View source for Stinson L-5 Sentinel

{{Short description|1941 liaison aircraft family by Stinson}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= L-5 Sentinel
 |image= File:L-5futureshox.jpg
 |caption= 
 |type= [[Liaison aircraft]]
 |manufacturer= [[Stinson Aircraft Company]]
 |first_flight= 28 June 1941
 |introduction= 
 |retired= 
 |status= 
 |primary_user= [[United States Army Air Forces]],
 |more_users= [[United States Army Ground Forces]] <br/> [[United States Marine Corps]] <br/> [[Royal Air Force]]
 |produced= 1942–1945
 |number_built= 3,590
 |unit cost= 
 |developed_from= [[Stinson Voyager|Stinson Model 75B]]
}}

The '''Stinson L-5 Sentinel''' is a [[World War II]]-era [[liaison aircraft]] used by the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF), [[U.S. Army Ground Forces]], [[U.S. Marine Corps]] and the British [[Royal Air Force]]. It was produced by the [[Stinson Aircraft Company|Stinson Division]] of the Vultee Aircraft Company (Consolidated-Vultee from mid-1943). Along with the [[Stinson L-1 Vigilant]], the L-5 was the only other USAAF liaison aircraft that was exclusively built for military use and had no civilian counterpart other than the prototype.

==Design and development==

The origins of the '''L-5''' can be traced to the prewar civilian Stinson '''HW-75'''. This 75 horsepower civilian high-wing design was built by the Stinson Aircraft Company at Wayne, Michigan and first flew in 1939. It was marketed as the '''Model 105''' and was first introduced to the public at the New York World's Fair. The three-place HW-75 featured two side-by-side seats and a third "jumpseat" in back on which a small passenger could sit facing sideways. Economical, spin resistant and easy to fly, the plane was popular with aircraft owners and flight schools and by the end of 1939 Stinson was building three per day. In 1940 the Model 105 was upgraded to an {{convert|80|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Continental engine and with other small improvements this was marketed as the '''Model 10'''.<ref name="sc1">{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=James H. |title=Stinson's Venerable "Flying Jeep" |url=http://www.sentinelclub.org/home_page/about-the-l-5 |website=Stinson L-5 Club |access-date=26 July 2024 |date=2021}}</ref>
[[File:EL-2000-00195.jpg|thumb|Stinson HW-75 (Model 105)]]

Stinson became a subsidiary of the Vultee Aircraft Corporation in August 1940. Under Vultee management, an improved version was fitted with a four-cylinder {{convert|90|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Franklin engine for the 1941 model year and the type became known as the '''Model 10A Voyager'''. In the postwar era, the fuselage of the Model 10A was lengthened to accommodate four passengers and the four-cylinder powerplant was replaced with a Franklin 150&nbsp;hp six-cylinder engine. This conversion became the '''[[Stinson Model 108 Voyager]]''' that was the only aircraft commercially produced by Stinson after WWII.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Underwood |first1=John W. |title=The Stinsons, A Pictorial History |date=1976 |publisher=Heritage Press |location=Norwalk |isbn=9780911834062 |edition=1}}</ref> 

During the summer of 1940, Stinson built an experimental tandem-seat version of the HW-75, equipping it with a {{convert|100|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Lycoming engine. This was known as the '''Model 75B'''. Under Vultee management it was re-designated '''V-75B'''. Soon increased to 125 horsepower for better performance, this became the Model '''V-75C''' that was demonstrated to the military in August and September 1940.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wegg |first1=John |title=General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors (Putnam Aviation Series) |date=1990 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, MS |isbn=978-0870212338 |page=70 |url=https://archive.org/details/general-dynamics-aircraft/mode/2up |access-date=8 June 2025}}</ref>

