A liquid fuel cartridge assembly for a gas turbine combustor comprising an elongated stem provided with a fuel injector tip at an aft end of said stem, said injector tip provided with a pilot fuel passage extending to a pilot fuel orifice; a plurality of air channels surrounding said pilot fuel passage and in communication with plural air holes; an annular main fuel passage surrounding said plurality of air channels and in communication with plural fuel exit holes; and a plurality of substantially radially oriented air supply holes in said stem upstream but proximate to a forward end of said tip in communication with said plurality of air channels.