VH-WAI  Auster III                                       (c/n  483)

                               

                                    This aircraft was built at Rearsby 0n 1943 as Taylorcraft Auster AOP.III MT393.  It went to the
                                    RAAF as A11-45 where it served with No.16 Air Observation Post at Tarakan Island, Borneo. 
                                    It remained on RAAF strength until 1962 when it was civilianized as VH-WAI.  Greg Banfield took
                                    the above shot at Bankstown on 17 November 1963.   It was re-registered VH-FBA in March
                                    1966.  Whilst towing a glider at South Marulan, NSW on 9 February 1974 it suffered an engine
                                    failure and struck a tree in the attempted forced landing, resulting in its being stricken from the register..