.
What was your father's name and rank?
@@johnc6757 for your record, my Grandfather was in Company D of the 778th Tank Battalion under Patton.
I love hats of all kinds. I notice you have many hats in on your set. Why don't you do several presentations on hats. Examples the evolution of the modern military helmet, but also the military formal dress cap, and the soft caps. Also a nod to the origin of the military salute-- the lifting of knights visor to show the face to your opponent.?
In the early '80s I was a new pilot and immediately checked out in Cubs at a grass strip that rented them (5) for $17/hr wet. For the next several years, nearly every nice weekend, I would find a fly-in of some kind. In a Midwest summer there is some sort of fly-in within Cub range nearly every weekend. It didn't matter if it was an Champ fly-in or a home-built or a biplane or whatever: Cubs are always welcome. Once dropped into a sailplane get-together and "It's a Cub!"The thing is, and it was a pleasure but an unearned honor, was what kept happening with WW2 guys. In 1984, the WW2 guys were mostly early or mid 60's. Guys who went airline after the war were nearly all retired due to the 60 year rule then (65 now).I would see a guy and his wife, or a guy and his adult soon stand talking some distance way. More often it was 2 or 3 of these guys together. I learned to leave them alone and walk away from the plane a bit. They would move in and start pointing at that and walking around the plane touching on this and that..... in exactly the pattern that a knowing Cub pilot fingers the plane to properly preflight it. And so I got to hear, almost always, great stories of learning to fly the Cub before or during the war, what hey did during the war. Sometimes the combat part was waved off or covered by, "Things, son, just things" or "What we had to do and not as much as others. We didn't all come home." Most had not flown since shortly after the war. I would offer to take them up and give them the stick and they would always decline citing they wouldn't remember anything. I did enjoy pointing out that I had caught them basically pre-flighting the plane and in the correct sequence. "No..... wait... uhhmm... Holy..... what do ya know?..." Most still declined but some went up. You solo the Cub from the rear and I'm too tall to fly from the front comfortably (better sight lines landing from the rear anyway). So I would get them strapped in the front and be about to go through the starting procedure (you hand-prop the Cub) when all but one time the guy barks out, " Brakes ON, Mags HOT, throttle CRACKED (he looks right then left), prop CLEAR!" Then we both laugh (you forgot, huh? lol) and I had nothing to do but pull the prop. Except for takeoff and landing (even the airline guys were tail-dragger shy and that's only smart) they did most of the flying. Some were a little ham-fisted at 1st, but the Cub forgives (and teaches, if you let her) and after a few minutes.....
This was the most enjoyable flying I have ever done, on every level. Captain Obvious, out.
Those guys were so great, and they are now almost all gone. I would go to Confederate Air Force fly ins, and just walk up behind them and listen to their stories of their planes and the war. What a special generation they were.
I took a beat up 1941 piper cross country in the early 80's and old timers ran out to the ramps as if they just met a long lost friend, asking if they could prop it for me. They really got emotional about it. Every summer a WWII navigator came out to visit his daughter and I would take him up as often as he liked. He was shot down over Germany and made a POW and I would listen to him laugh about close calls. I miss those guys, all gone now.
General Jimmy Stewart (Also the actor) told a story on the Johnny Carson show about how he and his wife would go on vacation. He would take off before she did, in his Piper Cub. About half way to their destination, his wife would pass him, driving on the road below.
He retired a Brigadier General in the Air Force reserve at the age of 60. Flew B-24s in WW II, then B-36, B-47 and then the B-52. Was the highest ranking actor ever. He received many service awards. A true patriot.
My Old Man was a flight mechanic on the B-36 from '50 to '54. Very cool time to be alive!
What did they say about the plane, it could fly just fast enough to get you killed.
Reminds me of the tales from Golden Age early civilian 'airliners'. It was customary to follow rail lines to aid navigation ... but this led to the embarrassment of passengers watching steam trains below travelling faster than they were flying : ).
@@joephysics5469 I watched one of his videos here on the B-58 Hustler. Do yo think he might have actually flown that one or maybe it was as a ride-along or was it just a sales video?
For some reason, this one about the Piper Cub brings me to tears. Love you Dad RIP 1999.
You're not alone my friend! I just fly a little yellow remote-controlled Piper Cub model around the park near my house. Not sure why it got to me!
this plane might be one of the most recognisable aircraft of all times. together with such giants as the me262.
I'm there with you too Dad had a Super Cub on floats most of the time. I remember flying the Cub from both the front and back seat with Dad as the instructor. We lost him in 2013 just before Christmas, he too is deeply missed.
My father worked for Piper Aircraft.
He sewed the fabric for the wings and formed the sheet metal on the leading edge of the wings.
He never flew in a plane.
My brother worked at Piper too.
He made wiring harnesses for the instruments.
He learned to fly but stopped taking lessons after he did his solo flight.
That's when my dad went to be with the Lord as well, and he liked Cubs too.
