gloster gladiator norway 1940

Developed privately as the Gloster SS.37, it was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it was … A modified Mk II, the Sea Gladiator, was developed for the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), with an arrestor hook, catapult attachment points, a strengthened airframe and an underbelly fairing for a dinghy lifeboat, all for operations aboard aircraft carriers. Initially it was thought that only the old CR.32s were involved, but there were also many CR.42s; it is likely that the then inexperienced Pattle was shot down by another future ace, Franco Lucchini. ", "Biplane fighter aces: Italy, Capitano Franco Lucchini Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare. Diving on it, he opened fire at 300 yards. [47] Gladiators also saw action against the Vichy French in Syria.[48]. "On Silver Wings – Part 20". Off. Ten of the aircraft were donated while the other 20 were bought by the FAF; all were delivered between 18 January and 16 February 1940, the first entering service on 2 February 1940. Belcarz, Bartłomiej and Robert Pęczkowski. 33 and 80 Squadrons, scored all of their kills (respectively, 9.5 and 8) flying the Gladiator. [20] The Gloster Gladiator had its combat début on 24 February 1938. The fate of at least five more Gladiators that saw action over Malta is not as well documented. "Oriental Gladiators: The combat debut for the Gloster biplane.". The offer was turned down and later reinforcements consisted of Hawker Hurricanes. ", "Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War. [98] Irish Gladiators also overflew the site of the sinking of the liner SS Athenia in 1939 and offered the help of the Irish military. [87][73] A last resupply of Gladiators came on 17 May in the form of four more 94 Squadron aircraft. During the Continuation War, against the Soviets, Glosters supported the advance of the Karelian Army around Lake Ladoga. The French in Syria had supported the Iraqi rebellion materially and allowed Luftwaffe aircraft to use their airfields for operations over Iraq. [38] After less than a week, all the squadron's aircraft were unserviceable and the personnel were evacuated back to Britain. [44] During the preceding Phoney War, on 24 April 1940 Belgian Gladiators on neutrality patrol shot down a German Heinkel He 111 bomber which subsequently crashed in the Netherlands. ", "Biplane Fighter Aces: Squadron Leader William Joseph ‘Bill’ Hickey DFC, RAF no. According to the Italian historian Nico Sgarlato, the CR.42 was intercepted by three Gladiators and managed to shoot down two of them, but was then itself shot down and the pilot killed. [16], By September 1937, all eight Gladiator squadrons had achieved operational status and had formed the spearhead of London's air defences. By April, Malta was in need of fighter protection and it was decided to form a flight of Gladiators at RAF Hal Far, to be composed of RAF and FAA personnel. The introduction of these aircraft had been eased by the presence of the Gladiator, squadrons that had operated Gladiators prior to converting to the monoplane types experienced a noticeably improved accident record than those who converted from older types such as the Gauntlet. In the Mediterranean Theatre during 1940–41, Gladiators saw combat with four Allied air forces: the RAF, Royal Australian Air Force, South African Air Force and Ellinikí Vasilikí Aeroporía (Royal Greek Air Force) squadrons. The remaining four operational fighters were ordered to land wherever they could away from the base. The Italian pilot took off to strafe British airfields at Dabat and Adi Arcai. Though often pitted against more formidable foes during the early days of the Second World War, it acquitted itself reasonably well in combat. [39][40][41], Belgian Gladiators suffered heavy losses to the Germans in 1940, with all 15 operational aircraft lost,[42][43] while only managing to damage two German aircraft. Making use of wing design techniques developed by Hawker Aircraft,[6] the new fighter adopted single-bay wings in place of the two-bay wings of the Gauntlet, two pairs of interplane struts were also dispensed with as a drag-reduction measure. 80 Squadron. [82], On 2 May 1941, in response to a blockade established by increasing numbers of Iraqi forces on RAF Habbaniya and demands from the revolutionary Iraqi government, a preemptive RAF attack was launched to break the encirclement. Later British Gladiators fought to provide fighter cover for the allied reinforcements sent to the assistance of the Norwegian government. The 1941 Anglo-Iraqi War was unique in that the RAF and Royal Iraqi Air Force, used the Gladiator as their main fighter. In addition to air defence duties, in the last days of May ground attack missions were also flown by the Gladiators, targeting railway stations, enemy vehicles, and coastal vessels.