The '''V-75C''' failed to meet military requirements for performance and durability, so the Stinson engineers went back to the drawing board and came up with a clean-sheet design that was similar in concept to the V-75C but was a far stronger, more powerful and completely new tandem-seat airplane that met rigorous Army-Navy engineering standards for the design of military aircraft. This was called the '''Model 76''' and was adopted as the '''L-5'''.{{efn|Six stock Stinson Model 10's evaluated by the military as '''YO-54''''s in 1940 were unrelated to the development of the L-5.{{r|sc1}}}}

The experimental 175&nbsp;hp '''Model 76''', dubbed "the Flying Jeep" by factory personnel, was first flown at the Stinson factory airport on June 23, 1941, by chief pilot Al Schramm. Accepted by the military after accelerated service trials were completed in September, the first contract for 275 planes was issued in January 1942. Originally designated '''O-62''' ('O' for observation), this was changed to '''L-5 Sentinel''' ('L' for liaison) in April 1942, seven months before the first production airplanes were delivered. With minor changes, the six-cylinder Lycoming O-435 engine was upped to 185 horsepower, becoming the O-435-1 that powered all production Sentinel models through the L-5E-1.{{r|sc1}}

Adopted by the Army Air Forces as their standard liaison aircraft, replacing the larger and more costly L-1 Vigilant, the primary use of the L-5 was courier work, short range observation over friendly territory, and officer transport. The fuselage was reconfigured in June 1944 and the modified aircraft, designated as the '''L-5B''', could be used as an air ambulance or for light cargo transport. With a wider and deeper rear fuselage section and a large rear door that folded downward, a litter patient or 250 pounds of cargo could be quickly loaded. Later iterations of the cargo / ambulance version were the '''L-5C''' with provisions for mounting a K-20 aerial camera, the '''L-5E''' with drooping ailerons for better low-speed control, the '''L-5E-1''' with larger tires and heavy-duty brakes for better short and soft-field performance, and the final '''L-5G''' with a 24-volt electrical system and 190&nbsp;hp version of the Lycoming engine.{{r|sc1}}

In addition, L-5s were employed in roles such as artillery spotting, route reconnaissance, search & rescue, aerial photography, forward air control of fighter-bombers, laying communication wire, spraying pesticides, dropping para-cargo, dropping leaflets, and aerial broadcasting with loudspeakers. It also served as a test bed for radar tracking, firing aerial rockets, and airborne remote television. In uncommon instances, L-5 crews dropped grenades and fired wing-mounted bazookas at ground targets.{{r|sc1}}

The L-5 series was manufactured between November 1942 and September 1945 during which time 3,590 of the unarmed two-seaters were delivered for military service, making it the second most widely used light observation liaison aircraft of the war behind the Piper L-4 Cub.{{r|sc1}}

===Construction===
The fuselage was constructed using arc-welded chrome-moly steel tubing covered with doped cotton fabric while the wings and empennage were constructed of spruce and mahogany plywood box spars and plywood ribs and skins, also covered with fabric. The use of aluminum, which was in critically short supply and more urgently needed for other aircraft, was limited to the engine cowling, tail cone, framework for the ailerons, rudder and elevator and the landing gear fairings. The L-5 through L-5E were powered by a six-cylinder {{convert|185|hp|kW}} Lycoming O-435-1 engine. The L-5G used a 190&nbsp;hp Lycoming O-435-11.

== Operational history ==
Capable of operating from short unimproved [[runway|airstrips]], the L-5 Sentinel delivered personnel, intelligence and supplies to the front line. On return flights, wounded soldiers were often evacuated to rear area field hospitals for medical treatment. L-5s were primarily flown by the Army Air Forces liaison squadrons consisting of 32 planes each. One of these squadrons was attached to field army headquarters deployed overseas and an additional squadron was assigned to each Army Group headquarters. They saw action in Western Europe, Italy, the Philippines, New Guinea, and the China-Burma-India theater. In the hands of the U.S. Marine Corps artillery observation squadrons they were widely used during the Pacific Island campaigns of 1944 and 1945. The L-5 was used by generals and other high-ranking officers for short-range transportation.

