Gloster Gladiator in Fighter Flights service

RAF Fighter Flights

Alsace Free French Fighter Flight
Serials Code Arrival Note Departure
K7937   06/42 From 80 Sq. 26/06/42 Force-landed at Assiut. To 58 RSU.
No further trace.

’G’ Flight Manston
Operated from Manston during the Dunkirk evacuation and existed between 23 – 30 May 1940 commanded by F/L J. Sanders of 615 Sq.
Serials Code Arrival Note Departure
K7928   21/05/40 From 5 OTU.   29/05/40 Returned to 5 OTU.
K7970   21/05/40 From 5 OTU.   29/05/40 Returned to 5 OTU.
K8001   21/05/40 From 5 OTU. 26/05/40 Collided with Blenheim L6607 taxiing at Manston. 18/07/40 To Marshalls.
19/09/40 To 24.
11/04/41 To Odiham.
06/41 To the Middle East.
01/01/42 To 1412 (Met) Flight.
K8033   21/05/40 From 5 OTU.   29/05/40 Returned to 5 OTU.

Hal Far Fighter Flight
Malta, March to June 1940.
Sea Gladiators taken over from Royal Navy reserves at Kalafrana and operated by the RAF.
Serials Code Arrival Note Departure
N5519 ’R’; ‘Charity’   19/04/40-29/04/40 Hal Far Fighter Flight.
29/04/40 00:20 hrs Air firing; F/L Burges.
03/05/40 Re-assigned Hal Far Fighter Flight.
09/05/40 00:45 hrs Flying practice; F/L Burges.
09/05/40 01:00 hrs Formation flying; F/L Burges.
09/05/40 00:40 hrs R/T exercise; F/L Burges.
11/05/40 00:15 hrs Patrol; F/O Waters.
14/05/40 00:30 hrs Interception exercise; F/L Burges.
16/05/40 00:30 hrs Interception; F/O Waters.
22/05/40 00:15 hrs Crash take-off; F/O Waters.
23/05/40 00:45 hrs Interception; F/O Waters.
24/05/40 00:35 hrs Crash take-off; F/O Waters.
27/05/40 00:35 hrs R/T test & attacks; F/O Waters.
29/05/40 00:45 hrs R/T test & attacks; F/O Waters.
31/05/40 00:40 hrs R/T test & attacks; F/O Waters.
02/06/40 00:35 hrs R/T practice; F/O Waters.
07/06/40 00:35 hrs R/T test; F/L Burges.
08/06/40 00:40 hrs R/T practice; F/O Waters.
09/06/40 01:00 hrs R/T test; F/L Burges.
10/06/40 01:00 hrs R/T practice; F/O Waters.
11/06/40 Scramble; S/L A. C. Martin.
11/06/40 01:10 hrs Enemy interception; F/O Waters.
15/06/40 00:15 hrs Enemy interception; F/O Waters.
15/06/40 00:35 hrs Enemy interception; F/O Waters.
17/06/40 01:00 hrs Enemy interception. Aircraft slightly damaged in combat; F/O Waters.
22/06/40 00:40 hrs Patrol. 1 S.79 attacked and shot down; F/L Burges.
23/06/40 00:50 hrs Patrol. Attacked 5 S.79s and 3 MC.200s. 1 MC.200 shot down; F/L Burges.
26/06/40 01:00 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
26/06/40 00:30 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
26/06/40 00:40 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
26/06/40 00:30 hrs Enemy interception; F/O Waters.
28/06/40 00:20 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
10/07/40 01:10 hrs Interception; F/O Waters.
17/07/40 00:35 hrs Interception; F/O Waters.
19/07/40 00:40 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
19/07/40 00:50 hrs Interception against 13 Fiat CR.42s without result; F/O R. H. Barber.
21/07/40 00:45 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber.
21/07/40 00:10 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber.
21/07/40 01:00 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber.
24/07/40 01:00 hrs Interception against 10 Fiat CR.42s without result; F/O R. H. Barber.
27/07/40 01:05 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
31/07/40 Interception. Aircraft shot down by Serg. Tarantino; F/L Peter W. Hartley baled out burned.
 
