Auster Fan,
I agree 100% with you about how underrated and overlooked the Auster often is,although there are I reckon a few reasons for this. Firstly,utility and light comms aircraft in general often seem to be overlooked as far as military history is concerned,it’s not just an Auster thing. Secondly,the aircraft’s primary military role was AOP,a job closely associated with the Army.I only learned recently that AOP Austers were flown by RAF pilots up until the formation of the AAC in the late 50’s,I’d presumed they were always Army flown. Perhaps this accounts for the type’s lack of coverage in RAF histories.Thirdly,the Auster does seem to be the Marmite of the light-warbird world,you either love ’em (and can land them) or hate them (and can’t land them). Combine the slightly confusing military history with a split civilian reputation and you have a recipe for being overlooked.
Thanks for the pics and information folks,WE600 looks absolutely immaculate.If I do manage to produce a something like worthwhile drawing/painting,I’ll share it with you all in due course. 🙂

Cheers James,I’ll keep my eyes peeled. “Moments of Terror” rings a distant bell,think it might have been one of those I got from the library and didn’t get around to reading.

Thanks for the response guys,I had considered the possibility of the guns being removed. It does seem odd though that some of these short-barrelled examples are pictured carrying bombs,and not particularly large bombs either. The bombs EL-U carries in the photo look like 250lb’rs,and I know the Tiffie could handle 2 x 500lb with no trouble,so it seems unlikely that they would’ve been removed to save weight. The stripey example in Daz’s first photo is also carrying bombs (perhaps the underside of same machine?)
Btw,thanks for the pics Daz 🙂