The Birddog was first built in 1950 by the Cessna Aircraft Company as a reconnaissance plane for the U.S. Army. Between 1950 and 1964 a total of 3,398 airframes were built.  Originally called the L-19, it was later re-designated the 0-1 in 1962.  It saw extensive combat duty in Korea and Vietnam, serving with the U.S. Army, USAF, USMC and a host of 19 foreign countries.  Many people consider the Birddog the finest observation aircraft ever produced.

Painted in the markings of the US Army 183rd Sea horses Reconnaissance Airplane Company as deployed to Vietnam in May 1966, the Birddog on display at our Chino facility serves as a flying tribute to the many brave pilots who flew Forward Air Control, visual and photo reconnaissance, artillery adjustment, and search and rescue missions during that war.  Typically armed with only white phosphorous smoke' (Willie Pete) target-marking rockets, hand grenades and an automatic rifle in the cockpit, some enterprising crews of this slow and low-flying observation aircraft soon sought modifications to include wing or cabin-mounted M60 machine guns, giving their Birddogs a more lethal "bite."

This particular Birddog left the Cessna factory and went directly into service with the Armee de Terre (French Army), where it served for approximately 20 years before returning to the United States and the civilian market.

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