N5520 ’Faith’ 11/39 Departed 802 Sq.
To Kalafrana SS
19/04/40 To Hal Far Fighter Flight.
19/04/40-29/04/40 Hal Far Fighter Flight.
23/04/40 01:00 hrs Formation; F/O Waters.
23/04/40 01:15 hrs Formation & gunnery; F/O Waters.
24/04/40 01:05 hrs Formation & aerobatics; F/O Waters.
24/04/40 00:05 hrs Rigging test; F/O Waters.
25/04/40 01:00 hrs R/T test & air to ground; F/O Waters.
25/04/40 01:00 hrs Formation; F/O Waters.
26/04/40 01:10 hrs R/T test & FF; F/L Burges.
26/04/40 01:00 hrs R/T range test; F/L Burges.
26/04/40 00:30 hrs FF & air firing; F/L Burges.
27/04/40 01:05 hrs Formation & R/T exercise; F/O Waters.
03/05/40 Re-assigned Hal Far Fighter Flight.
06/05/40 00:30 hrs R/T test & formation; F/O Waters.
06/05/40 00:35 hrs R/T test & formation; F/O Waters.
07/05/40 00:40 hrs R/T test & formation; F/O Waters.
07/05/40 00:35 hrs R/T test & formation; F/O Waters.
07/05/40 00:44 hrs R/T test & formation; F/O Waters.
08/05/40 00:30 hrs R/T test & formation; F/O Waters.
17/05/40 00:40 hrs R/T exercise; F/L Burges.
20/05/40 00:15 hrs Interception exercise; F/L Burges.
21/05/40 00:10 hrs Alarm take-off; F/L Burges.
24/05/40 00:25 hrs Low flying attack; F/L Burges.
25/05/40 00:35 hrs R/T & interception exercise; F/L Burges.
25/05/40 00:10 hrs Patrol; F/O Waters.
28/05/40 00:15 hrs Air test; F/L Burges.
30/05/40 00:40 hrs R/T test; F/L Burges.
01/06/40 00:45 hrs R/T test; F/L Burges.
02/06/40 00:35 hrs R/T test; F/L Burges.
03/06/40 01:00 hrs R/T test; F/L Burges.
03/06/40 00:30 hrs R/T practice; F/O Waters.
04/06/40 00:35 hrs R/T practice; F/O Waters.
05/06/40 00:40 hrs R/T test; F/L Burges.
05/06/40 00:45 hrs R/T practice; F/O Waters.
06/06/40 00:40 hrs R/T test; F/L Burges.
08/06/40 00:40 hrs R/T test; F/L Burges.
11/06/40 Scramble; F/O Woods.
11/06/40 00:30 hrs Enemy interception. 1 S.79 shot down; F/O Waters.
11/06/40 00:30 hrs Enemy interception; F/O Waters.
11/06/40 01:15 hrs Enemy interception; F/O Waters.
11/06/40 Interception. 1 MC.200 probably destroyed; F/O Woods.
13/06/40 00:25 hrs Enemy interception. 1 S.79 shot down; F/O Waters.
13/06/40 00:25 hrs Enemy interception; F/O Waters.
13/06/40 00:50 hrs Patrol - attacked 5 S.79s and 2 MC.200s; F/L Burges.
13/06/40 01:00 hrs Patrol - attacked 5 S.79s; F/L Burges.
23/06/40 00:35 hrs Enemy interception; F/O Waters.
19/07/40 00:10 hrs Flying practise; P/O W. R. C. Sugden.
27/07/40 00:45 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber.
28/07/40 00:30 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber.
30/07/40 00:35 hrs Interception; F/O R. H. Barber.
31/07/40 09:45- Interception. 1 CR.42 shot down; F/O Woods.
To 261 Sq.
N5521     29/12/39 00:45 hrs Flying practice; F/L Burges.
10/01/40 00:35 hrs Flying practice; F/L Burges.
03/40-04/40 Hal Far Fighter Flight.
01/04/40 00:20 hrs Exercise; F/O Waters.
02/04/40 00:40 hrs Air to air firing; F/O Waters.
 