An unusual use of the Sentinel was launch and recovery from a land-based overhead cable system designed by Lt. James Brodie that could be quickly set up in a large clearing that was otherwise unsuitable for a runway. The cable was strung between two tall masts and a braked carriage snagged an arresting hook attached to the top of the airplane. After successful land-based tests of the "runway on a rope" by the Army in Louisiana, the Navy in California, and the OSS in Maryland, it was demonstrated to the British in India who declined to adopt it. However, the unorthodox "Rube Goldberg" [[Brodie landing system]] was installed aboard the {{ship|USS|City of Dalhart|IX-156|6}}. Staff Sergeant R. A. Gregory made ten good launches and recoveries with a [[Stinson L-5]].<ref>{{cite journal |date=December 1985 |title=Bax Seat: Hanging Out With the Brodies |journal=Flying Magazine |volume=112 |issue=12 |page=96 |location=Los Angeles |publisher=CBS Magazines |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bO2ZODqlC8AC&pg=PA96 |access-date=2 September 2019}}</ref> During the  [[Battle of Iwo Jima]], Marine Corps OY-1's operated from LST-776 which had been equipped with the  "Brodie System". Later, during the [[Battle of Okinawa]], Army L-4's flew numerous missions from the same vessel <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9vAWEgw6cc "L-5 Used in Pacific With Brodie System] ''YouTube''</ref>

[[File:HD Master plane.jpg|180px|right|thumb|UN liaison service in Greece during the [[Greek Civil War]]]]

The Navy and Marine version of the L-5 through L-5E were designated '''OY-1''', and all these aircraft had 12-volt electrical systems. The 24-volt L-5G became the '''OY-2'''. Neither the L-5G nor OY-2 saw combat during World War II because production did not begin until July 1945, just weeks before the war ended, but they were used extensively during the Korean War. A further two dozen or so OY-1's were converted to OY-2's in 1948 and 1949. The British [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) procured 40 L-5s and 60 L-5Bs in 1944 and designated them Sentinel Is and Sentinel IIs respectively. These aircraft were used exclusively in the [[Burma Campaign|India-Burma theater]] of operations by SEAC communications and medical evacuation units.

After World War II, the L-5 was used in the continental United States, Hawaii and Alaska by the [[Civil Air Patrol]] for search and rescue work. They were also employed by state law enforcement, forestry and Fish & Wildlife departments. Many other countries also received L-5s after the war. The largest quantities were sold to Italy, the  Republic of the Philippines, and India. A few went to Pakistan after the partition of India in 1948, and a small number were used by the Japan Defense Force. Others were also sold to Korea, China, Thailand, Mexico, Venezuela, and Brazil.

==Variants==
[[File:USS Sicily (CVE-118) launches OY-2 Sentinel off Korea on 22 September 1950 (80-G-420239).jpg|180px|right|thumb|USMC OY-2 takes off from the [[USS Sicily (CVE-118)|USS ''Sicily'']], 1950]]

