The Auster Mark III, IV and V were issued to 12 Royal Air Force (RAF), one Polish and three Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Air Observation Post (AOP) Squadrons. The first to deploy was No.651 SquadronRAF. The leading elements landed in Algiers on 12 November 1942 with eight aircraft, 11 Royal Artillery (RA) pilots, 39 RA soldiers and 25 airmen (mostly maintenance technicians). The normal strength of an AOP squadron was 12 aircraft, 19 RA officers (all pilots), 83 RA other ranks and 63 RAF including two administrative officers. Aircraft were fitted with the Army's No 22 Wireless, an HF set providing two way voice communications with artillery units and formations on the ground.
Four squadrons (No. 651 No.654 Squadron RAF, No.655 Squadron RAF and No.657 Squadron RAF) fought in North Africa and Italy, being joined from August 1944 by Np.663 Polish squadron. The other seven squadrons (Nos. 652, 653, 658, 659, 660,661 and 662 of the RAF) operated after D-day in France, the Low Countries and into Germany.
Vier uitvoeringen mogelijk;
- Versie A: Czechoslovak Army
- Versie B: Netherlands Army Klu.
- Versie C: RAF
- Versie D: Israel Air Force.
Aantal onderdelen: 35
