Håkans Aviation page - Gloster Gladiator in Operational Training Units service

Gloster Gladiator in Operational Training Units service

Operational Training Units

5 OTU
Formed on 6 March 1940 at Aston Down by re-designating 12 Group Pool.

Serials Code Arrival Note Departure

K7926 04/04/40 From 141 Sq. 28/06/40 To Marshalls.
24/10/40 To 24 MU.
21/03/41 To Odiham.
15/10/41 To the Middle East.
To 1413 (Met) Flight.

K7928 28/03/40 From 141 Sq. 21/05/40 To ‘G’ Flight.
29/05/40 Returned to 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.

K7943 06/03/40 From 12 Group Pool 03/06/40 Damaged by Spitfire K9814 while parked at Aston Down. 21/05/40 To Marshalls.
29/05/40 Returned to 5 OUT.
12/07/40 To 6 MU.
19/02/41 To 52 MU.
12/05/41 To the Middle East.
To 1411 (Met) Flight.

K7944 06/03/40 From 12 Group Pool To the Middle East.
To 112 Sq.

K7945 06/03/40 From 12 Group Pool 28/03/40 SOC.

K7951 06/03/40 From 12 Group Pool 03/06/40 Damaged by Spitfire K9814 while parked at Aston Down. 29/06/40 To Marshalls.
08/09/40 To 24 MU.
10/04/41 To Odiham.
06/40 Shipped to the Middle East.
To Meteorological Flight, Khartoum.

K7970 06/03/40 From 12 Group Pool 04/06/40 Engine cut and overturned in forced landing, Combe Martin, N. Devon. Destroyed by fire. 21/05/40 To ‘G’ Flight.
29/05/40 Returned to 5 OTU.

K7990 04/04/40 From 141 Sq. 21/05/40 To Marshalls.
29/05/40 Returned to 5 OUT.
19/02/41 To 52 MU.
To the Middle East.
14/03/41 To Royal Hellenic Air Force.

K8001 06/03/40 From 12 Group Pool 21/05/40 To ‘G’ Flight.

K8015 04/03/40 From 12 Group Pool 28/05/40 To 6 OTU.

K8033 From 65 Sq.
06/04/39 To 8 MU.
09/03/40 To 5 OTU. 21/05/40 To ‘G’ Flight.
29/05/40 Returned to 5 OTU.
08/08/40 To Marshalls.
07/10/40 To 8 MU.
20/02/41 To 52 MU.
11/03/41 To Royal Hellenic Air Force.

K8052 06/03/40 From 12 Group Pool 17/05/40 To 6 OTU.

6 OTU

Serials Code Arrival Note Departure

K8015 28/05/40 From 5 OTU. 01/08/40 To 27 MU.
11/10/41 To 2 AACU.

K8020 14/04/40 From 263 Sq. 01/08/40 To 27 MU.
14/04/41 To Odiham.
26/06/41 To the Medditerranean.
To 80 Sq.

K8027 14/04/40 From 263 Sq. 01/08/40 To 27 MU.
06/05/41 To 52 MU.
30/05/41 At 103 MU in the Medditerranean.
To 1565 (Met) Flight.

K8052 17/05/40 From 5 OTU. 01/08/40 To 27 MU.
15/10/40 To 2 AACU.

8 OTU

Serials Code Arrival Note Departure

K7983 13/08/40 From Gosport Station Flight. 15/09/40 Dispersed to Watchfield. 11/10/40 to 8 MU.
19/03/41 To Odiham.
To the Middle East.
15/09/41 107 MU.
To 1413 (Met) Flight.

K8041 From 2 AACU.
17/01/43 To Marshalls.
01/05/44 To 8 OTU. No further trace.

41 OTU

Serials Code Arrival Note Departure

N5636 From 1 SAC. 28/11/46 SOC.

60 OTU

Serials Code Arrival Note Departure

K8044

K8045

61 OTU

Serials Code Arrival Note Departure

K6149 From 1622 (Anti-Aircraft Co-Operation) Flight.
13/05/43 To 8 MU.
23/10/43 To 61 OUT. 11/02/44 To Marshalls.
Returned to 61 OUT. 06/07/45 To Marshalls.
13/07/45 SOC.

K7898 From Turnhouse Station Flight.
09/04/43 To 8 MU.
24/11/43 To 61 OTU. 11/02/44 To Marshalls.
05/02/45 To 8 MU.
27/04/45 To CFS.