N5522     05/40 Hal Far Fighter Flight.
19/06/40 00:15 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
20/06/40 00:45 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
21/06/40 Scramble, crashed on take-off; S/L A. C. Martin unharmed.
Aircraft used to make N5524 flyable again.
 
N5524     19/04/40-29/04/40 Hal Far Fighter Flight.
03/05/40 Re-assigned Hal Far Fighter Flight.
21/06/40 Scramble, crashed on landing; F/L Peter Hartley slightly injured.
Aircraft repaired using parts from N5522.
11/07/40 00:20 hrs Flying practise; P/O W. R. C. Sugden.
12/07/40 00:30 hrs Gun test; F/O R. H. Barber.
13/07/40 00:40 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
14/07/40 01:30 hrs Interception; P/O Tom Balmforth.
15/07/40 00:20 hrs Flying practise; P/O Tom Balmforth.
24/07/40 01:00 hrs Interception; P/O Tom Balmforth.
28/07/40 00:40 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
30/07/40 00:40 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
03/08/40 00:15 hrs Interception; P/O Tom Balmforth.
To 261 Sq.
N5525   10/39 Departed 802 Sq. 03/40-04/40 Hal Far Fighter Flight. 11/04/40 Re-embarked in 802 Sq. on HMS Glorious.
N5527     03/40-04/40 Hal Far Fighter Flight.  
N5529   11/39 Departed 802 Sq.
To Kalafrana SS
05/40 To Hal Far Fighter Flight.
Used between 05/40 – 07/40.
17/07/40 00:35 hrs Interception; P/O Tom Balmforth.
19/07/40 00:25 hrs Flying practice; F/O R. H. Barber.
19/07/40 00:50 hrs Interception; P/O W. R. C. Sugden.
27/07/40 00:45 hrs Interception; P/O Tom Balmforth.
28/07/40 00:30 hrs Interception; P/O Tom Balmforth.
29/07/40 00:50 hrs Interception; F/O Waters.
30/07/40 00:35 hrs Interception; P/O Tom Balmforth.
31/07/40 00:50 hrs Interception; F/O F. F. Taylor.
31/07/40 00:25 hrs Air test; F/O Waters.
01/08/40 00:10 hrs Night flying; P/O Tom Balmforth.
01/08/40 00:15 hrs Night flying; P/O Tom Balmforth.
01/08/40 00:20 hrs Night flying C&Bs; F/O R. H. Barber.
02/08/40 00:15 hrs Interception; P/O Tom Balmforth.
02/08/40 00:13 hrs Patrol. Broke wheel on landing; F/L Burges.
03/08/40 00:15 hrs Interception; F/O Waters.
03/08/40 00:15 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
05/08/40 00:30 hrs Night landing; F/L Burges.
To 261 Sq.
N5530   10/39 Departed 802 Sq. 03/40-04/40 Hal Far Fighter Flight. 11/04/40 Re-embarked in 802 Sq. on HMS Glorious.
N5531 ’Hope’ 01/40 Departed 802 Sq.
To Kalafrana SS
19/04/40 To Hal Far Fighter Flight.
19/04/40-29/04/40 Hal Far Fighter Flight.
03/05/40 Re-assigned Hal Far Fighter Flight.
26/05/40 00:35 hrs R/T test; F/L Burges.
28/05/40 00:45 hrs R/T test; F/L Burges.
11/06/40 01:05 hrs Patrol. Attacked formation of 9 S.79s. 1 S.79 damaged; F/L Burges.
12/06/40 00:45 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
13/06/40 00:40 hrs Patrol - engine trouble; F/L Burges.
13/06/40 00:50 hrs Patrol - engine trouble; F/L Burges.
14/06/40 00:25 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
15/06/40 00:15 hrs Patrol; F/L Burges.
16/06/40 01:05 hrs Patrol - engine trouble; F/L Burges.
17/06/40 00:55 hrs Patrol - engine trouble; F/L Burges.
17/06/40 00:35 hrs Patrol - engine trouble; F/L Burges.
17/06/40 00:25 hrs Patrol - engine trouble; F/L Burges.
20/06/40 00:20 hrs Enemy interception; F/O Waters.
21/06/40 00:40 hrs Enemy interception; F/O Waters.
04/02/41 Destroyed on the ground.
 
