History

The Piper L4 Cub basically originates from the Taylor E3 Taylor, which was built by Taylor Aircraft in 1930. W.T. Piper was the main investor in the Taylor factory and became the owner after the bankruptcy of Taylor Aircraft.
In 1936 the design was significantly modified by W. Jamouneau, creating a new type, which was designated as Piper J-2. Between 1936 and 1938 1200 examples were produced.

In 1938, the factory was burned to the ground entirely and a new one was built in Lock Haven. There Taylor Aircraft started building the J-3, an improved version of the J-2.
The J-3 could be fitted with different engines, the J=3C for example had a Continental A engine.

With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, a initially civilian training program was set up in the USA, where the Piper J-3 was used. Between 1939 and 1940, then were more than 3000 Piper J-3s built.
In 1941 a military version was released, called Piper O-59, in 1942 changed to L-4 and NE (US Navy designation). This hardly differed from the original civilian J-3.

The L-4 Grasshopper had a canopy with more glass panes in order to improve visibility.
Over 5400 examples were built, including 250 NE-1 and NE-2 for the US Navy.
All L-4 versions had a tandem cockpit and were, like the Taylor Craft L2 and Aeronca L-3 referred to as Grasshopper.
During the war the L-4 was used for a variety of tasks such as reconnaissance, light transport, artillery reconnaissance and also for medical transport (medevac)
After the war, many aircraft were sold as surplus, but many were still used in military service.

Versions.

J-3:
original version with a Continental A-40, A-40-2 or A-40-3 engine rated 28 kW.
J3C-40 :
Version built from July 1938 with a Continental A-40-4 or A-40-5 rated 30 kW.
J3C-50 :
Version built from July 1938 with a Continental A-50-1 or A-40-2 up to A-40 -9 rated 37 kW.
  • J3C-50S with an optional float kit.
J3C-65 :
Version built from July 1939 with a Continental A-65-1, A-65-3, 6, 7, 8, 8F, 9 or 14 rated 48 kW or a Continental A-65-14, A-75-8, A-75-8-9 or A-75-12 rated 56 kW or a Continental A-85-8 or C-85-12 rated 63 kW or a Continental A-90-8F rated 67 kW.
  • J3C-65S: with an optional float kit.
  • YO-59: Four examples of the J3C-65 for test and evaluation purposes for US Army.
  • O-59:: Production version for USAAC; later designated as L-4
  • O-59A: improved USAAC version with a Continental O-170-3 rated 48 kW; later designated as L-4A.
  • L-4B: as L-4A, but without radio.
  • L-4H: as L-4B, but with improved equipment and fixed pitch propeller.
  • L-4J: as L-4H with variable pitch propeller.
  • NE-1: US Navy designation of the J3C-65 with double steering; 230 examples built.
  • NE-2: NE-1 with minor changes of equipment, 20 examples built.
J3F-50 :
Version built from July 1938 with a Franklin 4AC-150 Series 50 rated 37 kW.
  • J3F-50S: with an optional float kit.
J3F-60 :
Version built from April 1940 with a Franklin 4AC-150 Series A engine rated 48 kW or a Franklin 4AC-171 rated 45 kW.
  • J3F-60S: with an optional float kit
J3F-65 :
Version built from Augustus 1940 with a Franklin 4AC-176-B2 or a Franklin 4AC-176-BA2 rated 48 kW.
  • De J3F-65S: with an optional float kit.
  • L-4D: designation of five examples of the J3F-65 for the USAAC
J3L :
built form September 1938 and equipped with a Lycoming O-145-A1 engine rated 37 kW or a Lycoming O-145-A2 or A3 engine rated 41 kW.
  • J3L-S: with an optional float kit.
J3L-65 :
built from May 1940 equipped with a Lycoming O-145-B1, B2 or B3 rated 48 kW.
  • J3L-65S: with an optional float kit.
  • L-4C: designation of eight examples of the J3L-65, initially referred to as UC-83A.
J3P :
Version with a Lenape LM-3-50 or Lenape AR-3-160 rated 37 kW.
J-3R :
Version with slotted flaps and a Lenape LM-3-65 rated 48 kW.
J-3X :
version built in 1944 with a cantilever wing and a Continental A-65-8 rated 48 kW
Commandre :
French version of the J-3 Cub
TG-8 :
Three seat glider version for training purposes, 250 examples built.
  • LNP: US Navy designation of three TG-8s.

