Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.
High Hat Cafe
The pastries at Lagniappe Bakehouse are worth waking up for.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
14 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
14 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
15 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
17 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Texas San Antonio L-Bird Flying Museum

L-Bird Flying Museum

A collection of vintage liaison aircraft kept in flying condition and on display at an airfield in San Antonio.

San Antonio, Texas

Added By
Mike Taylor
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
L-birds at Cannon Field.   miketaylor / Atlas Obscura User
L-birds at Cannon Field.   miketaylor / Atlas Obscura User
L-birds at Cannon Field.   miketaylor / Atlas Obscura User
L-bird Flying Museum at Cannon Field.   miketaylor / Atlas Obscura User
L-birds over San Antonio, returning from a mission.   miketaylor / Atlas Obscura User
L-bird collection at Cannon Field.   miketaylor / Atlas Obscura User
Alamo Liaison Squadron over South Texas.   ALS member
L-bird Flying Museum at Cannon Field.   miketaylor / Atlas Obscura User
Cannon Field Airport, San Antonio, Texas.   miketaylor / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

A liaison aircraft, or "L-bird" as they're also known, is a small, unarmed military airplane used primarily for observation and reconnaissance or light transport. Known for their ability to take off from and land in small, unimproved fields, these planes played a generally uncelebrated but nevertheless significant role in the successes of World War II. 

Today, a collection of vintage liaison aircraft is maintained and displayed by the Alamo Liaison Squadron, as one of the only L-bird Flying Museums in the world. Located at Cannon Field in San Antonio, the planes are kept in flying condition and make occasional public appearances. The L-birds perform fly-bys at memorial services and cultural events; guest pilots are invited to fly into the "grass strip" airfield; and an annual picnic is held at the field where attendees can view flight performances and ride in the vintage aircraft.

The Alamo Liaison Squadron restores and protects these original military liaison aircraft. The organization maintains a collection Taylorcraft L-2, Aeronca L-3, Piper L-4, Stinson L-5, and Interstate L-6 flying examples at its facility. The aircraft are flown by experienced and veteran pilots who have mastered the art of flying, as they are affectionately called, “taildraggers.”

The story of L-birds and their pilots is well documented in Box Seat Over Hell: The True Story of America's Liaison Pilots and Their Light Planes in World War II, written by Alamo Liaison Squadron founder and master mechanic Hardy Cannon, who worked with a team to restore the original collection of L-birds. The book tells the story of the men who flew in combat armed only with a pistol, confronting the enemy in aircraft made of tubing, wires, and fabric. Cannon's artistry and imagination in both aircraft restoration and writing has kept the legacy of the L-birds alive.

Related Tags

World War Ii Aircraft Museums Preservation Transportation Military

Know Before You Go

The L-bird Flying Museum of Alamo Liaison Squadron is located at Cannon Field on the south side of San Antonio, Texas. The airfield and museum are open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and other days by appointment. Support the museum's Hangar Door gofundme campaign at https://www.gofundme.com/lbird-flying-museum-hangar-door

Community Contributors

Added By

miketaylor

Edited By

Edward Denny

  • Edward Denny

Published

March 8, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
L-Bird Flying Museum
2352 S Loop 1604 W
San Antonio, Texas
United States
29.214592, -98.549838
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Old Applewhite Bridge

San Antonio, Texas

miles away

Espada Aqueduct

San Antonio, Texas

miles away

Rube Waddell's Grave

San Antonio, Texas

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of San Antonio

San Antonio

Texas

Places 41
Stories 7

Nearby Places

Old Applewhite Bridge

San Antonio, Texas

miles away

Espada Aqueduct

San Antonio, Texas

miles away

Rube Waddell's Grave

San Antonio, Texas

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of San Antonio

San Antonio

Texas

Places 41
Stories 7

Related Places

  • The H-4 Hercules, aka “Spruce Goose.”

    McMinnville, Oregon

    The Spruce Goose

    The wooden airship was the largest flying boat ever built.

  • Hudson, Massachusetts

    American Heritage Museum

    One of the largest public collection of historic armored and military vehicles in North America.

  • F14 Fighter Jet

    Alameda, California

    USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum

    After serving in World War II and picking up Apollo astronauts, this aircraft carrier has been turned into a museum overlooking the San Francisco Bay.

  • The only restored Halifax in Europe

    York, England

    Yorkshire Air Museum

    This aircraft museum is home to one of just three Halifax bombers in the world.

  • Schorfheide, Germany

    Finowfurt Aviation Museum

    This former Soviet military base has over 10 original aircraft and an enormous amount of memorabilia on display.

  • Glasgow, Scotland

    Spitfire LA198

    An icon of the Battle of Britain is frozen in flight in a grand Victorian museum.

  • Gander International Airport.

    Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador

    Gander International Airport Lounge

    The tiny airport in remote Newfoundland that inspired a hit musical is also a modernist architectural gem.

  • Singapore in use, pulling a passenger train.

    Rutland, England

    The Singapore

    A locomotive that was captured as a prisoner of war is now recognized as a WWII memorial.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.