The U.S. armed forces procured several thousand light observation/liaison aircraft beginning at the start of World War II. Known colloquially as “grasshoppers,” a few hundred were flown by the Navy and (mostly) the Marine Corps.
These were single-engine, high-wing, two-place aircraft, initially developed from commercial designs. Operating from rough, grass fields as well as airfield runways, the planes were employed in a variety of roles: observation, liaison, artillery-fire spotting, casualty evacuation, and “taxi.” In addition, with engines removed and other modifications, they also were used for glider-pilot training.