 

Technical information
Dimensions:
Length: 6,83 m Wingspan: 10,74 m
Height: 2,03 m Wing area: - m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 345 kg Max. start weight: 550 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 140 km/hr Climbing speed: - m/min
Cruising speed: 121 km/hr    
Range: 354 km Service ceiling: 3500 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: One Continental O-170-3 rated 65 hp
Crew: -
Armament: None

 


After the Second World War, the former Dutch East Indies were (temporarily) governed by the British government.

Just in December 1945 put the first Dutch troops entered officially Dutch-Indian soil.

In the course of the year was a need for a liaison and also to support the KNIL (NEi Army) and 17 squadron was established.

At that time, four ex Japanese biplanes, obtained from the RAF, were used for reconnaissance purposes.

The first three Piper Cubs were purchased in September 1945 by F/O Captain Schoof for use as a sports aircraft for freed KNIL soldiers who stayed in a camp in Manila in the Philippines. The new aircraft were declared surplus and were obtained from a dump. The devices kept their American serials.

In early November 1945, the aircraft plus a fourth example were shipped to Balikpapan on Borneo with the intention to be further forwarded to Tjililitan Java, to support the 1st Infantry Battalion of the KNIL. However, the British wanted still not authorize the transfer of (military) equipment to West Java.

In late November, the four Japanese biplanes were obtained from the RAF to carry out explorations.

So the Pipers remained in storage. In December 1945, the infantry battalions II and IV and a battalion of marines were disembarked in Batavia. The four Pipers were intended to support this group.

Early March 1946 the brigade arrived to occupy Bali and Lombok. They took two temporarily registered as PC-3 and PC-4 Pipers with them. These were taken over from the detachment of 17 VARWA squadron which had received them late August 1946. The other two Pipers, temporarily registered as PC-1 and PC-2 were sent to Batavia to replace the Japanese aircraft based at Tjililitan. These aircraft arrived there in February 1946 and were for the Base Operations and late August they were used by the A patrol of 17 VARWA squadron.

On July 20, 1946 the official registration of the aircraft became PC0-1 to PC0-4, according to the (pre-war) registration system of the ML-KNIL. PC meant Piper Cub and 0 for unarmed training aircraft.

On August 16 it was changed in PC0-001 to PC0-004 and in late August again in PC4-001 to PC4-004 where 4 was military aid plane (army co-operation).

 

In May 1946 the BPM bought a five Piper Cubs, but initially had no pilots and maintenance technicians available. The Pipers were therefore loan to the NEIAF from late July 1946 until the end of December.

N94 02 25

Piper L-4 Cub, PH-UCS, as R345, photographed at the Open Day Dutch Air Force, July 1994 at air base Leeuwarden.

These aircraft PK-SAA to PK-SAE received no ML-registration, but just the last letter of the civil registration (small) on the tip of the tail. Four aircraft went to the A-patrol and the fifth went to the detachment on Andir

The four devices on Tjililitan went in September 1946 on the VOS (Pre-training school), This took care for the selection of trainee pilots for ML-KNIl (NEIAF) from September 26, 1946 and on.

December 31, a new loan agreement for one year was agreed. In April 1947 it was agreed that the ML-KNIL (NEIAF) would take over the aircraft at the end of the loan period and would deliver five new aircraft to the BPM.

In July 1947, the five (former) BPM Pipers recieved the registrations R-329 to R-333.

In June 1946, 24 new aircraft were acquired from the US in Leyte, Philippines, including 30 radios, and initial stock parts. These arrived on 24 August in Surabaya, where four planes were unloaded, the remaining aircraft were sent to Batavia.

In April 1947 another 46 US aircraft were obtained, including five aircraft for BPM. These arrived on June 7, 1947 in Batavia. The most aircraft were transferred to Tjililitan. These Pipers were registered as R-335 to R-380.

 


1st Serial Tweede Serial Derde Serial Vierde Serial Vijfde Serial Constr.nr. US Fisc. year nr Date in service Date out of service Notes
1st series aircraft
PC0-1 PC0-001 PC4-001 PC-001 R-301 13542 45-4802 09-1945 1950 To Auris
PC0-2 PC0-002 PC4-002 PC-002 R-302 13538 45-4798 09-1945 01-03-1950 To Auris
PC0-3 PC0-003 PC4-003 PC-003 R-303 -   09-1945 30-11-1946 Written off Medan
PC0-4 PC0-004 PC4-004 PC-004 R-304 -   11-1945 01-07-1947 Written off te Bali

 

Serial 2nd Serial Constr.nr. US Fisc. Year no. Date in service Date out of service Notes
Second series aircraft; on loan from BPM (later taken over)
A R-329 13320 45-4580 08-1946 01-03-1950 PK-SAA; To Auris
B R-330 13307 45-4567 08-1945 10-06-1950 PK-SAB; To Auris
C R-331 13295 45-4555 08-1946 1950 PK-SAC; To Auris
D R-332 13294 45-4554 08-1946 10-04-1950 PK-SAD; To Auris
E R-333 13311 45-4571 08-1946 04-1950 PK-SAE; To Auris

