Gloster Gladiator in 65 RAF Squadron service

65 Squadron
Hornchurch, June 1937 to April 1939.
Serials Code Arrival Note Departure
K7895   11/04/38 From 3 Sq.   31/03/39 To 8 MU.
11/05/39 To HMS Argus to form 112 Sq.
K7936   25/05/37 From Manufacturer. The Squadrons first Gladiator.
25/05/37 Collected at Gloster’s Brockworth airfield by R. Stanford-Tuck.
15/10/37 To 54 Sq.
K7937   28/05/37 From Manufacturer. 28/05/37 Collected at Gloster’s Brockworth airfield by F/O Bicknell. Flown back in formation to Sq. together with K7938. 15/10/37 To 54 Sq.
K7938   28/05/37 From Manufacturer. 28/05/37 Collected at Gloster’s Brockworth airfield by R. Stanford-Tuck. Flown back in formation to Sq. together with K7937. 15/10/37 To 54 Sq.
K7939   01/06/37 From Manufacturer. 01/06/37 Collected at Gloster’s Brockworth airfield and flown back to Sq. in 10-aircraft formation led by S/L C. F. H. Grace.
04/11/38 Collided with K8029 during formation loop, landed OK; P/O R. Stanford-Tuck safe.
ROS.
21/04/39 To 8 MU.
11/05/39 To HMS Argus to form 112 Sq.
K7940   01/06/37 From Manufacturer. 01/06/37 Collected at Gloster’s Brockworth airfield and flown back to Sq. in 10-aircraft formation led by S/L C. F. H. Grace.
17/01/38 Collided with K8014 and abandoned, Mt. Ephraim, near Uckfield, Sussex; P/O R. Stanford-Tuck safe.
Wreck to Kenley.
01/04/38 SOC (57.45 hrs).
K7941   01/06/37 From Manufacturer. 01/06/37 Collected at Gloster’s Brockworth airfield and flown back to Sq. in 10-aircraft formation led by S/L C. F. H. Grace.
10/10/38 Undershot landing in mist at night and hit barn, Hornchurch.
01/12/38 SOC (167.10 hrs).
K7942   01/06/37 From Manufacturer. 01/06/37 Collected at Gloster’s Brockworth airfield and flown back to Sq. in 10-aircraft formation led by S/L C. F. H. Grace.
11/02/38 Collided with K8002 and abandoned 1m E of North Weald; F/L L. C. Bicknell parachuted safely.
23/05/38 SOC (177.40 hrs).
K7943   01/06/37 From Manufacturer. 01/06/37 Collected at Gloster’s Brockworth airfield and flown back to Sq. in 10-aircraft formation led by S/L C. F. H. Grace. 06/04/39 To 8 MU.
31/10/39 To 20 MU.
11/39 To 12 Group Pool
K7944   01/06/37 From Manufacturer. 01/06/37 Collected at Gloster’s Brockworth airfield by R. Stanford-Tuck. Flown back to Sq. in 10-aircraft formation led by S/L C. F. H. Grace. 25/04/39 To 8 MU.
20/10/39 To 20 MU.
11/39 To 12 Group Pool.
K7945   01/06/37 From Manufacturer. 01/06/37 Collected at Gloster’s Brockworth airfield and flown back to Sq. in 10-aircraft formation led by S/L C. F. H. Grace. 31/03/39 To 8 MU.
30/10/39 To 12 Group Pool.
K7946   01/06/37 From Manufacturer. 01/06/37 Collected at Gloster’s Brockworth airfield and flown back to Sq. in 10-aircraft formation led by S/L C. F. H. Grace. 11/04/39 To 54 Sq.
K7947   01/06/37 From Manufacturer. 01/06/37 Collected at Gloster’s Brockworth airfield and flown back to Sq. in 10-aircraft formation led by S/L C. F. H. Grace.
21/02/38 Taxied into Demon K3770, Hornchurch.
ROS.
01/04/38 To Packing Depot.
05/05/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir for 33 Sq.
K7948   01/06/37 From Manufacturer. 01/06/37 Collected at Gloster’s Brockworth airfield and flown back to Sq. in 10-aircraft formation led by S/L C. F. H. Grace. 06/04/39 To 8 MU.
11/05/39 To HMS Argus to form 112 Sq.
K7949   09/06/37 From Manufacturer.   11/04/39 To 54 Sq.
K7950   09/06/37 From Manufacturer.   06/04/39 To 8 MU.
19/11/39 To 12 Group Pool.
K7951   10/06/38 From Manufacturer.   21/04/39 To 8 MU.
30/10/39 To 12 Group Pool.
K7961   23/02/39 From 25 Sq.   11/04/39 To 54 Sq.
K7968   13/09/38 From 87 Sq.   31/03/39 To 8 MU.
11/05/39 To HMS Argus to form 112 Sq.
K7970   03/10/38 From 87 Sq.   31/03/39 To 8 MU.
06/11/39 To 12 Group Pool.
K7979   10/10/38 From 87 Sq.   30/06/39 To 615 Sq.
K7983   09/06/38 From 56 Sq.   28/06/38 To 25 Sq.
K7996   09/06/38 From 56 Sq.   25/06/38 To 25 Sq.
K7997   09/06/38 From 56 Sq.   28/06/38 To 25 Sq.
K7998   09/06/38 From 56 Sq.   28/06/38 To 25 Sq.
K7999   09/06/38 From 56 Sq.   28/06/38 To 25 Sq.
K8000   22/06/38 From 56 Sq.   02/01/39 To 607 Sq.
K8001   28/07/37 From Manufacturer.   06/04/39 To 8 MU.
31/10/39 To 24 MU.
11/39 To 12 Group Pool.
K8002   30/07/37 From Manufacturer. 11/02/38 Collided with K7942 and crashed 1m E of North Weald; P/O Philip Ralph Austin-Sparks KIFA. 08/06/38 SOC (18.05hrs).
K8013   15/10/37 From 54 Sq.   01/04/38 To Packing Depot.
04/38 To Aircraft Depot Aboukir as reserves for 33 Sq.
K8014   15/09/37 From 54 Sq. 17/01/38 Collided with K7940 and crashed near Uckfield, Sussex; Sgt Geoffrey Gaskell KIFA. Wreck to Kenley.
01/04/38 SOC (26.45 hrs).
K8015   15/09/37 From 54 Sq.   31/03/39 To 8 MU.
19/11/39 To 12 Group Pool.
K8016   17/08/37 From Manufacturer.   31/03/39 To 8 MU.
29/10/39 To 12 Group Pool.
K8029   09/02/38 From 54 Sq. 04/11/38 Hit by K7939 during formation landing and abandoned at Hornchurch; F/O Leslie Bicknell safe. (133hrs)
K8033   17/09/38 From 87 Sq.   06/04/39 To 8 MU.
09/03/40 To 5 OTU.
K8040   From 10 FTS.
09/09/38 To 1 ASU.
29/11/38 To Bristol to fit Rotol propeller.
01/03/39 To 65 Sq.
Used for service trials. 15/06/39 To 72 Sq.
K8044   06/05/38 From 3 Sq.   11/04/39 To 54 Sq.


Gloster Gladiator Mk.I (K7946) of 65 Squadron operating from Hornchurch, Essex, in August 1938.
© 1999 Rick Kent

Gloster Gladiator in Commonwealth squadron service






Last modified 20 January 2009