[Alex Smart]

Hello Alex,
Francis k. Mason's "Gloster Gladiator" book on page 46 has mention of the three pilots and their tied together formation aerobatics.
There is also a picture of three 87 sqdn Gladiators in tied together formation, not a good enough one to see serial numbers though.
The same photo is on page 36 of "Aerobatic Teams of the World", serial numbers are visible. Lead a/c K8027,right a/c K7972, left a/c K7967. Photo credit is Charles E. brown/ RAF Museum.

On page 122 of Mason's "Gloster Gladiator"
"No 87 (F) Sqdn debden, 1937-38: K7966 - K7975, K7977-K7981 (initial issue; new aircraft ex works 6/37); the following aircraft performed tied together aerobatics at Villacoublay, France and hendon, 1938: K7967 flown by Sgt. Dewdney, K7972 flown by R.L. Lorimer, K8027 flown by F/O G.H J. Feeny, flight leader; K8026-K8028, K8033 (new aircraft ex works 4/38)."
The "K file" has all three aircraft (K7972, K7980, K8027) serving well into the 1940's so all survived the incident.

K7967 and K7968 collided on landing at Debden on 29-9-37 both RoS.

from a Very old Airfix Small magazine there is a photo of 87 Sqdn in formation, a/c are K7968,K7969, K7972,K7981,K7977 &K7974. K7968 does not carry the fuselage Sqdn colours but what looks like another Sqdn's colours. on another page a profile caption says that the wheel discs on K7967 were red.

Alex