 

Serial
Serial
2nd Serial
2nd Serial
Constr. nr.
Constr. nr.
US Fiscal Year nr.
US Fiscal Year nr.
Date in service
Date in service
Date out of service
Date out of service
Notes
Notes
Third series aircraft: bought in June 1946; Arrived on August 25 at Batavia.
PC4-005 R-305 13424 45-4684 25-08-1946 1950 To Auris
PC4-006 R-306 13460 45-4720 25-08-1946 10-06-1950 To Auris
PC4-007 R-307 13425 45-4685 25-08-1946 10-06-1950 To Auris
PC4-007 R-308 13418 45-4678 25-08-1946 10-06-1950 To Auris
PC4-009 R-309 13422 45-4682 25-08-1946 04-1950 To Auris
PC4-010 - - - 25-08-1946 15-01-1947 Written off Cianjur
PC4-011 - - - 25-08-1946 03-1947 Written off
PC4-012 R-312 13466 45-4726 25-08-1946 1950 To Auris
PC4-013 R-313 13358 45-4618 25-08-1946 04-1950 To Auris
PC4-014 R-314 13474 45-4734 25-08-1946 04-1950  To Auris
PC4-015 R-315 13411 45-4671 25-08-1946 1950 To Auris
PC4-016 R-316 13456 45-4716 25-08-1946 1950 To Auris
PC4-017 R-317 13454 45-4714 25-08-1946 10-06-1950 To Auris
PC4-018 R-318 13362 45-4622 25-08-1946 1950 To Auris
PC4-019 R-319 13440 45-4700 25-08-1946 1950 To Auris
PC4-020 - - - 25-08-1946 31-3-1947 Written off West-Java
PC4-021 R-321 13337 45-4597 25-08-1946 1950 To Auris
PC4-022 R-322 13433 45-4693 25-08-1946 04-01-1949 Written off
PC4-023 R-323 13432 45-4692 25-08-1946 23-09-1947 Written off Tandjung Balei
PC4-024 R-324 13412 45-4672 25-08-1946 1950 To Auris
PC4-025 R-325 13449 45-4709 25-08-1946 04-1950  To Auris
PC4-026 R-326 13459 45-4719 25-08-1946 1950 To Auris
PC4-027 - 13467 45-4727 28-08-1946 21-07-1947 Written off Bandoeng
PC4-028 R-328 13464 45-4724 28-08-1946 10-06-1950 To Auris

 

Serial
Serial
Constr. nr.
Constr. nr.
US Fiscal Year nr.
US Fiscal Year nr.
Date in service
Date in service
Date out of service
Date out of service
Notes
Notes
Fourht series aircraft bought in April 1947 and arrived on June 7, 1947 at Batavia.
R-335 13754 45-5014 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-336 13755 45-5015 07-06-1947 12-05-1950 To Auris
R-337 13756 45-5016 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-338 13757 45-5017 07-06-1947 07-11-1947 Written off
R-330 13761 45-5021 07-06-1947 21-01-1949 Written off
R-340 13762 45-5022 07-06-1947 1950  To Auris
R-341 13763 45-5023 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-342 13764 45-5024 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-343 13765 45-5025 07-06-1947 01-03-1950 To Auris
R-344 13766 45-5026 07-06-1947 10-06-1950 To Auris
R-345 13767 45-5027 07-06-1947 01-03-1950 To Auris
R-346 13768 45-5028 07-06-1947 01-07-1948 As PK-SAF to aviation club Batavia
R-347 13769 45-5029 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-348 13770 45-5030 07-06-1947 05-1948 Written off Medan
R-349 13771 45-5031 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-350 13772 45-5032 07-06-1947 12-05-1950 To Auris
R-351 13773 45-5033 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-352 13774 45-5034 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-353 13777 45-5037 07-06-1947 22-10-1949 Written off
R-354 13778 45-5038 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-355 13779 45-5039 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-356 13785 45-5045 07-06-1947 03-05-1948 Written off
R-357 13787 45-5047 07-06-1947 10-06-1950 To Auris
R-358 13789 45-5049 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-369 13794 45-5054 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-360 13796 45-5056 07-06-1947 28-10-1949 Written off
R-361 13797 45-5057 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-362 13799 45-5059 07-06-1947 04-1950 To Auris
R-363 13802 45-5062 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-364 13806 45-5066 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-365 13808 45-5068 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-366 13809 45-5069 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-367 13810 45-5070 07-06-1947 03-02-1950 To Auris
R-368 13812 45-5072 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-369 13815 45-5075 07-06-1947 04-1950 To Auris
R-370 13816 45-5076 07-06-1947 01-07-1948 As PK-SAF to aviation club Batavia
R-371 13817 45-5077 07-06-1947 20-06-1950 To Auris
R-372 13818 45-5078 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-373 13819 45-5079 07-06-1947 13-05-1950 To Auris
R-374 13821 45-5081 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-375 13823 45-5083 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-376 13856 45-5116 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-377 13861 45-5121 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-378 13868 45-5128 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-379 13883 45-5143 07-06-1947 1950 To Auris
R-380 13886 45-5146 07-06-1947 10-06-1950 To Auris