N5533   01/40 Departed 802 Sq.
To Hal Far.
03/40 To Hal Far Fighter Flight.
03/40-04/40 Hal Far Fighter Flight.
11/04/40 Re-embarked in 802 Sq. on HMS Glorious.


Gloster Sea Gladiator Mk.I (N5519)(‘Charity’) of Hal Far Fighter Flight operating from Hal Far, Malta, in June 1940.
© 1999 Rick Kent

’K’ Flight
Formed on 1 September 1940 Summit, Sudan, by redesignating ‘B’ Flight of 112 Squadron.
Disbanded 1 April 1941 at Aqir, Palestine to become 250 Squadron.
Serials Code Arrival Note Departure
K6134   31/08/40 From 112 Sq. 23/12/40 Ditched while short on fuel in bad weather 15m S of Suakin, Sudan.  
K6135   31/08/40 From 112 Sq.   13/04/41 To Royal Hellenic Air Force.
K6143   31/08/40 From 112 Sq.   To 117 Sq.
K7948   31/08/40 From 112 Sq. 21/11/40 Interception of two S.79 over Port Sudan, but no result; P/O G. B. Smither.
To 237 Sq.
K7969   31/08/40 From 112 Sq. 06/11/40 06/11/40 05:30- Offensive patrol behind Metemma. Shot down by CR.42s near Metema; P/O Kirk parachuted. 13/12/40 SOC.
K7974   31/08/40 From 112 Sq. 22/12/40 Swung on take-off and hit hut at Port Sudan. Destroyed by fire; P/O A. Tofield WIFA.  
K7977   31/08/40 From 112 Sq. 06/11/40 Shot down by CR.42s in the Gallabat area; 21-years-old F/O Jack Maurice Hayward (RAF no. 40111) KIA. 13/11/40 SOC.
K7986   31/08/40 From 112 Sq. 15/09/40 Undercarriage hit crashed aircraft on take-off and torn off; crash-landed, Port Sudan. 01/10/40 SOC.
L7612   From 33 Sq. 06/11/40 Damaged by CR.42s and crash-landed at Hawaton, Sudan; P/O Hamlyn safe. To 112 Sq.
L7614   From 33 Sq. 06/11/40 05:30- Offensive patrol behind Metemma. Shot down by CR.42s near Metema; 24-years-old F/L Kenneth Howard Savage (RAF no. 37483) KIA.  
L7619   From 33 Sq.   01/07/42 SOC.
N5629       To 94 Sq.
N5815   From 1 SAAF Sq. 26/02/41 1 CR.32 claimed by P/O Wells. To 237 Sq.
N5828   From 1 SAAF Sq. 22/02/41 1 S.79 claimed by F/Lt Scoular. To 1412 (Met) Flight.
N5833       To Aden Station Flight.
N5895       To 94 Sq.
N5896       To 94 Sq.
N5917       To Aden Station Flight.

Prestwick Fighter Flight
Serials Code Arrival Note Departure
N5912     09/05/40 No further trace.  
N5914       To 263 Sq.

RAE Station Defence Flight, Farnborough
Formed on 17 August 1940. Last flight flown on 25 October 1940.
Serials Code Arrival Note Departure
K5200   06/01/37 From AAEE 27/01/37 To Gloster.
17/04/39 Returned to RAE for gun sight trials.
25/10/40 The 53rd and last flight of the Flight was flown by P/O Roly Falk.
27/03/41 To 24 Sq.

Shetland Fighter Flight
Serials Code Arrival Note Departure
N2266   From Royal Navy Air Station, Donibristle. 06/07/40 Stalled after take-off, bounced and hit pole at Sumburgh; the pilot was P/O R. A. Winter.  
N5622       To 1560 (Met) Flight.
N5642   From 152 Sq. 30/01/40 Engine cut in circuit and it run into bog and overturned at Samphrey Island, Shetlands; P/O R. A. Winter safe.
The aircraft was apparently not repaired.
31/12/41 SOC.
N5643   From 152 Sq. 20/03/40 Bounced on landing and overshot and overturned at Sumburgh; Sgt A. E. Makins safe.
Destroyed beyond repair.
 
