Cessna L-19 Bird Dog

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• 119703 was one of the 16 Cessna 305 L-19As on strength with the Army and the CF from 8 October, 1954 to 10 January, 1973 when it was struck off strength along with the remainder of the fleet. Another photo exists of 16703 in Army markings while it was located at Camp Borden before unification of the seperate services into the Canadian Armed Forces in 1968. On 16 March, 1973 the Royal Canadian Air Cadets took '703 on strength, reserialled as C-FTGB, along with 16 other L-19s and four Cessna 182s. These were sublet to the Air Cadet League's various provincial committees for glider towing and air cadet familiarization flying, '703 obviously wound up at CFB Comox, British Columbia.

  CF Photo

• The nickname "Bird Dog" was given to the Cessna L-19 by the Canadian Army. They utilized this Aircraft as an observation platform to guide the shells of the artillery's guns and self-propelled Howitzers. The Aircraft was not known to be fast but, at three feet off the ground, you felt like you were supersonic. Many of these Aircraft became tow-planes for the Royal Canadian Air Cadet glider program after they were retired from the Regular Forces.

  CF Photo

• 119703 was one of the 16 Cessna 305 L-19As on strength with the Army and the CF from 8 October, 1954 to 10 January, 1973 when it was struck off strength along with the remainder of the fleet. Another photo exists of 16703 in Army markings while it was located at Camp Borden before unification of the seperate services into the Canadian Armed Forces in 1968. On 16 March, 1973 the Royal Canadian Air Cadets took '703 on strength, reserialled as C-FTGB, along with 16 other L-19s and four Cessna 182s. These were sublet to the Air Cadet League's various provincial committees for glider towing and air cadet familiarization flying, '703 obviously wound up at CFB Comox, British Columbia.

  CF Photo

• The L-19 was bought in the mid-50s to give the Army an Aircraft suitable for artillery spotting and light utility duties. In 1972/73 all of the surviving Aircraft, including 16724 seen here, were transfered to the Royal Canadian Air Cadet League for use in the glider training program.

  CF Photo