K7927 From 1402 (Met) Flight.
24/06/43 8 MU.
11/11/43 To 61 OTU. 24/11/43 Collided with K8045 and abandoned, Audlem, Cheshire during film work. After filming and whilst changing formation from echelon to line-astern they collided and both pilots quickly baled out, suffering only slight injuries. The aircraft crashed just a few hundred yards apart, near the village of Penrhos. The pilot, F/L R. G. Kleimeyer was an instructor at RAF Rednal. It has been suggested that the film in question was entitled "Signed with their Honour" or, "The Air War in Greece”. 30/11/43 SOC.

K8004 From 2 AACU.
08/03/43 To Marshalls.
11/06/43 8 MU.
To 61 OTU. 04/11/43 Hit cable during forced landing in fog, Park Hall Farm, Oswestry, Salop. 659.35 hrs.

K8042 From 5 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit.
15/11/42 To 8 MU.
27/10/43 To 61 OTU. 14/02/44 To Marshalls.
17/10/44 To 8 MU.
16/04/48 SOC.
Allotted 8372M.
Preserved at Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, UK, and displayed in 87 Sq. colours.

K8044 From 1622 (Anti-Aircraft Co-Operation) Flight.
21/05/43 To Marshalls.
30/08/43 To 8 MU.
21/10/43 To 61 OTU. 11/02/44 To Marshalls.
04/04/44 To 8 MU.
27/09/44 To 10 MU.
To ECFS.

K8045 From 1622 (Anti-Aircraft Co-Operation) Flight.
21/05/43 To Marshalls.
10/09/43 To 8 MU.
08/11/43 To 61 OTU. 24/11/43 Collided with K7927 and abandoned 2m W of Audlem, Cheshire during film work. After filming and whilst changing formation from echelon to line-astern they collided and both pilots quickly baled out, suffering only slight injuries. The aircraft crashed just a few hundred yards apart, near the village of Penrhos. The pilot, F/L K. Bache was an instructor at RAF Rednal. It has been suggested that the film in question was entitled "Signed with their Honour" or, "The Air War in Greece”.

K8046 27/10/43 From 10 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit. 11/02/44 To Marshalls.
30/04/44 To 8 MU.
10/05/44 To Glosters.
27/09/44 To 8 MU.
13/07/45 SOC.

L8032 From 1624 (Anti-Aircraft Co-Operation) Flight. 1944 Returned to Glosters at Hucclecote together with N5903 for conversion to met. duties.
Shortly afterwards these duties were taken over by other types, and the conversion work was never commenced.
23/02/48 To Gloster Aircraft
1950 Handed over to the Air Service Training Ltd. together with N5903. L8032 going to Hamble.
When A.S.T. closed its Ansty school both Gladiators were kept at Hamble.
1951 N5903 and L8032 both bought by Viv Bellamy for £1.
1952 Airworth as G-AMRK.
1960 Presented to the Shuttleworth Collection.
Presently air-worthy with the Shuttleworth Collection.

N5903 From 141 Sq. 1944 Returned to Glosters at Hucclecote together with L8032 for conversion to met. duties.
Shortly afterwards these duties were taken over by other types, and the conversion work was never commenced.
02/46 Flown four times by R.P. Beamont at Brockworth.
30/04/46 SOC.
23/02/48 To Gloster Aircraft
1950 Handed over to the Air Service Training Ltd. together with L8032. N5903 going to Ansty near Leicester.
When A.S.T. closed its Ansty school both Gladiators were kept at Hamble.
1951 N5903 and L8032 both bought by Viv Bellamy for £1.
1960 Presented to the Shuttleworth Collection.
~1971 On loan to the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton.
1994 Purchased from the Shuttleworth Collection by the Fighter Collection, with the intention of restoring it to flying condition. 01/12/94 Transported by road from Yeovilton to Duxford.
Presently under restoration to flying condition by the Fighter Collection, Duxford, and registered as G-GLAD.

71 OTU
Formed 1 June 1941 at Ismailia, Egypt, by re-designating ’B’ Flight of 70 OTU.
Disbanded 11 June 1945 at Ismailia.