Looking forward to the day I see him again.
My Grandfather took a flight with a buddy of his in a Cub back in the 50s. They had to put down in a cow pasture due to engine trouble. In the process they blew a tire. The pilot sliced a hole in tire and stuffed it full if grass, took off and flew back to the airport. They're rugged little birds. Just don't plan on going very far or very fast.
One of the other unique aspects of the early Cubs is they didn't have a fuel gauge. Instead they had a cork with a stiff wire poking out of the top of the fuel tank. The fuel tank was directly in front of the cockpit so the pilot could gauge how much fuel he had left by how much of the wire was poking out.
My only opportunity to fly any aircraft was back in the 90s when a customer invited me give it a go in his yellow Piper Cub. We took off from a grass field behind his home and flew around our small community. We were able to survey the damage nearby from a recent tornado. He let me take the controls for a few minutes to get an idea of what flying is like. He was a kindly old gentleman who had flown in WW2. One of the things I fondly remember is the “fuel gauge” you described.
Not a cork but a float like in a toilet. The "wire" was a metal rod. It was very reliable, KISS.
@@stevek8829
I love solutions like that. They just work. No elegance, just the basic necessities.
I helped refuel one on thursday and it doesn't have the float/wire thing but it has a small vertical glass tube on the inner end of each wing, like the water gauge on a kettle, and with them the pilot can see the actual level of fuel, and the fuel itself in the tank with a quick glance left or right. The tubes are also slanted backwards slightly to account for the change in attitude when the plane is in level flight. Again an example of KISS and IMO an improvement on the wire/float as you can physically see the fuel colour (for contamination) as well as the amount and see that it is indeed fuel that is suspending the marker and not just that the marker ball has jammed part way up the gauge. I think it is one fo the last cubs with a wheezy old O-240 engine. Used as a glider tug lol...
Ray Ceeya ~Yep, simplicity beats the need for redundancy any day - particularly in airplanes! Cheers
Wow! I never would have guessed that this little plane would have such an amazing history!
My Dad had a T-Craft and a Piper Cub. I was seven months old on my first flight. I never got my ticket but I could take off and fly. Landing well let us say it would have been pretty. Love and miss my Mom and Dad, she passed in 2002 and Dad in 2015, best people I have ever known. Dad was a WWII veteran.
Gotta send this to an 88 year old pilot who has a 1944 scout version in his hanger still flight ready. Amazing its so simple and light but was very important.
My father flew the Piper Cub and the L-4 as a spotter for The Artillery in Italy, France, and Germany from 1942 to 1945. He won several Silver and Bronze Stars as part of the artillery spotter unit called "The Grasshoppers" during that time. He is one of The Founding Members of The Army Aviation Hall of Fame at Ft. Rucker, Alabama.
The Stinson L-5 was another spotter plane. I think it was somewhat bigger than a Cub. They built almost 4,000 of them. The Waco bi-plane was a popular civilian trainer and used in the CPTP.
@@danzervos7606 At 5:48 in the video there is a brief shot of what I think are two L-5s with wings removed.
My uncle was a spotter on a Piper in France that flew over German lines doing recon. Sadly, he didn't make it home.
My father had one of these in the 1950's and flew it across the country many times ferrying relatives. My mom had a lot of stories about how they ran out of gas and had to land at a restricted army base and were almost arrested, how they thought they were over the Salton Sea but it turned out to be the Pacific ocean, how it took 3 days to get from NV to NY with my Grandmother on board---these kind of stories. Great adventures!
Three days from Nevada to New York in a J-3 would be an extraordinary feat. Realistically, it would take twice as long.
@@Xanthrochroid You can drive from Nevada to NY in 3 days. Couldn't you fly it in the same amount of time?
My favorite plane in the world. My grandpa was an airplane mechanic and flight instructor for years. I didn’t get to fly in a Cub until a few years ago. What a wonderful day. One of my bucket list flights. Much love
Growing up as a kid in Alaska in the 1960/70s this plane was a common sight. In fourth or tight grade we were taught how to flash one with a mirror if lost and movements it made with its wings to let you know the pilot saw you. I’d forgotten all about that till this morning. Thank you so much for the work you do.
So... Is 'tight grade' the year where you grow so fast that you don't get bigger clothes quick enough and all your shirts, pants and shoes are tight?.
LoL
Dad learn to fly in Southeast Alaska back in the late thirties and soloed in a Bellanca WB on floats. That's started is flying career that spanned over 60 years.
I'm turning 60 on Monday and this story has got me thinking about getting a pilot's license.
Do it! You'll never regret it.
I’m turning 60 in November... got my license in the eighties.. you will always remember the day you solo... mine was October 16th 1988.. go for it!
It helps to be thin. Geoff Who is too well padded. Note the Kitfox (TM) is the modern equivilent, but the Cub is still being built.
