145 Repair and Salvage Unit, Sri Lanka
 

Hi,

I've just received two Gladiator photos that I won on E-bay. They were part of an album taken by someone from 145 Repair and Salvage Unit based at Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Time frame is 1945/46.

To my knowledge no Gladiator ever made it to the Far East. There were plans to send them to fight against the Japanese but this idea was shelved.

The aircraft appears to be a MkI. It has a two blade prop and does not appear to have the 5 piece windscreen as fitted to Mk II's and later retrofitted to some MkIs. The aircraft has the fuselage gun troughs blanked over and the underwing machine guns have been removed. It doesn't look like it has a camo pattern, just one overall colour. Markings look like C1 type on the fuselage and under the wings, although the wing ring is wider than normal. The fin flash has the narrow white stripe.

I wonder if any of the survivors from the East African campaign were shipped to Sri Lanka. Possibly for local defense?

Would anyone have any info on 145 Repair and Salvage Unit? Or any idea why a Gladiator would be in Sri Lanka?

Alex

Re: 145 Repair and Salvage Unit, Sri Lanka
 

Hi Alex,

Probably not a Gladiator but rather a left-over Sea Gladiator. 797 Squadron used N5500 at Katukurunda, which is down the coast from Negombo and Ratlamana where 145 RS & U were based.
I have the logbooks of a FAA pilot who flew N5500 in May 43 on a local flight and then on a Met sortie a couple of days later.
I too was surprised to see the photos as it suggests that N5500 lasted for a good few years.

Cheers,
Simon

Re: 145 Repair and Salvage Unit, Sri Lanka
 

Can we see the pictures?

Re: 145 Repair and Salvage Unit, Sri Lanka
 

Re: 145 Repair and Salvage Unit, Sri Lanka
 

Hi guys,

Thanks for your replies.

Simon, any chance of a copy or transcript of your FAA pilots entries for flights in N5500? Did he fly any other Glads?

Alex

Re: 145 Repair and Salvage Unit, Sri Lanka
 

Alex,

Two flights only on Gladiators by pilot AFW Smith. May 26, 1943 15mins FP & Ls (not surprising as arrived in Ceylon less than a week earlier) and then May 28, 50 mins MET flight.

Cheers,
Simon

Re: 145 Repair and Salvage Unit, Sri Lanka
 

A reference to an Indian pilot flying an FAA Gladiator in 1942 at Cochin. https://www.facebook.com/riafww2/pho...type=3&theater

The Sequira mentioned is Plt Offr G E Sequira who died on 25th July 1942
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/218