Serials Code Arrival Note Departure

1341 SAAF Gladiator with serial from this air force.

72 OTU
Formed 10 November 1941 at Cathargo, Sudan, by re-designating an element of 211 Squadron.
Disbanded 14 May 1943 at Nanyuki, Kenya.

Serials Code Arrival Note Departure

K8037 03/12/42 From 1414 (Met) Flight. 20/01/43 Swung in heavy landing at Nanyuki.
ROS. Returned to 1414 (Met) Flight by 09/43.

Gloster Gladiator in Commonwealth squadron service

Last modified 12 August 2012

5 OTU Formed on 6 March 1940 at Aston Down by re-designating 12 Group Pool.
Serials	Code	Arrival	Note	Departure
K7926		04/04/40 From 141 Sq.		28/06/40 To Marshalls. 24/10/40 To 24 MU. 21/03/41 To Odiham. 15/10/41 To the Middle East. To 1413 (Met) Flight.
K7928		28/03/40 From 141 Sq.		21/05/40 To ‘G’ Flight. 29/05/40 Returned to 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.
K7943		06/03/40 From 12 Group Pool	03/06/40 Damaged by Spitfire K9814 while parked at Aston Down.	21/05/40 To Marshalls. 29/05/40 Returned to 5 OUT. 12/07/40 To 6 MU. 19/02/41 To 52 MU. 12/05/41 To the Middle East. To 1411 (Met) Flight.
K7944		06/03/40 From 12 Group Pool		To the Middle East. To 112 Sq.
K7945		06/03/40 From 12 Group Pool		28/03/40 SOC.
K7951		06/03/40 From 12 Group Pool	03/06/40 Damaged by Spitfire K9814 while parked at Aston Down.	29/06/40 To Marshalls. 08/09/40 To 24 MU. 10/04/41 To Odiham. 06/40 Shipped to the Middle East. To Meteorological Flight, Khartoum.
K7970		06/03/40 From 12 Group Pool	04/06/40 Engine cut and overturned in forced landing, Combe Martin, N. Devon. Destroyed by fire.	21/05/40 To ‘G’ Flight. 29/05/40 Returned to 5 OTU.
K7990		04/04/40 From 141 Sq.		21/05/40 To Marshalls. 29/05/40 Returned to 5 OUT. 19/02/41 To 52 MU. To the Middle East. 14/03/41 To Royal Hellenic Air Force.
K8001		06/03/40 From 12 Group Pool		21/05/40 To ‘G’ Flight.
K8015		04/03/40 From 12 Group Pool		28/05/40 To 6 OTU.
K8033		From 65 Sq. 06/04/39 To 8 MU. 09/03/40 To 5 OTU.		21/05/40 To ‘G’ Flight. 29/05/40 Returned to 5 OTU. 08/08/40 To Marshalls. 07/10/40 To 8 MU. 20/02/41 To 52 MU. 11/03/41 To Royal Hellenic Air Force.
K8052		06/03/40 From 12 Group Pool		17/05/40 To 6 OTU.

6 OTU
Serials	Code	Arrival	Note	Departure
K8015		28/05/40 From 5 OTU.		01/08/40 To 27 MU. 11/10/41 To 2 AACU.
K8020		14/04/40 From 263 Sq.		01/08/40 To 27 MU. 14/04/41 To Odiham. 26/06/41 To the Medditerranean. To 80 Sq.
K8027		14/04/40 From 263 Sq.		01/08/40 To 27 MU. 06/05/41 To 52 MU. 30/05/41 At 103 MU in the Medditerranean. To 1565 (Met) Flight.
K8052		17/05/40 From 5 OTU.		01/08/40 To 27 MU. 15/10/40 To 2 AACU.

8 OTU
Serials	Code	Arrival	Note	Departure
K7983		13/08/40 From Gosport Station Flight.	15/09/40 Dispersed to Watchfield.	11/10/40 to 8 MU. 19/03/41 To Odiham. To the Middle East. 15/09/41 107 MU. To 1413 (Met) Flight.
K8041		From 2 AACU. 17/01/43 To Marshalls. 01/05/44 To 8 OTU.		No further trace.

