Håkans Aviation page - Gloster Gladiator in 261 RAF Squadron service

Gloster Gladiator in 261 RAF Squadron service

261 Squadron
Malta, August 1940 to January 1941. Habbaniya, July 1941 to September 1941.
This squadron took over the remains of the Hal Far Fighter Flight but later added other Gladiators, although it was primarily a Hurricane unit.

Serials Code Arrival Note Departure

K6147 From 607 Sq.
16/03/40 To 2 ASP
29/04/40 To 21 Aircraft Depot
16/05/40 To 4 MU
25/08/40 To 8 MU
15/09/40 Dispersed to Watchfield.
11/10/40 To 8 MU
20/02/41 To 52 MU
27/03/41 To Middle East.
19/06/41 To 107 MU and then to 261 Sq. To Royal Iraqi Air Force.

K7907 From 127 Sq. 01/02/42 To Iraqi Conversion Flight.
11/08/42 To ‘X’ Flight.

K7928 From 5 OTU.
12/07/40 To 6 MU.
20/02/41 To 52 MU.
27/03/41 To the Middle East.
19/06/41 To 107 MU.
12/07/41 To 261 Sq. 05/08/41 To ‘X’ Flight.

K7984 From Royal Hellenic Air Force.
05/41 Returned to RAF.
19/06/41 To 107 MU.
05/08/41 At 261 Sq. To 237 Sq.

K7989 From Royal Hellenic Air Force.
16/06/41 To 107 MU.
05/08/41 To Iraq for 261 Sq. To ‘X’ Flight.

K7990 From Royal Hellenic Air Force.
16/06/41 To 107 MU.
05/08/41 To Iraq for 261 Sq. To Iraq CF.
16/07/43 Swung on landing and undercarriage collapsed at Habbaniya.
01/12/43 SOC.

N5520 From Hal Far Fighter Flight. 06/09/40 00:30 hrs Interception patrol; Sgt F. Robertson.
06/09/40 00:30 hrs Interception patrol; Sgt F. Robertson.
11/09/40 00:25 Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre.
14/10/40 00:30 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
16/10/40 00:10 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
27/10/40 00:40 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre.
27/10/40 00:30 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre.
02/11/40 01:20 hrs Patrol - attacked 8 CR.42s and shot down one and damaged one; F/L Burges.
03/11/40 00:30 hrs Test flight; F/L Burges.
03/11/40 00:30 hrs Air firing; F/L Burges.
05/11/40 00:45 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber.
06/11/40 01:05 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre.
06/11/40 00:20 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre.
07/11/40 00:20 hrs Return to Luqa; Sgt F. Robertson.
10/11/40 00:10 hrs Luqa - Ta' Qali; Sgt R. Hyde.
11/11/40 00:10 hrs To Ta'Qali; Sgt F. Robertson.
27/11/40 00:10 hrs Ta' Qali - Hal Far; Sgt H. W. Ayre.
01/09/41 Air test; F/L C. G. St. D. Jeffries (185 Sq.).
19/09/41 Met. flight; F/L C. G. St. D. Jeffries (185 Sq.).
26/09/41 Met. flight; F/L C. G. St. D. Jeffries (185 Sq.).
02/10/41 Met. flight; F/L C. G. St. D. Jeffries (185 Sq.).
15/10/41 Met. flight; F/L C. G. St. D. Jeffries (185 Sq.).
20/10/41 Met. flight; F/L C. G. St. D. Jeffries (185 Sq.).
27/11/41 01:10 hrs Met. flight; F/O G. C. C. Palliser (249 Sq.).
10/12/41 01:10 hrs Met. flight; F/Sgt F. G. Sheppard (185 Sq.).
17/12/41 01:20 hrs Met. flight; F/Sgt F. G. Sheppard (185 Sq.).
23/12/41 01:05 hrs Met. flight; F/Sgt F. G. Sheppard (185 Sq.).
28/12/41 01:35 hrs Met. flight; F/Sgt F. G. Sheppard (185 Sq.).
Fuselage preserved on Malta.

N5524 From Hal Far Fighter Flight. 02/09/40 00:40 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
07/09/40 01:35 hrs Interception (night); F/O Waters.
14/09/40 00:25 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering.
15/09/40 00:45 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering.
17/09/40 00:40 hrs Interception; Sgt R. Hyde.
21/09/40 00:30 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre.
30/09/40 00:20 hrs Interception; F/O Waters.
05/10/40 00:50 hrs Interception patrol; Sgt F. Robertson.
11/10/40 00:40 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
14/10/40 00:20 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering.
14/10/40 00:20 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering.
16/10/40 00:40 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering.
16/10/40 01:00 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
20/10/40 01:30 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
24/10/40 01:15 hrs Interception; Sgt R. Hyde.
27/10/40 01:00 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
27/10/40 00:30 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
31/10/40 00:10 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre.
04/11/40 00:15 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
05/11/40 00:45 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering.
06/11/40 00:30 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
06/11/40 00:30 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
05/11/40 00:40 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber.
10/11/40 00:10 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
10/11/40 00:45 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber.
13/11/40 00:40 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
17/11/40 00:15 hrs Luqa - Ta' Qali; F/O R. H. Barber.
20/11/40 00:20 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre.
22/11/40 00:45 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre.
22/01/41 00:35 hrs Experience on type – local; F/L J. A. F. MacLachlan.
12/04/41 Wrecked after landing accident.

