Håkans Aviation page - Gloster Gladiator in 3 RAF Squadron service

Gloster Gladiator in 3 RAF Squadron service

3 Squadron
Kenley, March 1937 to March 1938 and July 1938 to May 1939. Biggin Hill, May 1939 to July 1939.
Code letters: "OP".

Serials Code Arrival Note Departure

K6145 19/03/37 From 74 Sq.
04/07/38 Returned from 73 Sq. 04/04/38 To 56 Sq.
06/07/39 To 615 Sq.

K6146 19/03/37 From 74 Sq.
29/03/38 To Packing Depot
10/05/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir for 80 Sq.

K6147 19/03/37 From 74 Sq.
04/04/38 To 56 Sq.

K6148 19/03/37 From 74 Sq.
29/03/38 To Packing Depot
28/04/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir for 80 Sq.

K6149 03/04/37 From Manufacturer. 08/04/38 To 56 Sq.

K6150 19/03/37 From Manufacturer. 24/01/38 Abandoned in spin and crashed in front garden, Lyndhurst Road, Hove, Sussex; Sgt. E. H. Lomax safe. 26/02/38 SOC (130.20 hrs).

K6151 03/04/37 From Manufacturer.
11/07/38 Returned from 73 Sq. 17/01/39 Flew into house on high ground in bad visibility, Crowborough, Sussex, and DBR; Act P/O Donald James Catt (RAFO) KIFA. Miss Ella Coomber was killed in the house. 21/04/38 To 73 Sq. on loan and then returned.
14/03/39 SOC (22.15 hrs).

K7892 05/04/37 From Manufacturer. 30/03/38 To Packing Depot.
05/05/38 To Aboukir for 80 Sq.

K7893 09/04/37 From Manufacturer.
04/07/38 Returned from 73 Sq. 27/05/37 Overshot landing and hit hedge, Kenley. 21/04/38 To 73 Sq.
07/05/39 To 72 Sq.

K7894 13/04/37 From Manufacturer. 12/04/38 To 54 Sq.

K7895 05/04/37 From Manufacturer. 11/04/38 To 65 Sq.

K7896 03/04/37 From Manufacturer. 23/11/37 Flew into trees on hill in low cloud on weather test, Warlingham, Surrey. P/O Harold Edward Vickery safe with a sprained ankle (this pilot later served with 263 Sqn - see The sinking of HMS Glorious and loss of 263 Squadron). 03/01/38 SOC (99.05 hrs).

K7897 01/04/37 From Manufacturer. 18/05/38 To 72 Sq.

K7898 03/04/37 From Manufacturer. 23/11/37 Crashed in mist.
ROS. 18/06/38 To 72 Sq.

K7899 13/04/37 From Manufacturer. 30/03/38 To Packing Depot
05/05/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir as reserves.
To 112 Sq.

K7900 09/04/37 From Manufacturer. 29/03/38 To Packing Depot.
05/05/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir for 80 Sq..

K7952 ’S’ 04/07/38 From 73 Sq. 04/10/39 To 605 Sq.

K7954 04/07/38 From 73 Sq. 07/05/39 To 72 Sq.

K7955 04/07/38 From 73 Sq. 10/02/39 Hit ground in cloud, Firle Beacon, south-east of Lewes, Sussex, and destroyed by fire; P/O Jack Driscoll Mills KIFA.

K7956 11/07/38 From 73 Sq. 17/08/38 Undershot landing and overturned, Sutton Bridge.
ROS. 08/09/39 To 615 Sq.

K7957 07/07/38 From 73 Sq. 03/07/39 To 615 Sq.

K7958 OP-Q 18/09/38 From 73 Sq. 19/06/39 To 615 Sq.

K7960 ’P’ 04/07/38 From 73 Sq. 03/06/39 To 615 Sq.

K7962 07/07/38 From 73 Sq. 18/04/39 Collided with K8023 in formation at night and crashed near Caterham-on-the-Hill, Surrey; Acting P/O Frank Brian Stiven and F/O Dennis Thomas Collins KIFA. (269.45 hrs)

K7963 01/11/38 From 73 Sq. 07/05/39 To 72 Sq.

K7965 ’A’ 07/07/38 From 73 Sq. 06/07/39 To 615 Sq.

K7984 07/07/38 From 73 Sq. 06/07/39 To 615 Sq.

K7985 30/03/38 From 73 Sq. 01/08/39 To 615 Sq.

K7986 28/07/38 From 73 Sq. 07/05/39 To 72 Sq.

K8008 16/08/37 From Manufacturer. 29/03/38 To Packing Depot
05/05/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir for 80 Sq.

K8009 16/08/37 From Manufacturer. 30/03/38 To Packing Depot
05/05/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir for 80 Sq.

K8017 26/08/37 From Manufacturer. 30/03/38 To Packing Depot
05/05/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir for 80 Sq.

K8023 04/07/38 From 73 Sq. 18/04/39 Collided with K7962 in formation at night and crashed near Caterham-on-the-Hill, Surrey; Acting P/O Frank Brian Stiven and F/O Dennis Thomas Collins KIFA. (266.50 hrs)

K8024 04/07/38 From 73 Sq. 07/05/39 To 72 Sq.

K8032 04/07/38 From 73 Sq. 06/07/39 To 615 Sq.

K8044 12/10/37 Delivered to 1 ASU.
03/02/38 To 3 Sq. 06/05/38 To 65 Sq.