@@shaggydogg3786 True that :-) I got to do it a second time when I got my tail wheel rating in a Taylorcraft.
oldesertguy . Do it ! It’s easier than driving until shit happens, but you train for that. You never forget your first solo , which you’ll likely do anytime after 9-10 hours of dual instruction. . I’m 60 BTW.
As a pilot who has flown several Piper J3 Cubs, and as a former member of the Civil Air Patrol, I truly appreciate this video. Thank you very much for creating such a fantastic honor to this wonderful flying machine and mentioning the Civil Air Patrol. You are doing great work and look forward to each of your videos. Thank you.
My father who was a retired Lt. Col. (USAF) taught me to fly in his J3. I still remember his comment on my first attempt at landing. I was 11 and paniced, hit the throttle when the wheels first contacted the grass strip. He stated," boy, you get higher on a bounce during landing than I get on take-off". That was 49 years ago and what a lifelong adventure it led to !
@@Bizones16 Wow...what a great story. Memories like this are great.
@@tonypence0602 and PRICELESS ! Glade you liked it.
As a cub owner myself I appreciate you educating others on it’s story.
THANK YOU. As the grandson of an aircraft mechanic and Instructor Pilot, I grew up loving planes. The Cub has always been my favorite plane. Although I never got my license to fly , I knew how to fly before I could drive and 48 years later I can't hear an aircraft flying without looking up( Squirrel!!!!)🤣😂. I was able to take a ride In one a couple of years ago with one of my Grandpas old students who became one of his best friends. It was truly an awesome experience. The Cub is truly a plane that you can feel in the seat of your pants and still a wonderful plane to fly. Awesome plane.
SQUIRREL!!!
Yeah, I know the feeling! Seventy years old and I have to look up and see what is flying over. Especially if it is a piston driven prop!
My uncle flew a Piper Cub as some kind of secret courier to Las Alamos when they were designing the A-bomb. He said trying to get that underpowered little plane over the trees at the end of the runway (high altitude) on a hot summer day ( hot, thin air) was the scariest thing he ever did. He went on to fight in the Pacific and became a sharif in California.
@mark smith Sheriff. I have no idea why autocorrect changed it to "sharif". So sorry I did not notice the mistake and correct it. Also, I'm disappointed that in the context of the comment you couldn't figure it out and felt obligated to point it out. I hope tomorrow goes better for you.
@mark smith Apology accepted.
The J-3 Cub design is so popular, many companies today produce kits and finished aircraft that are clones of it. In the Light Sport Aircraft category, it's a dominant design.
My father was a career USAF man. In the mid 60's, and I was about 11 years old, an Air Force pilot friend of his took me up in a Piper Cub. It was thrilling! I am now 65 and I often think about that flight. It is a memory I treasure and will never forget. Go Air Force!
So, if I've flown a Piper Cub, then I can honestly say that I've flown fighter aircraft? *rewriting my resume*
LOL... So my first lesson was in a fighter. And now an old roommate was a fighter pilot as he owned a J3...
If you directed an artillary barage YES 😉
it is also an anti submarine bomber..so you can also put that on yer resume
Formidable one too, it won 100% of the dogfights it was in.
Sorry, but only if you brought along a pistol. ..or a bazooka.
i recall a (very short) "nader" alarmist call for aviation reform, when the pinto, corvair, etc were condemned as unsafe, to include the cub. saner minds noted the reason the cub held the highest crash statistics was because there was about 1/8 of a million flying around. of course, more would be crashing. turned that switch off really quick. seems it had the most amazing safety record of nearly all aircraft, and still does to this day! excellent vid!
Great story, thank you. A great friendship developed when a cub landed in our pasture with a broken oil line. We drove him 100 miles round trip to get the necessary parts to replace it. Got it fixed first thing in the morning and he was on his way. H returned with his wife just about every six months to visit for a day or two. Neat little plane and fun to ride in.
My father was a major in the Army Air Corp at the end of WWII. He and three other officers were transferred to Paris from London for the sole purpose of selling off the surplus Pipers that the military, under contract from Piper, had to take possession of over 10,000 planes. He had many amazing stories about where those planes ended up as well as the four officers and where they too ended up. One left the service and returned to NYC where he and his brother bought the 21 Club. Our family visited him in his office when I was 10 years old. In the early 70s I was stationed in Germany and my dad put me in touch with another one of the four. He had since left the military and was a lawyer in France. I stayed in his huge house in the countryside outside of Paris where he told me more of the story.
My Father would have Loved this video! RIP Major Richard Arthur Goldhammer USAF Korea Vietnam Arlington 2010
@88Gibson LesPaul God Blessed our Families!
I'd like to thin that he's watching it with us.
My dad was shot down in a L4 Grasshopper during WWII in China. The General wanted to get a closer look. My dad said that was not a good idea but the general ordered him to go there. I have a picture of the plane on the roof in a rice paddy with him standing beside it with a bandage on his head. Mostly he flew P51 Mustangs and said that was the last time he ever volunteered to show a general around.
