The Taylorcraft Auster was a British spotter plane during World War II, allowing British pilots to perform reconnaissance missions across enemy lines and alert the Allies to German artillery positions, according to PilotFriend.
In October 2023, the Auster was purchased by Bowling Green resident, veteran, and aviator Fitz Shelton and Bayshore, New York native Dorian Walker. After making it through U.S. Customs and getting the plane into the States, the Auster was flown from Canada to Minot, North Dakota on Dec. 16, 2023. Finally, the Auster was flown to Bowling Green on Feb 1, 2024.
Walker and Portland, Tennessee native Chuck Henry have both worked on the aircraft as aviators, and Henry worked as an aircraft mechanic. As the self-proclaimed history buff of the group, Walker helped restore the aircraft in his pursuit of preserving history.
Fitz Shelton (Left) and Chuck Henry begin to put the covering panels back onto the engine block before the next day’s inspection by the Federal Aviation Administration for airworthiness certification. (Photo by Cameron McKinney)
Chuck Henry unbolts the propeller from the Auster to put the rest of the plane together on Friday, March 15. (Photos by Cameron McKinney)
Reference photos used by Dorian Walker found on the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s website during the placing of decals onto the Auster on Friday, March 15. (Photos by Cameron McKinney)
To ensure the plane’s accuracy, Roger Burns installed decals to the sides, wings and tail of the plane. The Auster served as a spotter plane for the Royal Canadian Air Force. The crew finished the Auster on Saturday, March 16. (photos by Cameron McKinney)
Leslie Sargent (middle), the Federal Aviation Administration’s designated airworthiness representative comes to inspect the Auster’s airworthiness the morning of Saturday, March 16. Fitz Shelton (left) and Chuck Henry watch as he explains what he’s looking for and what he’s seen so far. (Photos by Cameron McKinney)
In the early morning hours Fitz Shelton, pilot and flight mechanic prepares to take off in the Auster for the first time since it was brought down from Canada. The flight took place Sunday, March 31st. “Probably one of the only flying in the us” said Fitz Referring to the Auster. (Photos by Cameron McKinney)
Fitz Shelton, pilot and flight mechanic, takes off for an hour-long round trip toward Franklin and back. The flight took place Sunday, March 31. “Probably one of the only flying in the U.S.,” Shelton said, referring to the Auster. (Photos by Cameron McKinney) Advertisement
Saturday, April 13, Fitz Shelton and his wife Maggie Shelton pushed the Auster back into its hanger after a successful flight to Welcome Field, a grass strip runway in Franklin. (Photos by Cameron McKinney)