N5529 From Hal Far Fighter Flight. 06/09/40 01:20 hrs Interception; Sgt R. Hyde.
06/09/40 00:25 hrs Interception; Sgt R. Hyde.
08/09/40 00:30 hrs Interception patrol; Sgt F. Robertson.
09/09/40 00:35 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber.
09/09/40 00:50 hrs Exercise; F/L Burges.
11/09/40 00:40 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
14/09/40 Interception patrol; Sgt F. Robertson.
14/09/40 00:25 hrs Interception; Sgt R. Hyde.
17/09/40 Interception patrol. 3 recco E.A. sighted with escort fighters - no attack was made; Sgt F. Robertson.
21/09/40 00:30 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber.
25/09/40 00:45 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber.
26/09/40 00:30 hrs Interception patrol; Sgt F. Robertson.
30/09/40 00:20 Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre.
04/10/40 00:50 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering.
04/10/40 00:15 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering.
09/10/40 00:10 hrs Practise scramble; F/L Burges.
11/10/40 00:25 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre.
20/10/40 00:75 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre.
07/11/40 00:25 hrs Engine & V/P airscrew test landing at Ta'Qali; Sgt F. Robertson.
09/11/40 00:30 hrs Interception; Sgt R. Hyde.
11/11/40 00:10 hrs Interception; F/O Waters.
11/11/40 00:10 hrs Luqa - Ta' Qali; Sgt R. Hyde.
15/11/40 00:10 hrs Luqa - Ta' Qali; F/O R. H. Barber.
20/11/40 00:30 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
No further trace.

N5780 From 94 Sq. Later to Iraqi Conversion Flight. To ‘X’ Flight.

