page_title: Piper Flitfire
section_title: From Lock Haven to New York
hierarchical_section_title: Piper Flitfire / From Lock Haven to New York
caption_attribution_description: English: 1941 Flitfire Brigade Into New York.
context_page_description: The Flitfire is a special edition of the Piper J-3 Cub that was used to raise funds to support the British war effort in World War II. The name "Flitfire" is a play on words referring to the RAF's most well-known fighter, the Supermarine Spitfire, which was and is a symbol of British resistance during the Battle of Britain.
  In April 1941, prior to the United States' entry into World War II, Piper Aircraft and its distributors donated special edition Piper J-3 Cubs as a publicity event and a fundraiser for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. These donated Cubs — painted with Royal Air Force insignia — were known as "Flitfires."
  This fund raising program consisted of 49 Flitfire aircraft, one paid for by Piper Aircraft and 48 by Piper distributors. All were built by Piper. There was a Flitfire named for each of the 48 states in the union at that time. These airplanes were colloquially known as "The Flitfire Brigade."
context_section_description: The silver Cubs that made up the "Flitfire Brigade" left Lock Haven on Sunday, 27 April 1941. T.H. Miller of the Lehigh Aircraft Co. was flight commander.  Considerable preparations were made to organize the flight into military formation.  The Flitfires were flown in precise formation by Piper employee-pilots, known as Cub Fliers.  William Piper flew in the Brigade as a line pilot.  Seven squadrons of seven airplanes took off, one after another, under direction of squadron leaders that included William Piper's brother, Tony Piper.  The Cubs landed at Allentown-Bethlehem Airport (now Lehigh Valley International Airport) for refueling.  Despite 25 mph (40 km/h) winds, gusting to 35 mph (56 km/h), all Cubs landed in Allentown in 12 minutes.  Five thousand people turned out to witness the quick refueling and departure.
  After a mass take off from Allentown, the airplanes flew in formation over the New York metropolitan area.  The formation flight was first seen over Staten Island at which point they dipped in salute to the Statue of Liberty; then proceeded over to Manhattan and Central Park and on to the George Washington Bridge.  A wide swing to the left 180 degrees brought the brigade down the river to the Empire State Building, then east to a point south of the World's Fair grounds to Flushing Airport where they were parked before going on to LaGuardia Field.
  On Tuesday, 29 April 1941, the Flitfires left Flushing Airport and were ferried to LaGuardia Field in groups of six, plus squadron leader flying in close formation.  The normal $2.50 landing fee was waived by Mayor LaGuardia. Traffic was handled by airport cars using two way radios. Each aircraft was equipped with a portable radio loaned by Lear Avia Inc. Control of the flights was possible through these radio sets, despite the fact the Flitfires were not equipped with external antennas or shielded ignitions.  The Flitfire Brigade's New York landing was the largest mass landing ever attempted up to that time.
caption: Flight path over New York City
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