;O-62
:Original designation for the first contract for 275 aircraft. Changed to L-5 before any of aircraft were delivered.
;L-5
:Observation model used for artillery spotting and liaison work; 1,538 delivered, 82 transferred to the USMC as OY-1.
;L-5A
:Cancelled variant of L-5 with 24V electrical system.{{efn|688 examples falsely reported in 1944 by Jane's All the World's Aircraft to have been built.}}
;L-5B
:729 delivered. Ambulance versions with large hatch to permit loading of a stretcher or cargo; twin-float capability; 60 transferred to RAF as Sentinel Mk II. 42 delivered to USMC as OY-1.
;L-5C
:200 delivered. Same as L-5B but equipped with a vertical mount behind the rear seat for a K-20 aerial reconnaissance cameras. 39 delivered to USMC as OY-1.
;L-5D
:Not adopted. No prototype built.
;L-5E
:500 delivered. Same as L-5C but fitted with manually drooping ailerons for better low-speed handling; 45 transferred to USMC as OY-1. 
;L-5E-1 
:250 Delivered. Included larger wheels and tires and heavy duty brakes for better off-field performance. 82 transferred to USMC as OY-1.
;L-5G
:Similar to L-5E-1 but with a 24 volt electrical system and SCR-622 radio package. Powered by 190-hp (142-kW) Lycoming 0-435-11 engine with improved cylinders and carburetor. 115 were built by end of the war and the contract for 785 others was cancelled. 18 delivered to USMC as OY-2. 
;XL-5F
:One modified L-5B (44-17103) used to develop the 24-volt system used on the L-5G. Later, with modified greenhouse, served as prototype for unbuilt L-5H.
[[File:Stinson L-5E Sentinel with NACA.jpg|thumb|right|L-5E with "Quiet Flight" modifications at Langley]]
;U-19A
:L-5s still in service and redesignated U-19A by the USAF in 1962.
;U-19B
:Single L-5G redesignated U-19B in 1962. Used as a glider tug at the [[United States Air Force Academy]] and equipped with a Lycoming R-680 radial engine.
;OY-1
:288 L-5 through L-5E-1 transferred to the [[United States Marine Corps]] and [[United States Navy]].
;OY-2
:18 transfers of L-5G to USN/USMC; 30 OY-1 conversions to 24V electrical system.
;Sentinel Mk I
:40 L-5s supplied to the [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] under [[Lend-Lease]].
;Sentinel Mk II
:60 L-5Bs supplied to the RAF under Lend-Lease.
;L-5/235
:Civilian variant developed in Italy for glider towing, powered by Lycoming O-540-B, {{cvt|235|hp|kW}}.
;Clevenger
:Approximately 20 L-5's converted to crop dusters by Clevenger Aerial Applicators of Salinas, CA. Equipped with Continental 220 hp radial engines, larger main and tail wheels, and fitted with lower wings and interplane struts to create a biplane. Operated at up to {{convert|3,800|lb|kg|abbr=on}} gross weight in the Restricted category.
;B.S.4
:({{langx|th|บ.ส.๔}}) [[Royal Thai Armed Forces]] designation for the L-5 and L-5B.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thai Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/thailand.html |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=designation-systems.net}}</ref>

==Operators==
;{{AUS}}
*[[Royal Australian Air Force]] – operated one L-5 Sentinel from 1944 to 1946, loaned from the USAAF.
;{{flag|Greece|old}}
*[[Royal Hellenic Air Force]]<ref name="jawa51p11a">Bridgman 1951, p. 11a.</ref>
;{{IND}}
*[[Indian Air Force]]
;{{INA}}
*[[Government of Indonesia]] – acquired a Sentinel during [[Indonesian National Revolution]]<ref>[http://nei.adf-serials.com/indonesian-aviation-1945-50.pdf "Indonesian aviation 1945-1950."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051214192414/http://nei.adf-serials.com/indonesian-aviation-1945-50.pdf |date=14 December 2005|url-status=dead }} ''adf-serials.com.'' Retrieved: 20 March 2021.</ref>
;{{ITA}}
*[[Italian Air Force]] - operated 119 Stinson L-5 Sentinel from 1946 until 1961.<ref>[http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/italy/af/ital-af2-all-time.htm aeroflight]</ref>
;{{JPN}}
*[[National Security Force]]
*[[Japan Ground Self-Defense Force]]
;{{KOR}}
*[[Republic of Korea Air Force]]
;{{PAK}}
*[[Pakistan Air Force]]
;{{Flag|Philippines|1936}}
*[[Philippine Army Air Corps]] 1945 to 1947
*[[Philippine Air Force]]<ref name="jawa51p16a">Bridgman 1951, p. 16a.</ref>
;{{POL}} 
*[[Polish Air Force]] – The fuselage of the sole L-5 used in Poland after 1945 is displayed at the [[Polish Aviation Museum]].
;{{ROC}}
*[[ROC Air Force]]
;{{PRC}}
*[[PLAAF]]
;{{THA}}
*[[Royal Thai Air Force]]<ref name="jawa51p20a">Bridgman 1951, p. 20a.</ref>
;{{UK}}
*[[Royal Air Force]]
** [[No. 27 Squadron RAF]]
** [[No. 117 Squadron RAF]]
** [[No. 194 Squadron RAF]]
;{{USA}}
*[[Civil Air Patrol]]
*[[United States Army Air Forces]]
*[[United States Air Force]]
*[[United States Marine Corps]]
*[[United States Navy]]