Goldhammer is such a cool ass name
my dad was USMC, and qual'ed to fly bombers and parachute planes in ww2, korea, and vn. some evil stuff he and fellow officers got drunk about. wish i knew more. he refused to talk about it--"someday, you'll understand". vietnam taught me he was right. some ancient pre-Seal FrogMan stuff, have a ww2 submarine USN photo of his crew launching. his stories and history went to heaven in 2010.
Always a delight to watch The History Guy. Never dull, always informative.
Too true
Thank you for the "Cub" history on youtube! May I add a little side note to your story. I live near Madison WI where I met a gentleman who was involved in WW II with a role in the war involving an L-4. I met him at one of those morning coffee get togethers where world problems (and several others of much less consequence carry equal weight) are solved or at least given some thought. He was in his mid 90's when we met, he being the pilot for Ray-O-Vac (yes the battery people) who had retired years ago. Being a light aircraft pilot myself you can imagine we had a lot to talk about. He worked with an Air Corps construction unit who of course as the war progressed he would search, in the air, for abandoned German airports that were likely candidates to be recovered by US troops, rehabbed, and used by our own fighters. A couple incidences he related to me involving his flights; one of which was while returning to his base with the soldier who had inspected a candidate airstrip, whose rank I recall as Major, anyway, on the return trip they were fired upon, holes in the wing, by someone who were determined to be Americans. Upon landing he said the Major drove back to the place where they had been fired upon to give the ground soldiers a lesson on what our planes looked like. On another flight he observed one of the Concentration camps that had a number of trucks he observed to be American, as well as some of the men around them appeared to be Americans. He landed and told me no one should have seen the horrible human atrocities he saw there. At the beginning of my comments to you I failed to say that Bill had gotten his pilots and mechanics license before the war. He flew aerial applications before the war. Some years before he passed he honored me by giving me a wooden J-3 wing rib he had made back when, I must put his picture with it where it hangs in my garage. Bill showed us his silver star, I fail to remember why he was awarded that star. He was a fine Christian man who was loved by many. Bill passed away shortly before his 100th birthday, I ,we, miss him.
When I was a kid, back in the early 1960s, my father bought a Piper Tripacer Cub, instead of a rear wheel it had a front landing gear, and seated four (2 adults and 3 kids in our case). It had crash landed in the original Orange Bowl and broke off its wings. It was lovingly restored and became the work horse of our expanding family business, flying my dad up state to our family's new branches from our family-operated manufacturing plant in Miami. Both my parents learned to fly while it was being rebuilt and re-clothed and eventually it was the first airplane my older brother learned to fly, earning his pilot's license before he was old enough to qualify for a driver's license. Last we heard of it, she is still in operation, N821A.
Just think s
The Tri-Pacer, is not a Cub. Different airplane entirely. Ran the N number. N821A, was de-registered in 2011.
In the 1950’s I put together a plastic model of one, just as you described.
As a kid growing up in western Alberta in the 50’s and 60’s I remember Cubs galore flying over the town. Many were used by ranchers and for other business purposes but most were privately owned pleasure craft. We used to laugh at how in the teeth of a headwind they seemed to hover in the sky. About the same time there were lots of Harvard trainers (called the Texan in the US). They had to be the noisiest craft for their size. Both aircraft certainly deserve to be remembered for their contribution to military training and for their simplicity. Great video!
Great presentation as always. In the mid 80's I was fired from my job as a lineman because a Jetstar owned by Paul Newman, flipped and nearly destroyed an original 1940's Cub parked behind it on the tarmac. I almost had it flipped back over when the company's owner showed up... History that I remember.
I am sorry for your firing. Instincts are often to make things right. What was wrong with that? Insurance? I don't know why Newman would have a Jetstar.
@@TranscendianIntendor Paul wore far more hats than just an actor. He had several businesses as well as racing teams. A good plane like that probably was a necessity for him to get to everything in a timely manner.
Bob Hope owned a JetStar for many years. Also, entertainers Elvis Presley, Wayne Newton and racing driver Mario Andretti are among the list of JetStar owners.
Thank you ever so much for keeping these men alive in our hearts and minds.
This brings back memories. My mother is from Lock Haven and worked for Walter Jamouneau, and my father worked at Piper for a time as well and many of my mother’s family. My undergraduate school is Lock Haven State College - now University, where I met my wife who was a staff member. Most of her uncles worked at Piper and my father-in-law, who was a painter/paperhanger worked on Bill Piper Jr’s home. I have an original Bill Piper Jr. autographed picture of a J3 in flight hanging in my den, plus an autographed book. In my youth, it was not unusual to see a Piper test flying over my home in nearby Jersey Shore PA . The family visited Lock Haven frequently and I enjoyed seeing all the planes parked at the airfield. I particularly loved the twin engined Aztec. I recall the disastrous economic effects when Piper was sold and left Lock Haven. Memories, memories. Keep up the good work, your stories are interesting and history does deserve to be remembered. I was a History teacher for a time until I got into the City Manager profession.
