Today In History:  20 September  [1944]   --  A bazooka-armed L-4 Grasshopper knocks out two German Pamther tanks

The bazooka-armed L-4 Grasshopper (light observation aircraft)  named Rosie the Rocketer, is flown by its pilot Major Charles Carpenter on a set of pioneering top attacks flown against German tanks and armored cars in the Battle of Arracourt. Using its mount of six bazookas to knock out two Panther tanks and several armored cars from the 11th Panzer Division and 111th Panzer Brigade in the space of at least three sorties, Carpenter savid the lives of many 4th Armored Division personnel trapped in the ground battle.

PHOTO: Bazooka Charlie

See the Historical Aviation Film Unit website at http://www.aviationfilm.com to get a new history tidbit every day.


Photo Attribution:  Fair Use via Wikimedia. Unknown, credit given to his Mrs. E Carpenter for the photo, likely a family member