Gloster Gladiator 1 - RAF Museum, Hendon, London, UK - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

The RAF Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm with admission being free. Car parking is available but there is a charge. The nearest underground station is Colindale about a 10-15 minute walk away or a number 303 bus passes both the tube station and museum. The co-ordinates posted are for the entrance to the "Battle of Britain" hall/exhibition entrance.

The RAF Museum's website tells us about the Gloster Gladiator 1:

The Gladiator was the first enclosed cockpit and last biplane fighter introduced into RAF service. Although it saw operational service at home it was most successfully employed overseas particularly in the defence of Malta.

At the outbreak of World War Two four home based RAF fighter squadrons were still equipped with Gladiators. Two of these units were sent to France in 1939. In just ten days of hard fighting, following the opening of the German assault on 10 May 1940, all the aircraft had been lost. In a desperate attempt to provide fighter cover for the 'little ships' involved in the Dunkirk evacuation a detachment of home based aircraft, known as 'G' Flight, was formed at RAF Manston in late May. Also, a Squadron was sent to Norway following the German invasion and they fought a rearguard action during April, May and June 1940.

Only two home based units used the Gladiator operationally during the Battle of Britain; No.247 Squadron at RAF Exeter and RAF Roborough and No.804 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm at stations in Scotland.

The Gladiator was involved in a number of famous actions abroad during the early war years; operations from a frozen lake in Norway, defence of Malta, and early operations in Greece and North Africa.

A history of this aircraft can be seen here.

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Gloster Gladiator 1 Tail Number: (S/N): K8042 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): RAF Musuem, Hendon, London inside / outside: inside Access restrictions: Please see the detailed description. Other Information:: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

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