There was a lot of unarmed reconnaissance going on by Spitfires, Mosquitos and P-38 Lightnings, where the obvious objective was reconnaissance. The unarmed aircraft were fast, and particularly in the case of the Spitfires, long ranged.
I am fascinated by the Spitfire FR.XIVEs, which had a camera shooting out the side, two 20mm Hispanos, and 2 .50" machine guns. Spitfires were supposed to be high altitude fighters, and Typhoons and Tempests, low altitude. You would think they would have modified Tempests, which were faster at low altitude, longer ranged, more rugged and heavily armed.
The Spitfire FR.XIVE is the perfect paraprazzi machine. "I am taking your $##^#%$^#$ picture. Don't like it? #$@#% you!"