The Stinson L-5 Sentinel is a two-seat single engine high wing light aircraft used by the military as air observation post, aerial ambulance, and in other roles. All L-5 models only had two seats: pilot and passenger.
The Stinson Aircraft Corporation was formed in 1926 by Eddie Sinson in Detroit for the purpose of building the SB-1 Detroiter 4-seat cabin bi-plane. The Stinson line progressed with the SM-2 Junior,the 11-seat SM-1100 and a succession of 4-seat high wing monoplanes culminating with the SR series of Reliants. In the late 1930's, when development of the Model 105 started, Stinson Aircraft was actual the Stinson Aircraft Division of the Aviation Manufacturing Corporation. Stinson and Vultee Aircraft Inc. were both divisions of AVCO, as it was better known. In 1940, AVCO reorganized its holdings and made Stinson a Division of Vultee. On 17 March 1943, Vultee Aircraft Inc. merged with Consolidated Aircraft Corporation: the new company name was Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation.
The Sinson L-5 Sentinel, also known as the "Flying Jeep", was an entirely new design and only shared some basic features of the Model 105 such as wing slots, the same airfoil shape, cantilevered landing gear, and a very similar wing area. Every single part on the plane was changed. Development of the Stinson 105 started in the late 1930's. Stinson Aircraft designed the Model 105 (also designated HW-75) and the type certificate was issued on 20 May 1939. A total of 277 airframes of the (1939) Model 105 (HW-75) with a 75 hp Continental A-75-3 engine and 260 airframes of the (1940) Model 105 (HW-80) powered by a 80 hp Continental A-80-6 engine were built. The Model 105 was followed by the Model 10, which was generally similar but incorporated a wider seats; many detail changes and a modified engine cowling design and powered by a 80 hp Continental A-80 engine. In 1941, six airframes of this Model 10 equipped with a 80 hp Lycoming O-170-1 four-cylinder engine were tested by the U.S. Army under the designation YO-54. Testing was not successful and the military rejected the Model 10 / YO-54 design and no more were ordered. Before the YO-54's were delivered, Stinson modified a Model 10 with a tandem seat fuselage. This was tested with a 100 and 125 horsepower engine and designated Model 75B and 75C, respectively. The military evaluated the more powerful version and rejected it as being too fragile and lacking sufficient performance. So, Stinson designed an entirely new plane using a similar concept of basic layout. This was the Model 76 and 275 were ordered by the military as the O-62. The designation was changed to L-5 seven months before any were delivered. The O-62 was equipped with a 185 hp Lycoming O-435-1 six-cylinder engine.
In April 1942, the designation "O" for Observation was changed to "L" for Liaison and the Stinson O-62 became the Stinson L-5 Sentinel.

Stinson delivered the L-5 Sentinel between 1942 and 1945 under a variety of designations:
• Model L-5 — the early models of the L-5 can be recognized by the slender aft fuselage section and rear window. About 1800 airframes of this model were built.
• Model L-5A — the L-5A was a modified L-5 with an improved electrical system; the L-5A was never built. It only existed on paper.
• Model L-5B — the L-5B and up models had a deeper fuselage to carry a stretcher; These models were built from 1944-1945: the first production ambulance models were not delivered until June 1944.
• Model L-5C — the L-5C model incorporated a mount for a camera and an aperture in the bottom of the fuselage, but none of the planes were equipped at the factory. It was up to the using organizations to supply the cameras as-needed, which occurred infrequently;
• Model L-5D — the USAAF cancelled the L-5D before any aircraft were built and did not assign any serial numbers.
• Model L-5E — the L-5E was similar to the L-5C, but had improved control surfaces;
• Model L-5E-1 — the L-5E-1 was similar to the L-5E with larger tires and heavy-duty brakes for better short and soft-field performance,
• Model L-5G — the L-5G had a 190 hp Lycoming 6-cylinder air-cooled engine.

The Stinson L-5 variants served during World War II not only with the U.S.Army Air Corps but also the British Royal Air Force and as OY-1 and OY-2 with the Marine Corps. The OY-1 and OY-2 were procured by the Navy but they exclusively served with the Marine Corps. The U.S. Navy did not begin using the type until after the war was over. The production of the Stinson L-5 was closed down after the war end in 1945. The military took delivery of exactly 3,590 L-5's. There were approximately 50 unfinished airframes on the assembly line when the contract was cancelled. Most of those were completed but sold on the civilian market in 1946 and 1947.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the Stinson L-5 Sentinel is L5

Around 1948, a number of Stinson L-5 Sentinel aircraft used by the US Armed Forces in World War II were given to the Italian Air Force. They were used until 1953 for basic training at the Air Force Schools. The last specimens, disbarred by the Italian Air Force, were sold to the Aero Clubs of Italy, the first batch in 1953 and 1954. A number remained in use by the military until the 1960s, such as the Stinson L-5 Sentinel with military serial number MM.52.860. On 22 April 1961, the aircraft was registered I-AAAZ with Aero Club Capua.
In 1967, Stinson L-5 Sentinel I-AAAZ was based at Groninge Airport Eelde (EHGG/GRQ) in the Netherlands. The aircraft was operated by a local dentist who had planned to operate sightseeing tours with this plane. Most of the time the Stinson was parked in the hangar where it was seen in September 1967. Stinson L-5 Sentinel I-AAAZ never entered the Dutch register and finaly returned to Capua in Italy. The c/n of this Stinson is not known: the Veritas register of 1969 only gives the ex Italian Air Force markings MM.52.860. Stinson L-5 Sentinel I-AAAZ was written off in 1971.

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