Grasshopper´s war

[Frank Olynyk]

MACRs are a product of the USAAF. The L-4s and L-5s operated by the Army itself were never covered by MACRs. The problem with tracking down the Grasshopper losses is that the L-4 and L-5 aircraft are not assigned to actual squadrons, they are assigned in numbers of 2 to 4 at individual army unit levels. A few at Corps level, a few at Division level, at few at Artillery Regiment or Battalion level. To find the losses, or stories, one has to chew on each unit's records. For 5th Army there is a list of units in one of Wakefield's books (which I have), so I can hopefully pull each of those unit's records (assuming they are at NARA II; they might be at Carlisle). How long it will take me to read through that stuff looking for the rare gems, I have no idea.

Another source for material on L-4 and L-5 operations is the book Eye of Artillery, published by the Army, but it doesn't mention many losses either.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Aha Frank

I thought the USAAF and Army used the same system....
Certainly explains the lack of them then!

I have two books by Wakefield, but can only locate one of them right now. The one giving some losses is misplaced somewhere.....

Cheers
Stig