Gloster Gladiator in View (2025-09-04)

Gladiator K6143 at Gloster Aircraft Company, prior to delivery to No. 72 Squadron.

The fuselage of Gloster Sea Gladiator Mark I, N5520 "Faith", in Palace Square, Valletta, Malta, on the occasion of its presentation to the people of Malta by Air Officer Commanding Air Headquarters Malta, Air Marshal Sir Keith Park.

This Gloster Gladiator, grounded for lack of fuel, was the only plane that remained of eighteen that flew into central Norway to provide fighter protection to British troops trying to drive back the invading Germans.

Gloster Gladiators s/n K6131, K6130, K6142, K6144.

Gloster Gladiator s/n K8032.

Gloster Gladiator Mk. II.

Gloster Gladiator s/n K6132.

Gloster Gladiators.

Gloster Gladiator cockpit.

A trio of Gladiator Mk. I's display their newly applied camouflage at RAF Kenley in July 1938. At this stage they still lack upper wing-roundels, fin flashes and serial numbers.

A Gladiator Mk. I displays what seems to be newly-applied camouflage. Flight color, blue, is on the prop hub and wheel discs. Other Gladiators, still in their inter-war all-silver finish are in the background, the tail of K7958 on the left showing the squadron number on the fin and it served with No. 3 Squadron between 18 September 1938 and 19 June 1939 when it was transferred to No. 615 Squadron.

Gloster Gladiators, s/n K6143 in foreground.

Gloster Gladiator Mk. II of the Finnish air force.

Gloster Gladiator of the Nationalist Chinese air force.

 Gloster Gladiator refueling. 

Gloster Gladiators Mk. II at Biggin Hill.

Gloster Aircraft advertisement from Aeroplane, 15 September 1937.

Gloster Gladiators and crews of No. 615 Squadron in France during the Phoney War.

Totally burned and destroyed Gloster Gladiator fighter photographed somewhere on the Western Front in Belgium or France May-June 1940. This plane could have been used by Belgian AF or RAF.

Gloster Gladiator s/n K5200 cutaway.

Gloster Gladiators.

Gloster Gladiators, second in line is s/n K3420.

Flight Lt. F. C. A. Lanning, DFC, 141 Squadron, wearing the GQ Parasuit with Irvin jacket and 1939 Pattern boots, alongside a Gladiator.

A motley collection of kit worn by Gladiator pilots of 112 Squadron, Egypt, 1940. Note the instructions printed on the 1932 Pattern life jackets.

Almost certainly taken in September 1940 this is a photograph of another Malta Sea Gladiator fitted with an ex-Blenheim Mercury engine and Hamilton propeller.

On 6 December 1939 King George VI, with the Duke of Gloucester and Viscount Lord Gort (Commander-in-Chief of the BEF), inspected RAF Air Component units at Lille-Seclin. Here, the King reviews personnel from No 615 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force, drawn up in front of one of their Gladiators. A Blenheim IV from one of the Air Component's strategic-reconnaissance squadrons can be seen in the background.