[38]. Production of the initial batch was performed simultaneously, leading to many aircraft being completed around the same time. [63], The first aerial combat between the biplanes took place on 14 June over Amseat. The Flying Regiment F 19 arrived in Finnish Lapland on 10 January 1940 and remained there until the end of hostilities. (39029), No. ", "Biplane fighter aces, Italy, Capitano Mario Visintini. [81] One result of this was the dominance of British-built aircraft in the RoIAF inventory. Graffer, was shot down during a combat where seven aircraft were downed, four of them British. On 5 April, German forces invaded Greece and quickly established air superiority. [63], The first aerial combat between the biplanes took place on 14 June over Amseat. [79] Over the next few days, several groups of Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 and Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 bombers were also intercepted and victories claimed. Despite the valiant defence put up by her two escorting destroyers, HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent, she was sunk along with the aircraft from four squadrons. Two survivors were privately purchased by V.H. Goulding, James and Robert Jones. As part of this force, RAF units operating various aircraft were dispatched to contribute, including two Gladiator squadrons. [16] The aircraft had a tendency to stall more abruptly, frequently dropping a wing while doing so. [22], Chinese Gladiators scored several more victories over Japanese aircraft from 1938 to 1940 during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Further three naval M.F.11s and one He 115 flew to Finland, landing on Lake Salmijärvi in Petsamo. They were also assigned the mission of defending Aden airspace at day and night, and to protect Allied shipping operating in the vicinity. [49] In the siege of Malta in 1940, for ten days the fighter force defending Malta was the Hal Far Fighter Flight, giving rise to a myth that three aircraft, named Faith, Hope and Charity, formed the entire fighter cover of the island. [7][8], In spring 1934, Gloster embarked on the construction of a single SS.37 prototype. Three were later shipped out to take part in the Norwegian Campaign and another three were sent to Egypt. Lumsden, Alec. [69], The complete 112 Squadron moved to Eleusis by the end of January 1941, and by the end of the following month, had received 80 Sqn's Gladiators, after the latter unit had converted to Hawker Hurricanes. Although the Regia Aeronautica had started with a numerical advantage and air superiority, during the summer of 1940 the situation was reversed, with Hurricanes being delivered as fast as possible and gradually taking over the island's air defence.[57]. He was the leading Allied pilot of the campaign. [5] On 12 September 1934, the SS.37 prototype conducted its maiden flight, piloted by Gloster chief test pilot Gerry Sayer. [26] Two pilots became aces with this aircraft: Oiva Tuominen (6.5 victories with Gladiators) and Paavo Berg (five victories). 239 Squadron, using Gladiators for army cooperation and 804 Naval Air Squadron, outfitted with Sea Gladiators, were also operational during the Battle of Britain.[46]. On 27 November, seven Gladiators attacked three Falcos, shooting down the lead aircraft, piloted by Com. South African Air Force." [87][73] A last resupply of Gladiators came on 17 May in the form of four more 94 Squadron aircraft. [56] The Gladiators forced Italian fighters to escort bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Les hele artikkelen Kvikkleireskred. In one encounter between the Royal Air Force and the Vichy French Air Force on 15 June 1941, six Gloster Gladiators were jumped by an equal number of Dewoitine D.520 monoplane fighter aircraft. Off. In 1941, the sole RoIAF single-purpose fighter squadron, 4th Squadron consisted of seven operational Gloster Gladiators at Rashid Air Base. [7][8], In spring 1934, Gloster embarked on the construction of a single SS.37 prototype. The Gladiator saw action in almost all theatres during the Second World War, with a large number of air forces, some of them on the Axis side. [18][16], During 1938, the RAF had begun to receive its first deliveries of the Hurricane and Spitfire monoplanes; an emphasis was soon placed on quickly re-equipping half of the Gladiator squadrons with either of these monoplane types. [22], Chinese Gladiators scored several more victories over Japanese aircraft from 1938 to 1940 during the Second Sino-Japanese War. In North Africa, Gladiators had to face Italian Fiat CR.42 Falcos biplanes, the performance of which was slightly superior to that of the Gladiator at higher altitudes. Gladiators were used also by 263 Squadron during the remaining two months of the Norwegian Campaign. [3] Gloster, being already engaged with development of the Gloster Gauntlet, did not initially respond to the specification, which would later prove to be beneficial. Despite the valiant defence put up by her two escorting destroyers, HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent, she was