263 Sqn losses over Norway May-June 1940

[alex crawford]

Hi,

A return to my research of 263 Sqn operations over Norway from April-June 1940.

It is generally agreed that when HMS Glorious was sunk on 8th June she was carrying 10 Gladiators and pilots from 263 Sqn. As 18 aircraft had been flown off to Bardufoss that left 8 as having been lost during the subsequent operations.

From my many files I have noted the following losses.

21/05/40 N5697 crashed into hills during flight from Glorious to Bardufoss.
21/05/40 N5693 crashed into hills during flight from Glorious to Bardufoss.
22/05/40 N5698 shot down by He111 gunners.
23/05/40 N5719 abandoned after running out of fuel.
26/05/40 Gladiator destroyed by bombers at Bardufoss.
26/05/40 Gladiator destroyed by bombers at Bardufoss.
26/05/40 Gladiator written of after taxying into crater.
26/05/40 N5705 crashed on take off, Bodo.
27/05/40 Gladiator forced landed in hills around Bodo after combat.
02/06/40 Gladiator shot down by Bf110.

As you can see this list gives 10 losses. I suspect that the first three losses for 26th may have been spurious or repairable during a three day lull in the fighting from 30th May-1st June. The known Gladiators have been identified during subsequent recovery operations in the 90's.

I have the full details of all these losses apart from the first three on 26th.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to the identities of the unknown Gladiators or comments about the losses for 26th?

Regards,

Alex