page_title: Liaison aircraft
section_title: United States
hierarchical_section_title: Liaison aircraft / Use by Country / United States
context_page_description: A liaison aircraft is a small, usually unarmed aircraft primarily used by military forces for artillery observation or transporting commanders and messages. The concept developed before World War II and included also battlefield reconnaissance, air ambulance, column control, light cargo delivery and similar duties. Able to operate from small, unimproved fields under primitive conditions, with STOL capabilities, most liaison aircraft were developed from, or were later used as general aviation aircraft. Both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters can perform liaison duties.
context_section_description: Vultee L-1 Vigilant
  Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper
  Waco S Series Waco C-72 or AAF UC-72 series
  Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing AAF Beech UC/YC-43 Traveler (Navy GB-1/2)
  Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper
  Piper L-4 Grasshopper
  Stinson L-5 Sentinel
  Interstate L-6  Cadet
  North American / Ryan L-17 Navion
  Cessna O-1 Bird Dog
caption: Vultee L-1A
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