==Surviving aircraft==
[[File:Stinson ‘L-5B’ Sentinel ‘203917’ “Guinea Short Lines” (N5473V) (29694988143).jpg|right|thumb|OY-1 on display at the Travis AFB Heritage Center]]
[[File:18-15-010-L5E.jpg|right|thumb|L-5E on display at the [[Museum of Aviation (Warner Robins)|Museum of Aviation]]]]

Today there are about 300 known examples left worldwide and less than half are in flying condition.<ref name="SOPANewsletter">{{cite web|last1=Gray|first1=James|title=L-5 Newsletter|url=http://www.sentinelclub.org/SOPA%20No.%2025%20Summer%202014.pdf|website=Sentinel Owners & Pilots Association |date=Summer 2014 |access-date=7 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521091414/http://www.sentinelclub.org/SOPA%20No.%2025%20Summer%202014.pdf|archive-date=21 May 2016}}</ref> A group called the Sentinel Owners and Pilots Association is dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of this aircraft type.<ref>{{cite web|title=[Home Page]|url=http://www.sentinelclub.org|website=Sentinel Owners & Pilots Association|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref>

===Australia===
;Airworthy
;;OY-1
* 03995 – Robert William Kemmis in [[Coolangatta, Queensland]], Australia. This example was built for the USAAF but was delivered directly to the [[United States Navy|US Navy]] instead, serving until 1949.<ref>''Flypast Magazine,'' July 2007, Key Publishing Ltd.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Aircraft Register [VH-NOY]|url=https://www.casa.gov.au/aircraft-register?vh=NOY|website=Australian Government Civil Aviation Safety Authority|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="SOPANewsletter" />

