Grasshopper Pilot
American hero in the face of danger and adversity
A Grasshopper pilot in World War II and Korea, Bullard, Texas-born Major James Stegall was a spotter pilot flying the single-engine Piper Cub L-4, one of the slowest flying aircraft in combat. Stegall’s combat experiences started in World War II on the beaches of Salerno, Italy, where he served as a forward observer for the artillery. He was able to survive an aerial engagement with a German Bf-109 during which his aircraft was damaged. In Korea, he flew his Grasshopper on missions to the Chosin Reservoir. During one battle he demonstrated extreme courage when he made seven trips to rescue wounded American soldiers who had been trapped by the Chinese.