An L-5A appears over the back blocks of Port Moresby. In the background
can be seen Mt Lawes, and behind in turn are the foothills of the Owen
Stanley Ranges.
The 25th Liaison Squadron appeared relatively late in the SWPA, the
advnace contingent arriving in New Guinea in December 1943. With them
they brought these L-5 liaison aircraft, and soon they were performing
a myriad of tasks including the rescue of aircrews and evacuating casualties.
They called themselves 'Guinea Short Lines', whilst others sometimes
called them 'The Flying Sergeants', as the pilots were all non-commissioned
officers.
The first one was lost when it crashed on 13th January 1944 in poor
weather near Kissanga in the New Guinea highlands flown by Sgt William
Adair.
Many of these small aircraft bore noseart, with names such as TERMITE,
MISS BEVERLY II, JUG HAID, GAYLE ANN, DRIP III and
1/2 CONNECTICUT YANKEE.
OUR
HERITAGE
SERVICES
PRODUCTS
HISTORICAL HOME
CONTACT
US LINKS