 


1/72nd Scale

Kits

  • Kovozávody Prostejov
    • Kit 3146: Piper L4H Cub (wheels)
    • Kit 3147: Piper L4H with Floats
    • Kit 20.031: Piper L4H Cub (Wheels)
    • Kit M7240: Piper L4A/B Cub (USAAF) [new mould by AZ Model]
    • Kit M7243: Piper L4H/J Cub (French AF, RAAF, AURI, ML-KNIL) [new mould by AZ Model]
  • Mastercraft
    • Kit 3146: Same kit as KP: Piper L4H Cub (Wheels version)

Modelling add-on

  • Kovozávody Prostejov
    • Set EX006: Piper L4/K68 Cub Mask for Canopy and wheels (KP)
  • Peewit
    • Set M72021: Piper L-4 Canopy masking (Kovozávody Prostejov)

 

Decals

  • Dutch Decal
    • Set 72022: A decal set for several aircraft such as Piper L-4 Cub: R-371/R-345.
    • Set 72067: Decals aircraft such as Fokker C.X; Lockheed Loestar; C-47 Dakota; Piper L4J; North American B-25 C, B-25J en B-25G Mitchell; Mitsubishi Ki-57 Topsy; Beech At-11 Kansan

1/48th Scale

Kits

  • --
    • Kit --: --

Modelling add-on

  • --
    • Set -: -

Decals

  • Dutch Decal
    • Set 72022: A decal set for several aircraft such as Piper L-4 Cub: R-371/R-345.

 


 .

Scheme Colour name FS-nummer BS-nummer Humbrol XtraColor Vallejo Model Color Vallejo Model Air
Standard #1 Upper surfaces Olive drab     66 X112 ANA 613 70.887  
Spots mediumgreen     149 X114 Medium green 70.895  
Undersides Grey ~6173   156? X132 70.992  

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

Piper_L-4J_Cub-1-SMALL
Scheme 1: Piper L-4 Cub.
The first scheme, overall (weathered) olive drab and neutral grey undersides with white rudder and, in red the aircraft number. Applied on e.g. PC-003 and PC-004.
Piper_L-4J_Cub-2-SMALL
Scheme 2: Piper L-4 Cub.
The second scheme, overall (weathered) olive drab and neutral grey undersides with flag with white border as national markings; serials on the vertical tail. Most aircraft had medium green spots on wings and tail (just like the US aircraft).
Piper_L-4J_Cub-3-SMALL
Scheme 3: Piper L-4 Cub.
The third scheme, overall (weathered) olive drab and neutral grey undersides with flag with white border as national markings; new serials on the vertical tail. Most aircraft had medium green spots on wings and tail (just like the US aircraft).
Piper_L-4J_Cub-4-SMALL
Scheme 4: Piper L-4 Cub.
The fourth scheme, overall olive drab and neutral grey undersides with Dutch roundel as national markings and serial in white on the fuselage. (The aircraft seem to be overhauled and completely repainted, obivous no green spots were re-applied.)
Piper_L-4J_Cub-5-SMALL
Scheme 5: Piper L-4 Cub.
This scheme, which is identical to the previous paint scheme 4. Note the white wing tips, applied on aircraft of 17 VARWA, so it could be recognized easily by the Dutch fighter pilots

 


Literature.

Army Co-operation bij de Militaire Luchtvaart in Indië 1946 - 1950 P.C. Boer   2004 Sectie Luchtmachthistorie - 's Gravenhage
Camouflage en Kentekens J.Greuter e.a.   1997 Bonneville – Bergen (NH)
Militaire Luchtvaart in Nederlandsch-Indië in beeld Deel 2 Hugo Hooftman Pag. 133 - 142 1981 Uitgever: Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel

 

Websites.

Special thanks to M.T.A. Schep for the information which helped me a lot to produce and correct my initial colour schemes.