Gloster Gladiator in Commonwealth squadron service

Last modified 22 September 2011

261 Squadron Malta, August 1940 to January 1941. Habbaniya, July 1941 to September 1941. This squadron took over the remains of the Hal Far Fighter Flight but later added other Gladiators, although it was primarily a Hurricane unit.
Serials	Code	Arrival	Note	Departure
K6147		From 607 Sq. 16/03/40 To 2 ASP 29/04/40 To 21 Aircraft Depot 16/05/40 To 4 MU 25/08/40 To 8 MU 15/09/40 Dispersed to Watchfield. 11/10/40 To 8 MU 20/02/41 To 52 MU 27/03/41 To Middle East. 19/06/41 To 107 MU and then to 261 Sq.		To Royal Iraqi Air Force.
K7907		From 127 Sq.		01/02/42 To Iraqi Conversion Flight. 11/08/42 To ‘X’ Flight.
K7928		From 5 OTU. 12/07/40 To 6 MU. 20/02/41 To 52 MU. 27/03/41 To the Middle East. 19/06/41 To 107 MU. 12/07/41 To 261 Sq.		05/08/41 To ‘X’ Flight.
K7984		From Royal Hellenic Air Force. 05/41 Returned to RAF. 19/06/41 To 107 MU. 05/08/41 At 261 Sq.		To 237 Sq.
K7989		From Royal Hellenic Air Force. 16/06/41 To 107 MU. 05/08/41 To Iraq for 261 Sq.		To ‘X’ Flight.
K7990		From Royal Hellenic Air Force. 16/06/41 To 107 MU. 05/08/41 To Iraq for 261 Sq.		To Iraq CF. 16/07/43 Swung on landing and undercarriage collapsed at Habbaniya. 01/12/43 SOC.
N5520		From Hal Far Fighter Flight.	06/09/40 00:30 hrs Interception patrol; Sgt F. Robertson. 06/09/40 00:30 hrs Interception patrol; Sgt F. Robertson. 11/09/40 00:25 Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre. 14/10/40 00:30 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges. 16/10/40 00:10 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges. 27/10/40 00:40 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre. 27/10/40 00:30 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre. 02/11/40 01:20 hrs Patrol - attacked 8 CR.42s and shot down one and damaged one; F/L Burges. 03/11/40 00:30 hrs Test flight; F/L Burges. 03/11/40 00:30 hrs Air firing; F/L Burges. 05/11/40 00:45 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber. 06/11/40 01:05 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre. 06/11/40 00:20 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre. 07/11/40 00:20 hrs Return to Luqa; Sgt F. Robertson. 10/11/40 00:10 hrs Luqa - Ta' Qali; Sgt R. Hyde. 11/11/40 00:10 hrs To Ta'Qali; Sgt F. Robertson. 27/11/40 00:10 hrs Ta' Qali - Hal Far; Sgt H. W. Ayre. 01/09/41 Air test; F/L C. G. St. D. Jeffries (185 Sq.). 19/09/41 Met. flight; F/L C. G. St. D. Jeffries (185 Sq.). 26/09/41 Met. flight; F/L C. G. St. D. Jeffries (185 Sq.). 02/10/41 Met. flight; F/L C. G. St. D. Jeffries (185 Sq.). 15/10/41 Met. flight; F/L C. G. St. D. Jeffries (185 Sq.). 20/10/41 Met. flight; F/L C. G. St. D. Jeffries (185 Sq.). 27/11/41 01:10 hrs Met. flight; F/O G. C. C. Palliser (249 Sq.). 10/12/41 01:10 hrs Met. flight; F/Sgt F. G. Sheppard (185 Sq.). 17/12/41 01:20 hrs Met. flight; F/Sgt F. G. Sheppard (185 Sq.). 23/12/41 01:05 hrs Met. flight; F/Sgt F. G. Sheppard (185 Sq.). 28/12/41 01:35 hrs Met. flight; F/Sgt F. G. Sheppard (185 Sq.). Fuselage preserved on Malta.
N5524		From Hal Far Fighter Flight.	02/09/40 00:40 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges. 07/09/40 01:35 hrs Interception (night); F/O Waters. 14/09/40 00:25 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering. 15/09/40 00:45 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering. 17/09/40 00:40 hrs Interception; Sgt R. Hyde. 21/09/40 00:30 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre. 30/09/40 00:20 hrs Interception; F/O Waters. 05/10/40 00:50 hrs Interception patrol; Sgt F. Robertson. 11/10/40 00:40 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges. 14/10/40 00:20 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering. 14/10/40 00:20 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering. 16/10/40 00:40 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering. 16/10/40 01:00 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges. 20/10/40 01:30 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges. 24/10/40 01:15 hrs Interception; Sgt R. Hyde. 27/10/40 01:00 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges. 27/10/40 00:30 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges. 31/10/40 00:10 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre. 04/11/40 00:15 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges. 05/11/40 00:45 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering. 06/11/40 00:30 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges. 06/11/40 00:30 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges. 05/11/40 00:40 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber. 10/11/40 00:10 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges. 10/11/40 00:45 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber. 13/11/40 00:40 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges. 17/11/40 00:15 hrs Luqa - Ta' Qali; F/O R. H. Barber. 20/11/40 00:20 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre. 22/11/40 00:45 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre. 22/01/41 00:35 hrs Experience on type – local; F/L J. A. F. MacLachlan. 12/04/41 Wrecked after landing accident.
N5529		From Hal Far Fighter Flight.	06/09/40 01:20 hrs Interception; Sgt R. Hyde. 06/09/40 00:25 hrs Interception; Sgt R. Hyde. 08/09/40 00:30 hrs Interception patrol; Sgt F. Robertson. 09/09/40 00:35 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber. 09/09/40 00:50 hrs Exercise; F/L Burges. 11/09/40 00:40 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges. 14/09/40 Interception patrol; Sgt F. Robertson. 14/09/40 00:25 hrs Interception; Sgt R. Hyde. 17/09/40 Interception patrol. 3 recco E.A. sighted with escort fighters - no attack was made; Sgt F. Robertson. 21/09/40 00:30 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber. 25/09/40 00:45 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber. 26/09/40 00:30 hrs Interception patrol; Sgt F. Robertson. 30/09/40 00:20 Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre. 04/10/40 00:50 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering. 04/10/40 00:15 hrs Scramble; Sgt J. Pickering. 09/10/40 00:10 hrs Practise scramble; F/L Burges. 11/10/40 00:25 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre. 20/10/40 00:75 hrs Interception; Sgt H. W. Ayre. 07/11/40 00:25 hrs Engine & V/P airscrew test landing at Ta'Qali; Sgt F. Robertson. 09/11/40 00:30 hrs Interception; Sgt R. Hyde. 11/11/40 00:10 hrs Interception; F/O Waters. 11/11/40 00:10 hrs Luqa - Ta' Qali; Sgt R. Hyde. 15/11/40 00:10 hrs Luqa - Ta' Qali; F/O R. H. Barber. 20/11/40 00:30 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.	No further trace.
N5780		From 94 Sq.	Later to Iraqi Conversion Flight.	To ‘X’ Flight.