Biography of a Lady

Stinson L-5E-1VW – “Carin’ Belle” (AAF Contract No. 44-181143)

N5138B OY-2 (Navy Bureau No. 04013)

by Col. Stanley E. Condon

The Stinson L-5 like Carin’ Belle of the Ohio Valley Wing is on of the most important but overlooked airplanes of World War II. Not as glamorous as fighters and bombers, and not as numerous as the Piper L-4 Cub, the Stinson L-5 is relatively obscure. Nearly 4,000 were built by the Stinson Division of Consolidated-Vultee corporation during 1942-1945. a few hundred still survive, like Carin’ Belle. The L-5 was robust relative to other liaison aircraft, and flew a wider variety of missions. The aircraft didn’t require an airfield, and could be maintained under primitive conditions. Among its duties were artillery spotting, photo reconnaissance, re-supply, search and rescue, evacuation missions, courier dispatch, and personnel transport. Early models of the L-5 are sometimes called “observers” and are easily identified by the slender aft fuselage section and wrap-around rear window. The L-5B and L-5G models are popularly identified as “ambulances” and feature a deeper rear fuselage with a side door hinged downward to accommodate a stretcher.

Serving in nearly every theatre of the war, the Stinson L-5 was called the Flying Jeep by American forces and the Jungle Angel by British troops. Unarmed and unarmored, much credit is due to the pilots who flew the Stinson L-5.

Carin’ Belle began her life in 1945 with the Navy, serving with the Marines. Available records report transfer to the Civil Air Patrol/Orlando Naval Training Center in Florida, and operational use by the CAP during the 1960’s. The next two decades brought civilian owners until 1982, when steps were taken to bring her into the fold of CAF aircraft.  Carin’ Belle’s current appearance came about with a prop to tail restoration conducted from 1985 through 1992, giving her olive drab on upper surfaces and gull gray on lower surfaces. The insignia that identifies this L-5 is Marine Corps Air Service Standard for Artillery Spotters, Unit AES-12, Quantico, Virginia. Carin’ Belle is now the pride of the Ohio Valley Wing and resides at Bolton Field in Columbus, Ohio.

Chronology of an OY-2, Ser. Nr. N5138B

JUL 1945Delivered to U.S. Navy at San Diego, California.
SEP/OCT 1945In transit to Guam.
OCT 1945 Pool: CASW F12 Guam.
JAN/MAR 1946 Pool: Pearl Harbor.
APR/MAY 1946 In transit to Norfolk, Virginia.
JUN/AUG 1946 Pool: Norfolk, Virginia.
SEP/DEC 1946 Awaiting reconditioning at Cherry Point, NC.
JAN/MAR 1947 Pool: Cherry Point (overhauled 3/27/47). 
It is surmised that the 3/27/47 overhaul was, in part, the conversion from 12 volts to24 volts for standardization. Accordingly, the original designation was changed from OY-1 to OY-2. All other features of the (L-5E-1) OY-1 were retained-such as large 8.00 x 6 wheels with reinforced brake drums, ambulance and cargo provision, and the droop aileron system peculiar to the L-5E. A later model OY-2 was produced for the Navy by Consolidate-Vultee and was designated the L-5G. It differs from the L-5E in that the electrical system is now a standardized 24 volt rather than the 12 volt system of earlier models. An SCR-274N command set replaces the radio transmitter and receiver, and provisions are made for alternate radios. Power is supplied by a Lycoming 0-435-11 engine, and the instrument panel was reorganized to include a manifold pressure gauge.
APR 1947/MAR 1949 MCAS (Marine Corps Artillery Spotter) AES12 at Quantico Virginia.
MAR 1949 Overhauled 3/24/49. Presumably the OY-2 was disassembled during overhaul or shortly thereafter, and placed in storage.
10 APR 1956 Aircraft transferred, disassembled, to the Florida Wing of the Civil Air Patrol at Orlando Naval Training Center.
4 APR 1958 Aircraft re-assembled by Gilbert Everhart and test flown. 
18 SEP 1958 All L-5 technical data, drawings and rights to manufacture sold to Babb Company of Phoenix, Arizona.
26 JUN 1965/AUG 1966 New fabric, wings and control surfaces applied by Embry Riddle, Miami, Florida.
25 MAY 1967 Engine major overhaul.
24 MAY 1972 Purchased from Navy by Leonard Grasso, Deland, Florida.
5 JAN 1980 Purchased from Grasso by Judith Thom and Margaret Dant, Bloomington, IN.
 Judith Thom, a physician, utilized the OY-2 to reach rural patients. Dr. Thom is the mother of James Alexander Thom, author of many historical novels, from whom the information was obtained.
19 SEP 1982 A group of Ohio Confederate Air Force members calling themselves Ohio Valley Aero Club, purchased aircraft from Dant and Thom.
AUG 1985 OVAC donated the aircraft to the CAF with the newly-formed Ohio Valley Wing retaining possession.
1987Extensive restoration of wooden wings and stabilizer undertaken by Wing in Columbus, Ohio. Fuselage and control surfaces delivered to Mark Huff, Moraine, Ohio, for major overhaul and restoration.
1 SEP 1993 Main restoration complete at cost of $14,697.28. CAF Check Pilot Russ Cook test flew the OY-2 from Moraine Air Park. Minor adjustments obtained required performance. Later that day, Russ and Curtis Rowe ferried the OY-2 to Bolton Field in Columbus, Ohio, and its new home in Hangar A-5.
1980-2000The aircraft has been flown to numerous shows, and usually held in static display, including events at Selfridge Joint Service Base, Michigan; Youngstown USAF Reserved Base, Ohio, Mt. Comfort, Indiana; Lancaster, Ohio; the WACO Museum, Troy, Ohio.  Annual Flights to the CAF AIRSHO in Midland conducted as well. 
JUL 2002Aircraft participates in fly-over observance of Independence Day, Legend Field, Lexington, Kentucky
JUN 2010A rides program for the aircraft is begun, with first paying rides completed at Delaware Airport Days, Delaware, Ohio

In 2017 the Commemorative Air Force assigned Carin’ Belle to the Lake Superior Squadron, based in Duluth, MN at the time.

MAY 2017Lake Superior Squadron receives N5138B at Hangar 101 in Duluth, MN
Summer 2017Inspections shows a major restoration of the Lycoming O-435-1 engine is needed
DEC 2017Damage to Hangar 101 could no longer be repaired without significant expense. LSS begins a process to relocate to a new hangar
MAR 2018With assistance of Lake Superior College, restoration of the O-435-1 engine begins
NOV 2018Carin’ Belle arrives at the new Lake Superior Squadron Hangar in Superior, WI
Summer 2019Restoration work resumes
FEB 2020O-435-1 engine core reassembled
Summer 2020Inspections of fuselage discover additional areas needing restoration, work commences on those repairs.
JUL 2020O-435-1 engine remounted on OY-2
JUN 2021Engine Run for the first time since restoration
Fall 2022Engine break in and final restoration work
Summer 2023Annual Inspection Completed
Fuel Cell Leak and Other Minor repairs completed
High Speed Run Ups