Cessna L-19 Bird Dog
by Arthur Eggers
Title
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog
Artist
Arthur Eggers
Medium
Digital Art - Color Print
Description
During the Vietnam War the Bird Dog was used primarily for reconnaissance, target acquisition, artillery adjustment, radio relay, convoy escort and the forward air control of tactical aircraft, to include bombers operating in a tactical role. The L-19 received the name Bird Dog as a result of a contest held with Cessna employees to name the aircraft. The name was chosen because the role of the army's new aircraft was to find the enemy and orbit overhead until artillery (or attack aircraft) could be brought to bear on the enemy. While flying low and close to the battlefield, the pilot would observe the exploding shells and adjust the fire via his radios, in the manner of a bird dog (gun dog) used by game hunters. The aircraft were used in various utility roles such as artillery spotting, front line communications, medevac and training. In 1962, the Army L-19 and Marine Corps OE-1 was redesignated the O-1 (Observation) Bird Dog and entered the Vietnam War.
Uploaded
May 15th, 2021
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