Gloster Gladiator Mk.I (K6150) of 3 Squadron operating from Kenley, Surrey, in April 1937.
© 1999 Rick Kent

Gloster Gladiator Mk.I (K7960) of 3 Squadron flown by the Commanding Officer, Sqn. Ldr. H. L. P. Lester while operating from Kenley, Surrey in June 1938.
© 1999 Rick Kent

Gloster Gladiator in Commonwealth squadron service

Last modified 30 September 2010

3 Squadron Kenley, March 1937 to March 1938 and July 1938 to May 1939. Biggin Hill, May 1939 to July 1939. Code letters: "OP".
Serials	Code	Arrival	Note	Departure
K6145		19/03/37 From 74 Sq. 04/07/38 Returned from 73 Sq.		04/04/38 To 56 Sq. 06/07/39 To 615 Sq.
K6146		19/03/37 From 74 Sq.		29/03/38 To Packing Depot 10/05/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir for 80 Sq.
K6147		19/03/37 From 74 Sq.		04/04/38 To 56 Sq.
K6148		19/03/37 From 74 Sq.		29/03/38 To Packing Depot 28/04/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir for 80 Sq.
K6149		03/04/37 From Manufacturer.		08/04/38 To 56 Sq.
K6150		19/03/37 From Manufacturer.	24/01/38 Abandoned in spin and crashed in front garden, Lyndhurst Road, Hove, Sussex; Sgt. E. H. Lomax safe.	26/02/38 SOC (130.20 hrs).
K6151		03/04/37 From Manufacturer. 11/07/38 Returned from 73 Sq.	17/01/39 Flew into house on high ground in bad visibility, Crowborough, Sussex, and DBR; Act P/O Donald James Catt (RAFO) KIFA. Miss Ella Coomber was killed in the house.	21/04/38 To 73 Sq. on loan and then returned. 14/03/39 SOC (22.15 hrs).
K7892		05/04/37 From Manufacturer.		30/03/38 To Packing Depot. 05/05/38 To Aboukir for 80 Sq.
K7893		09/04/37 From Manufacturer. 04/07/38 Returned from 73 Sq.	27/05/37 Overshot landing and hit hedge, Kenley.	21/04/38 To 73 Sq. 07/05/39 To 72 Sq.
K7894		13/04/37 From Manufacturer.		12/04/38 To 54 Sq.
K7895		05/04/37 From Manufacturer.		11/04/38 To 65 Sq.
K7896		03/04/37 From Manufacturer.	23/11/37 Flew into trees on hill in low cloud on weather test, Warlingham, Surrey. P/O Harold Edward Vickery safe with a sprained ankle (this pilot later served with 263 Sqn - see The sinking of HMS Glorious and loss of 263 Squadron).	03/01/38 SOC (99.05 hrs).
K7897		01/04/37 From Manufacturer.		18/05/38 To 72 Sq.
K7898		03/04/37 From Manufacturer.	23/11/37 Crashed in mist. ROS.	18/06/38 To 72 Sq.
K7899		13/04/37 From Manufacturer.		30/03/38 To Packing Depot 05/05/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir as reserves. To 112 Sq.
K7900		09/04/37 From Manufacturer.		29/03/38 To Packing Depot. 05/05/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir for 80 Sq..
K7952	’S’	04/07/38 From 73 Sq.		04/10/39 To 605 Sq.
K7954		04/07/38 From 73 Sq.		07/05/39 To 72 Sq.
K7955		04/07/38 From 73 Sq.	10/02/39 Hit ground in cloud, Firle Beacon, south-east of Lewes, Sussex, and destroyed by fire; P/O Jack Driscoll Mills KIFA.
K7956		11/07/38 From 73 Sq.	17/08/38 Undershot landing and overturned, Sutton Bridge. ROS.	08/09/39 To 615 Sq.
K7957		07/07/38 From 73 Sq.		03/07/39 To 615 Sq.
K7958	OP-Q	18/09/38 From 73 Sq.		19/06/39 To 615 Sq.
K7960	’P’	04/07/38 From 73 Sq.		03/06/39 To 615 Sq.
K7962		07/07/38 From 73 Sq.	18/04/39 Collided with K8023 in formation at night and crashed near Caterham-on-the-Hill, Surrey; Acting P/O Frank Brian Stiven and F/O Dennis Thomas Collins KIFA.	(269.45 hrs)
K7963		01/11/38 From 73 Sq.		07/05/39 To 72 Sq.
K7965	’A’	07/07/38 From 73 Sq.		06/07/39 To 615 Sq.
K7984		07/07/38 From 73 Sq.		06/07/39 To 615 Sq.
K7985		30/03/38 From 73 Sq.		01/08/39 To 615 Sq.
K7986		28/07/38 From 73 Sq.		07/05/39 To 72 Sq.
K8008		16/08/37 From Manufacturer.		29/03/38 To Packing Depot 05/05/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir for 80 Sq.
K8009		16/08/37 From Manufacturer.		30/03/38 To Packing Depot 05/05/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir for 80 Sq.
K8017		26/08/37 From Manufacturer.		30/03/38 To Packing Depot 05/05/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir for 80 Sq.
K8023		04/07/38 From 73 Sq.	18/04/39 Collided with K7962 in formation at night and crashed near Caterham-on-the-Hill, Surrey; Acting P/O Frank Brian Stiven and F/O Dennis Thomas Collins KIFA.	(266.50 hrs)
K8024		04/07/38 From 73 Sq.		07/05/39 To 72 Sq.
K8032		04/07/38 From 73 Sq.		06/07/39 To 615 Sq.
K8044		12/10/37 Delivered to 1 ASU. 03/02/38 To 3 Sq.		06/05/38 To 65 Sq.