There is a town in Northern PA, (AKA "God's Country"), by the name of Piper. I always wondered why it was named so? Did they make the Piper Cubs there during the war? Another town is named Cessna. Another small plane manufacturer during WW2.
@@josephcernansky1794 Good catch, but I doubt it. The precursor to Piper AC was Taylor AC and it was in Bradford PA. Piper moved to Lock Haven around 1937.
There is a story (possibly apocryphal) of a Marine pilot in the Pacific theater flying a Cub for reconnaissance who caught the attention of a pair of Zeros. They took turns trying to shoot him down, but the slow speed and maneuverability of the Piper allowed him to dodge each attack. One of the Japanese apparently became fixated on the Cub and crashed into the jungle, whereupon the other gave up in presumed disgust and left. The Marine tried to get credit for a kill, but was told he had to shoot the plane down. Making it crash wasn't good enough.
So the Piper's success rate in dogfights stands at 100% ?
Similar things happened in Europe with FW190 and Me109s.
Well... ain't that just like the Brass. Making up silly,new rules on the fly !!!
@@waynevreeland3141 The Americans had similar problems intercepting biplane bombers in Korea. When your stalling speed is twice your targets cruise speed, intercepts are a real problem.
that's hilarious
When I saw the title of the video my first thought was what a wonderful topic. The piper cub is such a major part of the 20'th century anyone that's been around for a while knows the name. It is truly amazing how something so simple can change the lifes of so many. I knew a good amount of what the Cubs did in WW11 but I had no idea of how valuable they were.
Terrific report. Also you demonstrate great respect for those who have passed on. Your voice and demeanor show your sincerity. Thank you for your efforts. I love history!
William Wise
I have a 1952 Piper PA-18 Super Cub which was used as a USAF trainer by civilian pilot training schools until about 1956 when the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor replaced it. My father flew this type as an instructor at one of those schools from 1952 to 1960. At the age of 76 I still fly that airplane with him regularly from the Texas airpark where I live now. By the way, just as an aside, many of the photos and film clips in this very well done video aren’t L4’s but Stinson L5’s. I have owned several Stinson 108 series airplanes which were the civilian manifestation of that airplane.
Sending this to my dad who is a pilot and has many hours in this craft. Thank you so very much!
1k likes to 1 dislike
That one Storch recon pilot is pissed.
Even his grandkids!
19 artillery spotters disliked that. XD
Mentioning the dislikes only increases them
@@beemail6983 Don't care lol
Nien, du swinehound !
Fantastic Piper Cub episode. Thank you for putting that together. I have been a general aviation pilot since 1992. I finally earned my flight instructor certificate in 2009 after a wonderfully long journey of aviation learning. I took my private pilot's license check ride from a B-29 pilot having completed my training at the Keesler, Air Force base aeroclub. I took my commercial pilot check ride from a P-47 pilot having studied at Dulles Aviation in Manassas, Virginia. Those were great guys and I am so glad I was able to benefit from being around WWII pilots in my flight training.
Many years later I was blessed to give most of my grandchildren their 1st plane ride in a Cub as well.
Thank you!
Dad had one, and it was very easy to fly.
Dad would take us to about 10,000 feet and at age 5, turn it over to me.
He said that high, he could recover easily, from any faux pas I might commit...
I never lost it!
The plane could take off with a strong wind but a New England hurricane destroyed it.
My dad was pretty cool! We'd go fishing in Canada or to great uncle Joe's on lake Champlain. Dad would drink beer the whole way!
Ahhhhhh the good old days.
Miss you Dad!
My dad would drink the whole way too. That's it. That is my whole story. He had a stroke and died 5 years after he learned he had cirrhosis at the age 46. Miss him.
@@MaxHohenstaufen So young.
How sadly unfortunate. Way too young for that to cash you out.
Condolences! 👍
Your ability to tell the story with emphasis and overall style of delivery is such a delight. Thank you.
My Father (Bless his Soul) was a Koran War Veteran, a retired U.S. Air Force Col. and in his youth an avid CAP Pilot.
His 1st Solo Flight was in a Piper Cub and Dad had many stories and fond memories of the "Cub" (as I expect many others did).
Even later in life Dad's eyes always lit-up when if by chance we would spot an old Cub.
Yes indeed, the Piper Cub is most certainly History that Deserves to be Remembered.
Thank You for this video and your tireless work in providing consistent fascinating content that matters.
The piper cub is a gem and worthy of being remembered! Thank you SO much for doing this story and furthering the selections that you highlight on your channel. It’s so much fun!
I may have whooped, a little, after the story about the aerial combat victory. Great episode!
