Hi All,

I am trying to locate as much as possible information about Auster mk.6 serial VF608. Currently we are restoring it to airworthy condition but a good picture of it in its former RAF/Army colors is still missing.

Up what I understood from DOD files its served in Germany as well between 1951 and 1960.

Best regards,

André Jans

Hoogeveen airport
The Netherlands

Here`s a couple of sites you could try Andre

http://www.worldmilitair.com/aircraft/auster.htm

http://www.cnapg.net/auster.htm

Andre

You could also try the Museum of Army Aviation at the Army Air Corps Centre Middle Wallop Hampshire. They may well have details of the aircraft's deployment in BAOR in their extensive archives.(there is a website for the Museum)

The aircraft probably spent most of its life in RAF livery though flown by an Army pilot as the Army Air Corps permanent cadre was not formed till the late 1950s/early 60s

Thanks for the replies guys.

I already have gone through most DOD/RAF/IWM files and know the planes history. Between 1949 and 1951 it was even used by the British Military Attaché in the Hague, Group Captain John Kerr.

Sadly no good pictures of VF608 in military service. After 1960 it became G-ASIP and went civilian.

I hope some of the members here might have it (by accident) in their own files. I know this plane was in 652SQ during the fifties as well.

Cheers, André

I think Auster's wore camoflage while in RAF Service as well

Clearly there were slight variations in he colour scheme of the Mk6 Austers when in RAF service in the 1950s

I have a black and white photo of VF 565 kindly sent to me by the AAC Museum at Middle Wallop

There appears to be a number of slight variations compared to Mike's photo of TW 511

These include
On the tail fin
1 The colour bars on the rectangular RAF recognition square are equal in size
2. Above this rectangle there appears to be a small circular badge (black on white)

On the main body
1. The aircraft recognition number is the same size, but in white and further to the rear
2. The letters XM (in blue?) are to the left of the RAF roundel and the same size as this roundel
3. There appears to be no yellow ring round the roundel
4. The aircraft seems to be all one colour (less ID markings) drab olive green?

The Museum also confirmed that 652 Squadron has been permanently based in BAOR from May 45. In Andre's time it was located in Luneburg from 1947 to 1948 before relocating to Detmold where it was to remain for many years.

I remember when Austers were used for Air OP shoots.
We loved watching the way the pilot would send his fire orders to us then disappear by hugging the contours of the ground.
When we reported "splash" the plane would pop back up again for him to watch the fall of shot.
Brilliant flying.
Not long after that the Beaver replaced the Auster.

The AAC that exists as we know it today was reborn in 1957,even then the only people within its ranks that wore the AAC badge were pilots,the remainder of the posts were filled by,REME,RA,RAC.The AAC did not start recruiting direct from civi street untill 1973.During the 2nd world war the auster was in the main used as an air observation platfom to spot for the RA guns in the rear,during this time they were flown by pilots from the RA but the a/c were mintained by the RAF.TO further confuse the issue not all aviation sqns were british some were canadian,(this may well account for the variations in some of the colour schemes.) i hope this helps a little.

a link to middle wallop curator@flying-museum.org.uk

Basically we like to have the colors used when Group Captain Kerr had it in the Hague so it both connects the RAF and the Netherlands between 1949 and 1951.

I completely rebuilt the portside wing so far. All is done in spare time so it may take an additional year or two but we'll get there.

André

P.s. I tried to add links but the forum tells me I am not allowed to do so.....

to auster VF608 another link wich you may find helpfull.
www.rafweb.org/sqn651-670.htm

Does it require a login? I can't open the link.

no if it shows up blue in colour it should be a direct link

There were indeed three RCAF AOP Squadrons(664,665 and 666 Squadrons) which deployed to Holland in support of 1st Canadian Army in the very last weeks of WW2 which were equipped with Mark5 Austers

664 Squadron RCAF were subsequently redeployed to Bad Zwischenahn in support of 3 Canadian Infantry Division (CAOF) were they were to remain until Spring 1946 and are therefore part of the BAOR story which Steve and I are currently researching

i am unsure as to why the first link does not work,try this www.rafweb.org

[quote="dandc"]i am unsure as to why the first link does not work,try this/quote]

Found it but it mainly show Auster Mk.1's.