Gloster Gladiator in the Battle Of Britain

[phylo_roadking]

A number of squadrons in Devon and Cornwall were still equiped with Gladiators in the Summer of 1940. However - was Eric "Winkle" Brown's close encounter with a pair of He111s over Somerset, when on a training flight (!) he had one in his sights (he was the trainee!) just before flak brough the bombers down, the closest any RAF or Fleet Air Arm Gladiator had with Axis aircraft over Britain in the Battle of Britain?

[CharlesRollinsWare]

The Fleet Air Arm's 804 Squadron equipped with Sea Gladiators and Sea Gladiator interims was defending Scapa Flow and the surrounding area fron RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) from the completion of the Norwegian campaign in June 1940 trhough the close of the year, nominally operating under 13 Group, RAF. Late in the year 808 Squadron (Fulmars) was assigned to 13 Group as well, but it was training for much of the early period. 801 Squadron (Skuas) was in the area when disembarked from HMS Furious. Both 804 and 801 had some enemy action during the later half of 1940, but only when operating off Norway ffom Furious. 804 Sea Gladiators flew standing patrolls ands responded to snoopers near Scapa, but never caught up with anything that I am aware of.

Mark Horan

[phylo_roadking]

Mark, thanks for that; I know about the actions etc. off Norway, but didn't realise 804 Gladiators flew CAP at Scapa Flow.

Anyone know anything about the south of the country???

[Tim Smith]

Nope. I thought most of the remaining Gladiators were sent to the Mediterranean in summer 1940 to fight the Italians.

[phylo_roadking]

Looking through Wiki for something I'd seen in passing a lost of months ago, I found this...

Formed from the Shetland Fighter Flight No.247 Squadron was reformed at Roborough (Plymouth) on 1 August 1940. Flying Gloster Gladiator bi-planes the defence of the south west of England including the ports of Plymouth and Falmouth. The squadron's first action came on 25 September 1940, when a force of 24 Dornier Do 217s escorted by 12 Messerschmitt Bf110s flew over the English Channel from France and crossed the coast at Start Point, heading towards Plymouth. Four of the Squadron's Gladiators attempted an attack, but the formation was eventually broken up by Hurricanes from Exeter. Two Dorniers managed to reach the target, and bombs fell into the harbour. Too fast for the Gladiators to get into position, the raiders made their escape. The Luftwaffe's tactics changed to night bombing of Britain during the autumn of 1940, and the Gladiators adopted a night defence role. Although several visual night interceptions were made (aided by ground control radar), the obsolete Gladiator had no success against the heavy bombing of the city of Plymouth

I also have a list of RAF fighter squadrons in the BoB that I can't find what aircraft they flew. Does anyone know where i can find this out?

[marka]

247 were the only squadron flying Gladiators during the Battle of Britain (I am not including FAA units within that statement)

In terms of information on units during the battle or anything else about the RAF, I can’t recommend highly enough ‘Air of Authority’ web site

http://www.rafweb.org/Menu.htm

Regards

Mark