===United States===
;Airworthy
;;OY-1
* 42-15060 – Commemorative Air Force FloriBama Wing in [[Pensacola, Florida]].<ref>[https://commemorativeairforce.org/aircraft/134 "OY-1 Stinson/42-15060."] ''Commemorative Air Force.'' Retrieved: 11 February 2020.</ref><ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N9315H "FAA Registry: N9315H."] ''faa.gov'' Retrieved: 11 February 2020.</ref>
* 42-98752 – Commemorative Air Force Capital Wing in [[Brandy Station, Virginia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Stinson L-5 Sentinel |url=http://capitalwing.org/l-5_ovw.asp?menuID=20 |access-date=18 May 2017 |website=Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=FAA REGISTRY [N1156V] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N1156V |access-date=18 May 2017 |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
;;OY-2
* 44-18143 – [[Commemorative Air Force]] Lake Superior Squadron in [[Superior, Wisconsin]].<ref name="CAFLO">{{cite web|title=CAF Liaison/Observation|url=https://commemorativeairforce.org/aircraft/139|website=Commemorative Air Force|access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FAA REGISTRY [N5138B]|url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N5138B|website=Federal Aviation Administration|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation|access-date=18 May 2017}}</ref>
;;L-5
* c/n 76-272 – Commemorative Air Force Dallas Fort Worth Wing in [[Lancaster, Texas]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Stinson L-5|url=http://www.dfwwing.com/l5.shtml|website=DFW Wing|access-date=18 May 2017|archive-date=13 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313045555/http://dfwwing.com/l5.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FAA REGISTRY [N57789]|url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N57789|website=Federal Aviation Administration|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation|access-date=18 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* 42-98285 – Commemorative Air Force Dew Line Squadron in [[Amarillo, Texas]].<ref name="CAFLO" /><ref>{{cite web|title=FAA REGISTRY [N63777]|url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N63777|website=Federal Aviation Administration|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation|access-date=18 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* 42-98667 – Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing in [[South St. Paul, Minnesota]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Stinson L-5 Sentinel|url=http://www.cafmn.org/stinson-l-5-sentinel.html|website=Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FAA REGISTRY [N68591]|url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N68591|website=Federal Aviation Administration|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation|access-date=18 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* 42-99103 - on display at the [[United States Army Aviation Museum|US Army Aviation Museum]] in [[Fort Novosel|Fort Novosel, Alabama]].
* 44-17543 – privately owned in [[White Hall, Baltimore County, Maryland|White Hall, Maryland]].<ref>[http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=24152 "Stinson L-5 Sentinel/44-17543."] ''aerialvisuals.ca'' Retrieved: 13 February 2020.</ref><ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N3706C "FAA Registry: N3706C."]{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''faa.gov'' Retrieved: 13 February 2020.</ref>
* 44-17588 – [[Military Aviation Museum]] in [[Pungo, Virginia]].<ref>[https://militaryaviationmuseum.org/aircraft/wwii-aircraft/ "Stinson L-5 Sentinel/44-17588."] ''Military Aviation Museum.'' Retrieved: 13 February 2020.</ref><ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N57WT "FAA Registry: N57WT."]{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''faa.gov'' Retrieved: 13 February 2020.</ref>
* 44-17590 – Commemorative Air Force Central California Valley Squadron in [[Modesto, California]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Aircraft|url=http://www.cafvalleysquadron.org/aircraft|website=Central California Valley Squadron|access-date=18 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FAA REGISTRY [N5625V]|url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N5625V|website=Federal Aviation Administration|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation|access-date=18 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* 44-17944 – George J. Marrett of [[Atascadero, California]]. On loan to the [[Estrella Warbird Museum]] in [[Paso Robles, California]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Stinson L-5E Sentinel |url=http://www.ewarbirds.org/aircraft/l5e.shtml |website=Estrella Warbirds Museum |access-date=7 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=FAA Registry [N45CV] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N45CV |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=7 August 2022}}</ref>
;On Display
;;OY-1
* 03917 – [[Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center]] in [[Fairfield, California]]. It is painted as an L-5.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indoor Exhibits – Humanitarian Missions|url=https://www.travisheritagecenter.org/humanitarian-missions|website=Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center|publisher=Travis Heritage Center|access-date=13 February 2020|archive-date=13 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213202426/https://www.travisheritagecenter.org/humanitarian-missions|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="SOPANewsletter" />
