An interesting article from the February 21st Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel "Pilot reunited with plane he flew at Iwo Jima."
Thomas Rozga, 87, commanding officer of a squadron of L-5Bs, called "Flying Jeeps," and "Stinsons" that were USMC observation planes, got a trip back into his past recently.
These planes were also called "Grasshoppers" for their ability to take off and land at small airfields with short runways. Their primary duty was to find enemy positions and radio back locations.
The two-seaters were unarmed and made of steel tubing, plywood and were covered with fabric.
Rozga won a Distinguished Flying Cross. Mike Polley, an aircraft historian from California met a man who had an L-5B and bought it from him. After that, he refurbished it. The plane was one of only two surviving ones from the 12-plane squadron at Iwo Jima.
Rozga and Polley met in California and the old veteran got to go up in his old plane and took the controls during part of it.
A picture accompanied the article and the L-5B looks a lot like a Piper Cub plane.
A Trip Back in the Past. --Cooter
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