In the mid 1930s, Bill Piper brought in Walter Jamouneau, and under his direction the original Cub was modified to its historic, bright yellow J-3 version. Powered by a 40 hp (30kW) engine, in 1938 it sold for just over $1,000.

During World War II, newspapers of the era often featured images of wartime leaders, such as Generals Dwight Eisenhower & George Patton suveying European battlefields in Piper Cubs.