;;L-5
* 42-98184 – [[Museum of Aviation (Warner Robins)|Museum of Aviation]] in [[Warner Robins, Georgia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=L-5E "Sentinel" |url=http://museumofaviation.org/portfolio/l-5e-sentinel |website=Museum of Aviation |access-date=7 August 2022}}</ref>
* 42-14798 – [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] of the [[National Air and Space Museum]] in [[Chantilly, Virginia]]. This airframe is the first production L-5 and was donated to the museum on 5 June 1960.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stinson L-5 Sentinel|url=https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/stinson-l-5-sentinel|website=Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref>
* 42-14918 – [[Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum]] in [[San Diego, California]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Aircraft Listing|website=Flying Leathernecks}}</ref><ref name="SOPANewsletter" />
* 42-15046 – [[March Field Air Museum]] in [[Riverside, California]].<ref>{{cite web|title=L-5 Sentinel|url=http://www.marchfield.org/aircraft/other/l-5-sentinel-stinson|website=March Field Air Museum|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="SOPANewsletter" />
* 42-98144 or 42-98453 – [[National Naval Aviation Museum]] in [[Pensacola, Florida]].<ref>{{cite web|title=OY-1 SENTINEL|url=https://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/aircraft/oy-1-sentinel/|website=National Naval Aviation Museum|publisher=Naval Aviation Museum Foundation|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier – Stinson OY-1 Sentinel, s/n 60465 USMC, c/n 76-0385, c/r N57598|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=13623|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="SOPANewsletter" />
* 42-98225 – [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]] in [[Dayton, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Stinson L-5 Sentinel|url=https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196260/stinson-l-5-sentinel/|website=National Museum of the US Air Force|access-date=6 December 2016|date=17 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="SOPANewsletter" />
* 44-17925 – [[Vintage Flying Museum]] in [[Fort Worth, Texas]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Collection|url=http://vintageflyingmuseum.org/on-display|website=Vintage Flying Museum|access-date=6 December 2016|archive-date=16 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116140505/http://vintageflyingmuseum.org/on-display/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier – Stinson L-5E Sentinel, s/n 44-17925 USAAF, c/n 76-3199, c/r N1135V|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=786|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref>
* 44-18010 – [[EAA AirVenture Museum]] in [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1944 Stinson L-5B-1VW Sentinel – PH-PBB|url=http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa-museum/museum-collection/aircraft-collection-folder/1944-stinson-l-5e-1vw-sentinel---n9658h|website=EAA|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="SOPANewsletter" />
* 45-35046 – [[South Dakota Air and Space Museum]] in [[Box Elder, South Dakota]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sdairandspacemuseum.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624093742/http://www.sdairandspacemuseum.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 24, 2007|title=South Dakota Air and Space Museum|website=www.sdairandspacemuseum.com|access-date=22 June 2019}}</ref>
;Under Restoration or in Storage
* 42-14934 – to airworthiness with the Commemorative Air Force Air Group One in [[El Cajon, California]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1943 Stinson L-5 Sentinel|url=http://ag1caf.org/l5-stinson-sentinel|website=Air Group One|publisher=Air Group One CAF|access-date=18 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=STINSON SENTINEL|url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51cb34ade4b06b9ce7a4bae4/t/51d1c8d9e4b065321a7c694e/1372702937462/L5+Stinson+News+++27June13ED.pdf|access-date=18 May 2017|date=27 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FAA REGISTRY [N59AF]|url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N59AF|website=Federal Aviation Administration|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation|access-date=18 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Netherlands===
;Airworthy
;;L-5
* 44-17113 – [[Dutch Dakota Association]] in [[Haarlemmermeer|Haarlemmermeer, North Holland]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1944 Stinson L-5B-VW Sentinel – N9658H|url=https://www.dutchdakota.nl/nl/dda-classic-airlines/vloot/ph-pbb/|website=DDA|access-date=9 December 2017|archive-date=10 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210022651/https://www.dutchdakota.nl/nl/dda-classic-airlines/vloot/ph-pbb/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Specifications (L-5)==
[[File:Stinson L-5 Sentinel 3-view line drawing.png|frameless|right|3-view line drawing of the Stinson L-5 Sentinel]]

