L4 grasshopper and pilot

**Chopperman** · 08-29-2009, 05:50 AM

My neighbor was a ww2 pilot who flew a Piper L4 grasshopper
for Gen. Patton. He was part of Patton's headquarters staff
and took Patton up on many occasions. He does not talk much
about his experiences but has shared some stories and a few pictures with me.

Here he is with his dog Mac starting his plane.

**Chopperman** · 08-29-2009, 05:57 AM

He "liberated" a Messerschmitt 108. He loved this plane and
at the end of the war, flew it all over Germany. He tried to get
permissin to bring it home but was denied.

Also in the picture is Charlie. He was a German LW mechanic. They
befriended him and kept him around to help service the aircraft. My friend
said that Charlie "could fix anything"

**Chopperman** · 08-29-2009, 06:04 AM

here he is with a captured German Storch. He said it was roughly
the Luft version of his Piper but said the quality was terrible and that these things really were not safe to fly.

**Chopperman** · 08-29-2009, 06:08 AM

I have left out his name as I am sure he would probably be a little
embarassed by my posting these. He has good stories about
Patton and his service in ww2 but I will wait untill I get permission
from him to tell his tales.

I just thought you might find the aircraft interesting.

Rhino1 · 08-30-2009, 05:09 AM

VERY interesting. I run Lbirds.com - Liaison aircraft, pilots, restorations, and more!... and would like to ask if you'd email me about this.

Ryan

**Steven M** · 08-30-2009, 05:23 AM

Greg,

Thanks very much for posting this. You are very fortunate to have a neighbor like that! About the Fieseler Storch, this aircraft had a stall speed of an INCREDIBLE 32 mph...32mph. Also, this was the type of aircraft used to whisk Benito Mussolini away from captivity.

**Steven M** · 08-30-2009, 05:24 AM

by Rhino1

VERY interesting. I run Lbirds.com - Liaison aircraft, pilots, restorations, and more!... and would like to ask if you'd email me about this.

Ryan

Ryan, thanks for the posting...very nice site you have. Welcome to the forum from fellow Texas boy.

**Chopperman** · 08-30-2009, 05:55 AM

by Rhino1

VERY interesting. I run Lbirds.com - Liaison aircraft, pilots, restorations, and more!... and would like to ask if you'd email me about this.

Ryan

email sent

**Chopperman** · 09-28-2009, 02:08 AM

Over the coarse of the summer, I have been working on a little
gift for my friend. --- I surprised him with it this afternoon.

**Chopperman** · 09-28-2009, 02:19 AM

This afternoon he was telling me that the closest he ever came
to crashing was when he was flying at treetop level and came
under heavy small arms fire. When he landed, he discovered that
the struts holding the landing gear together had been shot apart
and when he landed, one of wheels folded up on him. He counted
eleven bullet holes but no serious damage.