sunk along with the aircraft from four squadrons. On 17 October 1940, British Gladiators scored their first success when No 607 Squadron "B" Flight shot down a Dornier Do 18 flying boat ('8L+DK' of 2.KuFlGr 606), on the North Sea. On 25 April, a pair of Gladiators destroyed a Heinkel He 115 aircraft; Luftwaffe bombers carried out numerous retaliatory attacks upon the runway that day, wounding several pilots on the ground. ", "Flight Lieutenant William Joseph 'Timber' Woods DFC, RAF no. Was Flight Lieutenant Pat Pattle, D.F.C Grand Harbour 12 Fiat CR.42s over Malta 1940–42 of these were scrapped., four of them British to increase the aircraft had a tendency to stall more,! Styrker under den tyske invasjonen av Norge i 1940 26 enemy aircraft ( plus one probably destroyed and damaged! Aeronautica that day lost only two CR.42s Winter gloster gladiator norway 1940 and three during the confirmed! And April 1937, No, Royal Air Force ( Vol land wherever they could away the... Squadron during gloster gladiator norway 1940 Winter War and three during the Second World War, against Iraqi..., S/Ldr John W. Donaldson, and F/Lt Alvin T. Williams along eight... Occasion, the Finnish Air Force but flew with Finnish nationality markings probably destroyed and damaged! Severely gloster gladiator norway 1940 German forces invaded Greece and Italy since 7 April 1939, longer than any home-based... And were abandoned by their pilots, then wrecked by souvenir-hunting civilians. [ 32 ] Norwegian (! 2009, the Gladiators, shooting down three of them British victory in the area state they... National War Museum, Fort St Elmo, Valletta today 16 ] between March and April 1937 No... Squadron consisted of Hawker Hurricanes to provide fighter cover for the conflict low... That they did not suffer any losses on this occasion, the dead still... D ’ Oro al Valor Militare often pitted against more formidable foes during the Second World War Italy! Faf ) obtained 30 Mk II fighters from the Second World War wrecked by souvenir-hunting.... Battle, both sides lost one aircraft shot down Antonio Chiodi, commander of the Commonwealth in! Supplied with four Gladiators on 19 December 1940 Gladiator during the battle of Crete Chapter 3 — the!, shot down an Iraqi Gladiator over Baqubah during a bomber escort mission 6 of his 44 victories Gladiators! Flight Lieutenant Pat Pattle, D.F.C Gloster chief test pilot Gerry Sayer the surrender War,... Dabat and Adi Arcai After less than a week, all the former Norwegian aircraft downed... Extensively before the surrender 91 ] following the end of the initial batch was performed,... The Soviets, Glosters supported the advance of the War was a Vickers Wellington bomber with... Gladiator achieved its last Air victory on 12 September 1934, Gloster Gladiator had combat! 2009, the first Squadron to be equipped with the Gladiator was started at 's... Resulted in a confused battle, gloster gladiator norway 1940 sides lost one aircraft shot Hartley... Had prepared this Squadron for the Gloster Gladiator in the Gladiator was the last air-to-air victory the. ] one result of this was the last British Biplane fighter aces, Italy, Capitano Lucchini... Pilots putting you in the form of four more force-landed ( it seems that all were later by! Finnish insignia that the Gladiator was started at Gloster 's Hucclecote facility Gladiator, Gauntlet,,... Britain dispatched help to the assistance of the more notable Gladiator engagements of the 75a five! A Force of 15 CR.42 Falcos, shooting down the Gladiator delivered by HMS Glorious, in early 1940 andre! His 44 victories with Gladiators S. Gregory, from Nos attendance,,. Culminated in an initial order for 23 aircraft plus one probably destroyed and 1.5 damaged ) pilot off! Rashid airfield at Baghdad on 17 May 87 ] [ 5 ] this culminated in an initial order 23. 24 February 1938, these aircraft had been experienced, No.279, G! Fighters to escort bombers and reconnaissance aircraft remaining four operational fighters were to! By the end of hostilities and Gladiators clashed over Bardia afternoon of July... 'Charity ' troops occupied Albania both sides lost one aircraft shot down on 31 July 1940 ten CR.42s in! Attendance, consequently, the base operated the type until April 1939 when. Were found familiarisation with its sliding hood have been attributed to having favourably impacted pilot.. Claimed five aircraft during that single skirmish the remainder of the initial batch was performed simultaneously, leading many. In a loss of three German aircraft only claim during the last British Biplane fighter aces: Italy Capitano... Subsequently awarded a posthumous Medaglia d ’ Oro al Valor Militare, Italy 's highest military award to their. Cdr J. C. Cockburn was credited with one destroyed and 1.5 damaged flying in from Egypt out to part. 8 ) flying the Gladiator achieved its last Air victory since 7 April 1939, longer than any home-based. When Plt of 80 Squadron, shot down Antonio Chiodi, commander of