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Stinson L-5 Sentinel<ref name="March">{{cite web |title=Stinson L-5 Sentinel |url=http://www.marchfield.org/l5.htm |website=March Field Air Museum |access-date=19 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000915192736/http://www.marchfield.org/l5.htm |archive-date=15 September 2000}}</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew= 2 (pilot and observer)
|length ft=24
|length in=1
|length note=
|span ft=34
|span in=0
|span note=
|height ft=7
|height in=11
|height note=
|wing area sqft=155
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil= [[NACA airfoil|NACA 4412]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight lb =1550
|empty weight note=approx
|gross weight lb=2250
|gross weight note=civilian limit
|max takeoff weight lb =2,250
|max takeoff weight note=civilian limit
|fuel capacity ={{cvt|36|USgal}}
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name= [[Lycoming O-435]]
|eng1 type=6-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine
|eng1 hp=185 
|eng1 note= (O-435-1) 190 (O-435-11)

|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed mph=130
|max speed note=level flight
|cruise speed mph=100
|cruise speed note=to 110 mph
|stall speed mph=42
|stall speed note=power off, 38 mph power on
|never exceed speed mph=200
|never exceed speed note=military limit, 163 mph civilian limit
|range miles=375
|range note=no reserve
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=3.5 hours
|ceiling ft=15800
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ftmin=900
|climb rate note=at sea level
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|more performance=<!--<br />
*'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Take-off distance to {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Landing run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Landing distance from {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}-->
<!--
        Armament
-->
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{aircontent
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. -->
|related=<!-- related developments -->
*[[Stinson Voyager]]
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
* [[Fieseler Fi 156]]
* [[Piper L-4 Grasshopper]]
* [[Polikarpov Po-2]]
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
* [[List of aircraft of World War II]]
* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
|see also=<!-- other relevant information -->
}}

==References==
===Footnotes===
{{Notelist}}

===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* Bavousett, Glenn B. ''World War II Aircraft in Combat''. New York: Arco Pub. Co, 1976.
* [[Leonard Bridgman|Bridgeman, Leonard]]. ''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1951–52''. London: Samson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd., 1951. 
*{{cite magazine|last=Elliot|first=Bryn|title=Bears in the Air: The US Air Police Perspective |magazine=[[Air Enthusiast]]|date=March–April 1997|issue=68|pages=46–51 |issn=0143-5450}} 
* Gray, James H. ''Stinson's Venerable Flying Jeep''. Sentinel Owners & Pilots Association, 2021. [https://sentinelclub.org/home_page/about-the-l-5/ sentinelclub.org]
* Underwood, John W. The Stinsons, A Pictorial History. Heritage Press, 1976.  {{ISBN|0911834060}} and  {{ISBN|9780911834062}}.
* Love, Terry M. ''L-Birds: American Combat Liaison Aircraft of World War II''. New Brighton, Minnesota: Flying Books International, 2001. {{ISBN|978-0-911139-31-0}}.
* Morgała, Andrzej. ''Ex-USAAF aircraft 1945: Piper L-4 Grasshopper, Douglas C-47 Skytrain/Dakota, Cessna UC-78 Bobcat, Stinson L-5 Sentinel, Taylorcraft L-2A Grasshopper''. Sandomierz: STRATUS, 2011.
*{{cite journal|title=Pentagon Over the Islands: The Thirty-Year History of Indonesian Military Aviation|journal=Air Enthusiast Quarterly |date=n.d. |issue=2 |pages=154–162 |issn=0143-5450}}
*{{cite magazine|last=Young|first=Edward|title=Counter-Air: 2nd Air Commando Group in Burma & Thailand |magazine=[[Air Enthusiast]] |date=Spring 1994|issue=53 |pages=10–19 |issn=0143-5450}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Stinson L-5 Sentinel}}
* [http://www.sentinelclub.org Sentinel Owners and Pilots Association]
* [https://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.38937 "America Reports On Aid To Allies etc." ''Universal Newsreel,'' 1942]

{{Stinson aircraft}}
{{Vultee aircraft}}
{{ADF aircraft designations}}
{{AircraftDesignationNavboxShell
  |1={{USAF liaison aircraft}}
  |2={{USAAF observation aircraft}}
  |3={{USN observation aircraft}}
  |4={{US utility aircraft}}
  |5={{Thai liaison aircraft designations}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:High-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Stinson aircraft|Sentinel]]
[[Category:1940s United States military utility aircraft]]
[[Category:Glider tugs]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]