Gladiator N5914

[alex crawford]

Hi,

Gladiator N5914 was recovered from Norway during the 1990's and is under restoration at the Jet Age Museum, Gloucester. This was the aircraft that Plt Off Wilkie was flying when he was shot down and killed by Lt Helmut Lent on 2nd June 1940.

I am currently putting the finishing touches to a book on 263 Squadron's operations in Norway. It is hoped this will be published in April to coincide with the 75th Anniversary of the Norwegian Campaign.

It is being written in co-operation with the Jet Age Museum and one section will deal with the recovery of N5914 and its subsequent restoration.

Now the point of the post. I would like to try and do a potted history of N5914. From AM Form 78 it looks like the Glad was built in August 1939 and went straight to storage with 27 MU on 28th September 1939. From 27 MU it went to Prestwick on 9th May 1940, possible as part of a fighter flight. That is the last record of the aircraft until Norway. During the recovery of Plt Off Wilkies aircraft it was discovered that the identity was N5914.

It's probably a long shot but would anyone have any details of N5914. Whether its a single entry in a pilots log book or an entry in an ORB, or dare I say it, a photo. It would be nice to get a picture of this aircrafts history.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,

Alex