Design
In 1940 the United States Army Air Corps put out a specification for a liaison aircraft. Stinson's O-49 was selected and 142 ordered.
The structure was mostly metal with a fabric cover.
The ailerons went down 26° when they were fully dropped.
Redesignation
In 1942 the O-49 became the L-1, and the O-49A became the L-1A.