Same
@@BruceLortzHIThere is also a story about an F4 Phantom that was on the tail of a North Vietnamese MIG. The Phantom was trying to get into a shooting position on the MIG, but the MIG was able to shake loose the Phantom. Eventually, the MIG got so low in altitude that it literally crashed into the ground!!! The F4 Phantom is on display at the Air Combat Museum in Topeka, KS. Always thought that was an awesome story!!
@@BruceLortzHI I really wouldn't want a Browning shooting at my plane! I bet that was a real surprise for the Japanese pilet.
@@BruceLortzHI It was a EF-111 Raven that made a Mirage become friends with the ground.
I do love the Cub, first plane I ever flew (even if only RC). I don't have much art in my house, but I do have my old yellow Cub hanging on my hallway wall. It's rather beautiful.
I knew they were used in ww2, but glad to know they were so ballsy.
Thanks History Guy👍
Still one of the best primary trainers ever to exist. No matter how experienced a pilot one may be, flying _any_ version of the Cub is an aeronautical workout.
I learned to fly in the J-3 Cub in 1966 as a junior in high school, and it launched a flying career that continues to today in 2023. That career the Cub started included 29 years as a pilot for United Airlines. Well done! It was a great history for me. Thanks!
Thank you for the history of the "Piper Cub". As with history and the sciences. Aviation has always been an attraction. Thanks again..🛩🛩🛩
My father trained with RAF in the British version of training aircraft. It was the Tiger Moth. He talked about it often as a fun plane and said that a kid, like me at the time, could learn to fly it in no time.
Yes, it was Britain's Cub. They both were the spring board into flight for many people.
My first flight at the age of 12 in 1962 was in a J3. I became a private pilot and spent 45 years as an aircraft maintenance technician working mostly on small aircraft. But I remember that 1st flight fondly. My bucket list as a youth included learning to fly, scuba dive, and sail the south seas. I never did scuba dive but I have been blessed to do much snorkeling and free diving in the Caribbean. And small boating there as well. The coral reefs are amazing.
'Badass' - noun; - Any pilot who achieves an air to air kill with a pistol.
I learned to fly using this aircraft when i enrolled the Civil Air Patrol in 1955. Great aircraft.
Oh! Exellent!
Awesome!
Same here 3 years later
Thanks for that. I did know about the use of bazookas on the Piper Cub and the German aircraft brought down by pistol fire as the channel run by Mark Felton had covered both events but it is good to hear about them again and the background to the aircraft itself.
I found the bringing down of the German aircraft by the use of pistols interesting because the very first air to air combat in WW1 involved the use of pistols. Contrast that with the fact that by this time both the British and the Germans were using 20 mm cannons, one shell from them would have destroyed either aircraft.
The use of civilian aircraft was carried on during the Viet Nam War as well with the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog used by forward air controllers, which would later be replaced by the twin engined Cessna O-2 Skymaster. Many a soldiers life was saved by both of these aircraft.
I watched Mr. Felton's video, and believe this presentation was much more interesting and exciting.
@@chrisebert7307Dr. Felton's History Channel BBC Documentaries go into much further if not complete detail
@@chrisebert7307 he often goes into the details in more depth whereas the History Guy often gives the larger picture. Both very interesting in there own way
Wonderful episode! Thanks so much for doing it. The Piper J-3 Cub and the Douglas DC-3 went into the Aviation Hall of Fame on the exact same day!
Growing up in Northern Illinois we had a neighbor who owned the E-2 & J-2 Cub. In 1978 he orchestrated a Cub fly-In with individuals continuing on to the big Fly-In in Oshkosh Wisconsin. He sent an invitation to Mr. Taylor who accepted. I was only 14 years old at the time, but it was a real treat to listen to his stories. You want to talk about rubbing elbows with History.
According to Mr. Taylor's recollection of events, even though his name was on the J-2, it was not his design. He also told us that he became I'll with a bad case of the flu and had to take some time off. He said when he returned, he was told he was not a part of the business any longer. I can tell you Mr. Taylor enjoyed his trip to Oshkosh and he was still developing small aircraft. He took designs of a small plane to Oshkosh called The Bird.
I really enjoyed this . Brought back some good memories. Thank you.
>Landed a plane without being spotted.
>Snuck up and captured enemy forward observers.
SNEAK: 100
Absolutely fascinating! The more I watch your Channel, the deeper I get into your lessons and history.
I can honestly say this without any hesitation or doubt in my mind. Had I had you in school as my history teacher, I would have done so much better in history. Don't get me wrong I didn't do bad, however I never had a history teacher that could keep my attention. Everyone was always so monotone and they were always; read this chapter, test tomorrow.
I do want to say thank you for all your time, effort and hard work you put into every lesson because it's so easy to tell that you put a lot of care into each story as far as researching find points as well as finding the video clips.
Most of all I want to tell you how much I deeply deeply appreciate you for giving me my interest back in history, as well as my love for it! No one else has ever been able to do that before. Thank you again!
Totally agree... the man is an absolute gem !!!
