Taylorcraft Auster ops

[RyanShort1]

I'm looking for reliable (or even so-so) sources of information about British use of Taylorcraft Austers during WWII - especially in front-line service.

Ryan

[Larry]

Have you looked up the histories of Air Observation Post Squadrons of the RAF numbering from 650 Sqn up to 666 Sqn? Several books cover the subject.

Starting with The Squadrons of the RAF & Commonwealth 1918-1988 by JJ Halley (Air Britain Publications) you can get a list of aircraft types- Auster Mk III to Mk V etc, Sqn bases and dates formed etc.

Similar stuff is in RAF Squadrons - a comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their antecendents since 1912 by Wing Commander CG Jefford MBE RAF (airlife Publications)

No doubt members will know of other specific books/ web sites relating to AOP Squadrons

[Nick Beale]

Something on 655 Squadron at Anzio: http://www.ghostbombers.com/JG2/655_1.html

A line of research that might be worth trying is records of the Royal Artillery since the pilots of some (or all?) of these aircraft seem to have been artillery officers rather than RAF.

[Bill Walker]

There is a good history of the three joint RCAF/Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery squadrons that operated Austers in Europe in 1944/1945 in "Canada's Flying Gunners" by L. Col. D.L. Fromow, published by the Air Observation Post Pilots Association of Canada. You can buy it in several Canadian museum book stores, and can probably find it on line as well.

[AusterBoys]

In addition to Lieutenant-Colonel Dave Fromow's splendid Air OP history entitled "Canada's Flying Gunners," a new book is now available from Merriam Press in Vermont, USA on the British and Canadian Air Observation Post entitled "Artillery Flyers at War - A History of the 664, 665 and 666 Air Observation Post Squadrons of the Royal Canadian Air Force," by Darrell Knight.

The book received a financial award from the government of Alberta; Knight was also a contributor to information published in Col. Fromow's book.

"Artillery Flyers at War" was vetted prior to publication by the AOP Pilot's Association of Canada and they gave their approval with one word: "Gripping!"

I found both books informative, well-researched and well-written.