41 OTU
Serials	Code	Arrival	Note	Departure
N5636		From 1 SAC.		28/11/46 SOC.

60 OTU
Serials	Code	Arrival	Note	Departure
K8044
K8045

61 OTU
Serials	Code	Arrival	Note	Departure
K6149		From 1622 (Anti-Aircraft Co-Operation) Flight. 13/05/43 To 8 MU. 23/10/43 To 61 OUT.	11/02/44 To Marshalls. Returned to 61 OUT.	06/07/45 To Marshalls. 13/07/45 SOC.
K7898		From Turnhouse Station Flight. 09/04/43 To 8 MU. 24/11/43 To 61 OTU.		11/02/44 To Marshalls. 05/02/45 To 8 MU. 27/04/45 To CFS.
K7927		From 1402 (Met) Flight. 24/06/43 8 MU. 11/11/43 To 61 OTU.	24/11/43 Collided with K8045 and abandoned, Audlem, Cheshire during film work. After filming and whilst changing formation from echelon to line-astern they collided and both pilots quickly baled out, suffering only slight injuries. The aircraft crashed just a few hundred yards apart, near the village of Penrhos. The pilot, F/L R. G. Kleimeyer was an instructor at RAF Rednal. It has been suggested that the film in question was entitled "Signed with their Honour" or, "The Air War in Greece”.	30/11/43 SOC.
K8004		From 2 AACU. 08/03/43 To Marshalls. 11/06/43 8 MU. To 61 OTU.	04/11/43 Hit cable during forced landing in fog, Park Hall Farm, Oswestry, Salop.	659.35 hrs.
K8042		From 5 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit. 15/11/42 To 8 MU. 27/10/43 To 61 OTU.		14/02/44 To Marshalls. 17/10/44 To 8 MU. 16/04/48 SOC. Allotted 8372M. Preserved at Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, UK, and displayed in 87 Sq. colours.
K8044		From 1622 (Anti-Aircraft Co-Operation) Flight. 21/05/43 To Marshalls. 30/08/43 To 8 MU. 21/10/43 To 61 OTU.		11/02/44 To Marshalls. 04/04/44 To 8 MU. 27/09/44 To 10 MU. To ECFS.
K8045		From 1622 (Anti-Aircraft Co-Operation) Flight. 21/05/43 To Marshalls. 10/09/43 To 8 MU. 08/11/43 To 61 OTU.	24/11/43 Collided with K7927 and abandoned 2m W of Audlem, Cheshire during film work. After filming and whilst changing formation from echelon to line-astern they collided and both pilots quickly baled out, suffering only slight injuries. The aircraft crashed just a few hundred yards apart, near the village of Penrhos. The pilot, F/L K. Bache was an instructor at RAF Rednal. It has been suggested that the film in question was entitled "Signed with their Honour" or, "The Air War in Greece”.
K8046		27/10/43 From 10 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit.		11/02/44 To Marshalls. 30/04/44 To 8 MU. 10/05/44 To Glosters. 27/09/44 To 8 MU. 13/07/45 SOC.
L8032		From 1624 (Anti-Aircraft Co-Operation) Flight.		1944 Returned to Glosters at Hucclecote together with N5903 for conversion to met. duties. Shortly afterwards these duties were taken over by other types, and the conversion work was never commenced. 23/02/48 To Gloster Aircraft 1950 Handed over to the Air Service Training Ltd. together with N5903. L8032 going to Hamble. When A.S.T. closed its Ansty school both Gladiators were kept at Hamble. 1951 N5903 and L8032 both bought by Viv Bellamy for £1. 1952 Airworth as G-AMRK. 1960 Presented to the Shuttleworth Collection. Presently air-worthy with the Shuttleworth Collection.
N5903		From 141 Sq.		1944 Returned to Glosters at Hucclecote together with L8032 for conversion to met. duties. Shortly afterwards these duties were taken over by other types, and the conversion work was never commenced. 02/46 Flown four times by R.P. Beamont at Brockworth. 30/04/46 SOC. 23/02/48 To Gloster Aircraft 1950 Handed over to the Air Service Training Ltd. together with L8032. N5903 going to Ansty near Leicester. When A.S.T. closed its Ansty school both Gladiators were kept at Hamble. 1951 N5903 and L8032 both bought by Viv Bellamy for £1. 1960 Presented to the Shuttleworth Collection. ~1971 On loan to the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton. 1994 Purchased from the Shuttleworth Collection by the Fighter Collection, with the intention of restoring it to flying condition. 01/12/94 Transported by road from Yeovilton to Duxford. Presently under restoration to flying condition by the Fighter Collection, Duxford, and registered as G-GLAD.