Many would of done better at history if only the teacher would of put this kind of enthusiasm and information behind it. Now they do not push history much at all. Makes me worry because of the old saying, "O e who does not know history is bound to repeat it". And then others keep rewiring history to fit agendas.
I love Piper ❤️ Cubs. We got to fly into a lake in Alaska on a 1964 Piper Cub float plane. It was so fun. My Chihuahuas loved it. He couldn't believe how light we packed
I soloed on the Piper Cub in 1989. What an amazing little plane! ❤️
The Piper Cub is the “Little engine that could” of aircraft. As always another great presentation of historical information that is often overlooked but, as you remind us, deserves to be remembered! Every video you post just makes my day, thanks!
As always THG....well done. The flow of your talks continues to improve
You made a small nondescript plane absolutely fascinating. Wonderful job!!!
The hours I logged in the Piper Cub are among my most memorable. Thanks for this feature.
And the Piper J-3/L-4/NE-1 is even still a favorite of radio control model enthusiasts! So much so that the R/C club I belong to in Mobile, AL sets aside one day every summer just to fly "Piper Cubs". Peace and love.
The Cub continued in service as the U-7 with a bigger engine into the 1960s.
11:20 “we are about to give combat!” I couldn’t help but laugh at how those who received that transmission must have reacted.
Thank you for this video, my grandfather was a Flying Sergeant, he flew a piper cub as a observer for an artillery regiment. He flew from Anzio Beach, Itlay in WWII.
What a great story. As pilot I love the Piper CUB , and learned to fly in a P56 , very close to the J3, in Brazil, 1984.
I got to fly a Piper Cub when I was 14 on a field trip. Thanks for the great story!
I learned to fly in a j3. What an amazing airplane and off a grass field! Love it. Low and slow, the best way to fly.
Thanks. The Piper L-4 has a warm place in my heart as in 1969 I was a Cadet in Civil Air Patrol and our Squadron had an old L-4 from the USAF. At 13 years old I spent days at the airport trying and often succeeding in "sandbaging" flights with the Senior Officers that could fly it. They were often ex WWII pilots. I still have a picture of myself in the front seat from 1969. ❤
My Brother, God rest his sole, and I flew the J-3 for years, he lived 100 miles away and visited often,sometimes when the weather was bad (IFR) he would drop down and fly the road about 100 feet above the deck, He would land in a field behind the house. The J-3 met its end of life in a wind storm at the airport, gone, just like him, but not forgotten
I thoroughly enjoyed that episode! I love your channel! You rock! 😊
Ive had a weird obsession with these planes for a while, so its great to see an episode on this little guy.. Top work History Fam
I hope you actually read these comments. I have to tell you, that was one of the best you've done for we aviation enthusiast. So much information in such a small package. Some fantastic film footage. It almost sounds like you've taken the little bird up and flown one yourself. I have ALWAYS had a soft spot for this sweet bird. So much in such a small, simple package. I think here should be a re-imaging of the Civil Air Training program, upon hearing so much about the shortage of airline pilots and so many airlines flying regional aircraft. Training should start somewhere and that's a cheap way to get the void filled. Professor, I love ALL the videos you do, but this one was really special to me. I'm old at 67 and you re-ignited the desire to fly before I "kick it". Thanks so much for the detail and fun you put into your presentations.
Thank you for the kind words! Yes, I try to read the comments, although with more than 800 videos now I can’t keep up with them all.
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel Hard job for sure. They should allow you go go into classrooms from junior high up and allow you to get kids interested in world history. You have such a pleasant demeanor which alone makes viewing your videos so wonderful. And of course, I love the tie! Very much like Dr. Duckworth on N.C.I.S. I watch all of your videos. Such deep facts! I really hope you're in the education field and that you somehow pass your skills of communicating to others. You are a master!
Great video. Thank you.
I had the honor of flying in a Piper Cub in the Arctic in the early 1970's. I was 20 and worked for Cominco who had a zinc mine called Polaris on Little Cornwallis Island. Part of my job was to obtain replacement drill parts for the 3 exploration drill sites on other islands.
I became friends with the pilot and we would have a lot of fun. There are no video games or TV so you made your own fun.
The drill parts were fairly heavy. I would package them up in bundles of about 50 pounds secured with loads of duck tape.
The drill camp needed to be close to fresh water so usually the dirt airstrip was a long walk away from the camp.
We didn't want to walk with 50 pounds so we made a different plan.
The rear seat of the Piper had a long window which could be opened and clipped open.
We would buzz the camp.
The drillers were usually at the drill drilling so only the cook would come out to see what was going on.
When we buzzed again the pilot would turn the Piper on its side and I would fire the package right at the cook.
We could not have been more than 100 feet off the ground.
I miss those days.
Great Job my family loves Cubs and we have restored many over the years to keep the history alive and will always have some in our family . Some of your video was of the L-5 Stinson also a great airplane and a aviation family worthy of being remembered. The video of a patient being loaded in the airplane was of a patient getting loading into an L 5
L5!
