94 Sqn Gladiators

[alex crawford]

Hi,

On page 100 of Springbok Victory, SAAF fighter ops 1939-45, Vol 1 East Africa there are two photos. One shows N2287/GO-E an ex-94 Sqn Glad being used by 3 Sqn, SAAF. The other photo ahows the same Glad after a repaint.

The first photo (dated from March 1941) is very interesting as it shows the Glad in what looks like the four-tone shadow shading compensation scheme. It has long narrow fin flash and what looks like a white (or Sky?) fuselage band. GO-E code is light grey with the serial, N2287, in small characters. Overall appearance in very scruffy. The upper wing looks like it has three colours to it, dark earth, dark green and light earth. The fuselage looks like dark green and light earth, while the fin/rudder appears to be in dark green, dark earth, light earth. It is possible that the dark earth has faded in the sun and looks a lot lighter than it should. It could also be the type of film used.

The second photo shows the Glad after a change in the markings. The letter E has been retained but now it is aft of the fuselage roundel. This roundel now sports a yellow outer ring. Fin stripes are now orange/white/blue and cover the whole fin. Camo pattern now appears to be overall dark green/dark earth.

Anyone know when this fuselage band was introduced? I've seen a photo of GO-B with the same colour band. I thought this was just a UK introduction for aircraft.

Also did 94 Sqn use red/white quartered wheel covers? Perhaps this was used by one of the Flights?

Regards,

Alex

[ian94avenge]

Hello Alex,

Not sure what the rear fuselage band was on 94's Gladiator unless connected to when they went back to Somaliland in 1941.

I have not noted this on any other photo of their Gladiators.

Similarly I have not seen any quartered wheel covers, but this is not to say they did not use them. A few of their Kittyhawks in 1942 carried red and white chequers on the rudder and as some of the old Aden personnel (groundcrew), were still around, there could be a link to the wheel covers and the markings seen on the Kittyhawks.

Regards,

Ian

[alex crawford]

Hi Ian,

Thanks for your reply.

I've had a number of discussions with some SAAF experts on this subject in the past. While they agree that the red/white quartered wheels covers were used on SAAF Mohawks (can't remember offhand if it was 3 or 5 Sqn, SAAF) they always thought the red/white Gladiator covers were a left over from the RAF squadrons they came from.

Some more digging is required methinks.

Alex