Cessna L-19 Bird Dog and Cessna L-182 Skylane, Canadian Army

Data current to 27 Dec 2020.

Cessna 305 Bird Dog, RCAF L-19A (16), (Serial Nos. 16701-16716), L-19E (9), (Serial Nos. 16717-16725), for a total of 25 aircraft.

The Canadian Army originally called No. 1 Air Observation Post No. 1 Air Observation Post Flight (Type A) (Army Component), Royal Canadian Artillery.  This was changed to No. 1 Air Observation Post Flight (Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery) on 15 Feb 1957.  Both used the same abbreviation of No. 1 AOP Flt.

No. 1 AOP moved to Hemer, Germany in March 1960 at Fort Prince of Wales and where it was redesignated as No. 1 Air Observation Post Troop.  They were attached to the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery as part of 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group.  No. 1 AOP Tp moved to Lahr in southern Germany in 1970 with the rest of the Brigade and on 1 Oct 1972, No. 1 AOP Tp and the three other Army aviation elements within 4 CMBG; including the Command and Liaison Flight 4 CMBG HQ, Aircraft Repair Platoon 4 Service Battalion and Helicopter Reconnaissance Troop, C Squadron Royal Canadian Dragoons, were amalgamated and became No. 444 Tactical Helicopter Squadron.

(DND Photos via James Craik)

Cessna L-19 Bird Dogs, Canadian Army. 

(Canadian Army Photos)

Cessna L-19E Bird Dog (Serial No. 16724) in flight, Canadian Army. 

 (Canadian Army Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Cessna L-19E Bird Dog (Serial No. 16706), Canadian Army, ca 1970s. 

 (Author Photo)

Cessna L-19 Bird Dog (Serial No. 16706), shown here at CFB Petawawa, Ontario, ca 1977.

(Photo courtesy of the Shearwater Aviation Museum)

Cessna L-19E Bird Dog (Serial No. 16733), Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Artillery Spotter Plane in flight over Oromocto, New Brunswick, July 1973. 

(DND Photo PCN 67-1075)

Cessna L-19E Bird Dogs (Serial No. 16733), and (Serial No. 16724) Canadian Army, possibly CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick. 

 (Photo courtesy of the Shearwater Aviation Museum)

Cessna L-19E Bird Dog (Serial No. 16717), Canadian Army,  Royal Canadian Artillery Spotter Plane. 

 (New Brunswick Military History Museum Photo)

Cessna L-19E Bird Dog, pilot shaking hands with General S.V. Radley-Walters, Base Commander CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick, 6 July 1973. 

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235776)

Cessna L-19E Bird Dog spotter aircraft, Canadian Army with 4 CMBG, Germany, 1964. 

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235777)

Cessna L-19E Bird Dog (Serial No. 16720) spotter aircraft, 4 CMBG, Germany, 1964. 

 (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4234462)

Cessna L-19E Bird Dog (Serial No. 16702). 

 (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4234824)

Cessna L-182 Skylane, Canadian Army (Serial No. 16727) in flight.  No CF versions have been preserved in Canada. 

Cessna 182 Skylane, RCAF L-182D (4), (Serial Nos. 16726-16729), L-182E (4), (Serial Nos. 16732-16735), L-182F (2), (Serial No. 16730-16731), for a total of 10 aircraft.

(Rick Johnson Photo)

Cessna L182F Skylane, Canadian Forces (Serial No. 119730). 

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4234825), right.

Cessna L-182 Skylane, Canadian Army (Serial No. 16726) and (Serial No. 16727). 

 (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235152)

Cessna L-182 Skylane, Canadian Army (Serial No. 16727).