N5644   From 263 Sq.   To 247 Sq.
N5682   From 152 Sq.   To 247 Sq.
N5702   From 152 Sq.   To Andover Station Flight.
N5716     21/06/40 Force-landed on beach after engine cut and overturned at Haroldswick, Unst.; P/O N. I. C. Francis safe.
Some sources claim that it was shot down on 13/07/40.
 
N5901       To 247 Sq.

Wadi Halfa Flight
Serials Code Arrival Note Departure
L7616   From 3 RAAF Sq.   To Iraq Conversion Flight and then to 94 Sq.

'X' Flight
Formed May 1940 at Haifa, Palestine and disbanded at Haifa in June 1940.
Reformed 6 June 1941 at Habbaniya, Iraq, from ‘A’ Squadron of the Habbaniya Air Defence Wing.
Moved to Amman on 7 June Disbanded 30 June 1941 at Habbaniya.
Reformed 16 July 1942 at Abadan, Iraq, and disbanded at Abadan on 30 October 1942.
Serials Code Arrival Note Departure
K6140   06/06/41 From 33 Sq.   To Royal Iraqi Air Force.
K6141   06/06/41 From 112 Sq.   01/02/42 SOC.
K7899   06/40 From 112 Sq. This aircraft reportedly went to ‘X’ Flight in 06/40 but was used on two days in December 1940 by F/L Fraser of 112 Sq. 05/41 To 94 Sq.
K7907   01/02/42 From 261 Sq.
11/08/42 From Iraqi Conversion Flight.
21/09/42 Swung on landing and wing hit ground, Abadan. 06/12/42 To Royal Iraqi Air Force.
K7914   From 112 Sq. 15/06/41 Damaged by Vichy D.520s; F/O Watson safe. 01/09/42 To 1413 (Met) Flight.
K7928   05/08/41 From 261 Sq.   24/02/42 To Iraqi Conversion Flight.
11/11/42 To 119 MU.
06/12/42 To Royal Iraqi Air Force.
K7947   From 3 RAAF Sq.
04/04/41 To Iraq.
06/06/41 To ‘X’ Flight.
07/05/41 02:00 hrs. Reconnaissance. 1 enemy Gladiator probably shot down; P/O Watson.
15/06/41 Shot down by Vichy D.520s near Ezraa, Syria; 35-years-old F/O John Norman Craigie (RAF no. 43477) KIA.
08/08/41 SOC.
K7954   06/06/41 From Royal Iraqi Air Force. 15/07/41 Hit post while landing at LG H.4 and destroyed beyond repair (alternative date is 05/07/41). 01/12/41 SOC.
K7978   04/41 From 112 Sq.   05/08/41 To 1413 (Met) Flight.
K7989   From 261 Sq. 15/07/42 Bounced on landing and ground-looped at Abadan.
To 118 MU for repair.
23/08/42 Returned to X Flight.
11/11/42 To 119 MU.
31/03/43 To Iraq for Royal Iraqi Air Force.
N5777   From 94 Sq.   01/01/42 SOC.
N5780   From 261 Sq.
From Iraqi conversion flight.
  01/06/43 To Royal Iraqi Air Force.
N5857   From 94 Sq.
Returned from Shaibah.
  To 3 RAAF Sq.
01/03/44 To Royal Iraqi Air Force.

FAA Fighter Flights

HMS Eagle
HMS Eagle’s Fighter Flight was manned by Swordfish pilots.
Serials Code Arrival Note Departure
N5512   06/40 29/11/40 Lost after forced landing at sea; Lt (A) P. W. V. Massy safe.  
N5513 6-F 06/40   To 806 Sq.
N5517 6-A 06/40   To 805 Sq.
N5523   11/40 11/11/40 Used by HMS Illustrious during the Taranto raid.  
N5567 6-C 06/40   To 805 Sq.

Gloster Gladiator in Commonwealth squadron service






Last modified 14 November 2023