Agreed - Stories of Katherine Stinson Are amazing - School Girl Pilot. Truly an Aviation pioneer. The History Guy needs to hear about her and her brother and sister. Peace.
We have a couple of Cubs and Austers here on the farm strip. The best example can be found on you tube, search "Phill Cottles Cub". This example flew in WW2 and was at one time liveried in its military paint scheme.
For once, a subject I actually Knew well. THG still managed to inform me of details of which I knew nothing though! Thank you THG.
Those words (Phill Cottles Cub) in youtube result in garbage. Can you be more specific?
@@feez357 Craysmarsh farm airfield and scroll down to Phill Cottle's Cub. Sorry, I'm not much with the IT thing.
Ah yes, much better.
The Auster was designed by C G Taylor, it was the british Taylorcraft,
Love the Cub. Ive got about 50 hours in one. I could rent it for $7 per hour wet. You could watch cars passing you on the highway below. You could land it any where. Great video.
thanks for honoring my old friend. Everything I needed to learn about life was in a Piper Cub
This was very interesting THG! I would have never known how important the Piper Cub was during the wars and civilian duty. The little plane that could, and did!
I've flown the Taylorcraft as well as all kinds of Piper Cubs and Super Cubs and Aeronicas and Cessnas, all great aircraft and fun to fly!
The Beech aircraft manufacturing building in Wichita, Ks says Piper on it.
A good friend of mine flew a piper cub for the US Army while in Vietnam. He said that they flew "Low & Slow" to draw fire and report the location. He said it was real spooky because he was often drawing fire.
Another great video, Thank you.
Thank you for this. I am from Lock haven Pa. We have the sentimental journey here every year. When i was a kid i would ride the bus everyday right past Piper airport. There row after row of planes but you could always see the yellow cubs!
Great video. I got my tailwheel endorsement on a Super Cub, but then moved onto a Luscombe 8, which although it's also a 1940's aeroplane, it's a luxury sportster in comparison.
A Colt .45 and a Piper Cub. Thank you, Sir.
1911 or a malt liqour?
A pilot floating down in his parachute downed a Japanese Zero with his 1911 hitting the pilot as he made a pass at him. In another account, a sergeant in the battles for I think Tinnian, one of the Marianas, was seriously wounded and told his men to leave him propped up against a tree with his 1911 as they were forced to retreat due to a counter attack. When they got back to him the next morning, he was dead surrounded by 8 dead enemy soldiers. In the movie of Sergeant York, he was shown using a Luger and dropping the charging german soldiers - York actually used his 1911 Colt, the movie stuntman just couldn't get the 1911 to work with blanks so they modified history and used a confiscated Luger for the film. The legend of the 1911 Colt is large.
My father was an aviation pioneer and an early salesman and pilot for Piper in the 1930s. He was Navigator and Radio operator on the B-29 Pacusan Dreamboat where he was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross and The Silver Star. My elder relatives still talk about him flying over the family home in Pittsburgh.
As a C/A1C in Civil Air Patrol, I'm always excited when we get recognition. Great video, it's always nice to learn not only about an aircraft and it's history, but the people who flew it!
That was an excellent episode History Guy ! ., I had no idea that those planes were used so extensively in WW2. The only time I've ever seen one of them depicted was in the movie " Battle of the Bulge " . Keep up the good work !
I know right! The first time time I saw one of them I thought they were just used for private flying. I had no clue they were used in WW2 and let alone have bazooka equipped. 😂
Interesting stuff.
Impressive. The Pipers use in Burma and saving the lives of many wounded is more valiant!
Dear Lance, what a great job you have done! In Canada, we had the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during the war. Some of those BCATP airports and runways are still in use.
I have enjoyed every one of your history segments. The story behind the Piper cub was fantastic - especially the important role the Cub played in WWII. I was once promised a flight in a Piper Cub. It was a year before I started flight lessons. The Piper Cub was owned by a flying club in suburban Atlanta. A lady that worked for the same airline I did, offered to take me flying. Unfortunately, a day before our flight, a tornado struck the airport where the Cub was based. The aircraft was destroyed on the ground. Your wonderful story back back the memory of ALMOST flying in a Piper Cub.
What an amazing plane, the only thing missing from the story was pirates, because all good stories have them.
If THG had looked hard enough, I am sure that some pirate somewhere flew one at least once! After all, pirates are all about adventure. And seat of the pants flying at tree top level is true adventure.
I learned to fly and soloed in a war surplus J-3 many years ago. A remarkable little aircraft.
My grandfather trained on the Piper and he would tell some awesome stories about that awesome little plane. He then ended up flying fighter jets and went on to fly for Pan Am and United 747s till the 90's.
My father was a field artillery commander and forward spotter in WWII. He used a Cub often in New Guinea, and narrowly survived when fogged in a narrow box canyon. He loved the plane and bought me a flying model.