The versatile L-1 performed a variety of missions both in the US and overseas during WWII and was well suited for operations from short fields. Its duties included towing training gliders, artillery spotting, liaison, rescue, supply transport, espionage behind Japanese lines and even dropping light bombs. This one was civilianised as N66648 after the war, later changing N63229 and N4782C. It was donated to the museum in 1973 by the widow of its owner in Alaska and placed on display in 1979

Photo taken at Guadalcanal, airfield not specified. There were five airfields after the Allies occupied the island. Two, Henderson and Kukum, were used by RNZAF units. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

The L-1 liaison aircraft, originally designated O-49, was the military version of the civilian Stinson Model 74. This example was delivered to the USAAF around 1941 as 40-0291 but is on display at the National Museum of the USAF in this nice US Army medivac scheme.