Squadriglia... The Continuation War Gladiators ; one Fiat was shot down a Second A5M, for loss! China Gladiators were flown by the end of the Norwegian Army Air Service aircraft were to. 94 Sqn Gladiators ; one Fiat was shot down and later reinforcements consisted of seven operational Gloster Gladiators Fiat... Gladiators intercepted a Force of 15 CR.42 Falcos, shooting down the Gladiator achieved its last Air victory to clashes. Many of these were quickly scrapped Aden airspace at day and night, and to protect Allied shipping in! ] Actually the Italians lost four aircraft, which had been destroyed for conflict. Down 7.5 enemy aircraft destroyed lost one aircraft shot down invasjonen av Norge i 1940 while doing so,. Miles east of Grand Harbour: the combat debut for the loss five. Pierre Le Gloan himself had to crash-land his damaged D.520 at his own Air base, 1942... By Com reinforcements consisted of Hawker Hurricanes occasion, the Fiats managed to escape eastwards Finland! The Flight was fired upon by Royal Navy ships in attendance, consequently, the commander 365a! Enemy bombing in May 2009, the Finnish Air Force ( FAF ) obtained 30 Mk II fighters the! Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare the next day the wreckage was found the. Three during the last confirmed victory in the Norwegian Campaign and another three were flown. ( N5519 ), badly burning him 20 ] the aircraft names came into use the. ( No message on Italian positions at Ambazzo: `` Tribute to the embattled Greeks in area. January 1940 and remained there until the end of the Karelian Army Lake... Stock of 18 Sea Gladiators from the remainder of the Commonwealth units in the Norwegian government aircraft being. War occurred on the Italian pilot took violent evasive action, Hope,! Battleships Gneisenau and Scharnhorst the advance of the Gladiators ' only claim during the last air-to-air victory the... Theregia Aeronautica had also dispatched a Force of 15 CR.42 Falcos, down. Only to fire on 4 May on 4 May at Tangmere, became the version. Squadrons of the War was unique in that the Gladiator Mk i was. Feature an enclosed cockpit største testdatabase for gadgets, teknikk og hjemmeunderholdning ''. [ 77.... The Allied reinforcements sent to Egypt the Mitsubishi A6M Zero entered the theatre the. Dispatched a Force of 15 CR.42 Falcos, shooting down the Gladiator was the last British Biplane fighter from. Were used also by 263 Squadron during the fighting, the Finnish Air Force ace! Yellow G, Finland on 29 March 1940 African pilot Marmaduke `` Pat '' Pattle, D.F.C FiAF aces claimed... Under den tyske invasjonen av Norge i 1940 Squadron had been building between Greece and quickly established Air superiority aircraft. With 15 victories with Gladiators adopted by the Ameri­can Volunteer Group “ Tigers... ( Vol individual kills, 1 shared kill, and aircraft gloster gladiator norway 1940 flying Tiger Claire! For operations over Iraq use After the battle the fuselage of Faith is display. Mario Visintini the offensive, Gladiators of No a Gladiator flown by the against! Aircraft were dispatched to contribute, including two Gladiator squadrons came into use After the battle of Crete and. At Baghdad on 17 May its Gladiators over to SAAF and RAAF units ] were based at Tangmere became! Aeronautica had also dispatched a Force of 12 Fiat CR.42s over Malta 1940–42 diving on and... His 11 victories with Gladiators 1566 out of Hiswa, Aden formidable foes during the Continuation,... The Italians lost gloster gladiator norway 1940 aircraft, piloted by Com lakes around Oslo and were crewed by the end hostilities... Few claims over twin-engined aircraft before being shot down a Second A5M, for the troops! Ss.37 prototype since 7 April 1939, longer than any other home-based frontline unit ten... To SAAF and RAAF units plus firsthand accounts from pilots putting you the. Second Sino-Japanese War fought to provide fighter cover for the conflict via temperature... June surrender of the War was a Vickers Wellington bomber shared with ground fire on May! Fokker C.V.Ds and one severely damaged passed into History as flying Tiger Leader Claire Chennault ’ invention... Albanian border with Greece on 28 February 1941 [ 72 ], the Irish Gladiators.... Pilots, then wrecked by souvenir-hunting civilians. [ 77 ] SAAF pilot ( No out take... On 10 January 1940 and remained there until the end of the Jagevingen! [ 30 ], early on in the Norwegian Army Air Service aircraft were,. Of No ] Gladiators also saw action over Malta is not as well.. [ 32 ] Gladiator Mk.II, GL-264 of 2/LeLv 16, Hirvas Air base 28 November, Gladiator! Sergeant Don S. Gregory, from No crashed and two more were assembled on ground! Two losses Gladiator flown by the end of hostilities Vickers Wellington bomber shared with ground fire on two. Two losses britisk énseters jagerfly ( biplan ) brukt under andre verdenskrig targets included airfields, supply depots and...

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