802 Sqn Sea Gladiators

[BruceMk11]

What model was 802 operating when HMS Glorious went down?

The Sea Gladiator (interim), serial numbers N2265-N2314? Or Sea Gladiator, serials N5500-N5574?

And was the interim version also known as MkI?

TIA,
Bruce

[Stig Jarlevik]

Bruce

Checking the Air Britain data available, I cannot locate a single Sea Gladiator (Interim) assigned to
802 Sq

It is quite the opposite within the batch of "true" Sea Gladiators, where there are many assigned to
said unit.

Based upon that I would say they only used the latter type.

If their data is to be believed the RN didn't use any mark numbers on their Sea Gladiators at all.

Cheers
Stig

[BruceMk11]

The lack of mark numbers is something of an anomaly, but I'll go with the data.

Thanks Stig.

[Alex Smart]

Following from AIR Britain's "Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to 1945".
Pages 219/221.
Sea Gladiator's
Ordered under Contract No. 952950/38 from Gloster , Hucclecote and numbered N5500 to N5549 & N5565 to N5574( 840hp Bristol Mercury VIII or IX).

N5518
Deld 36 MU 21.3.39; To Malta 19.4.39; AD Aboukir to 802 Sqn 5.39 - 6.39; Possibly lost in Glorious 8.6.40.

N5521
Deld 36 MU 21.3.39; To Malta 19.4.39; AD Aboukir to 802 Sqn 6.39 - 10.39; Possibly lost in Glorious 8.6.40.

N5522
Deld 36 MU 21.3.39; To Malta 19.4.39; AD Aboukir to 802 Sqn 6.39 - 10.39. [ No mention of "Possibly lost in Glorious 8.6.40." Printers/Authors omission ?].

N5525
Deld 36 MU 21.3.39; To Malta 19.4.39; AD Aboukir to 802 Sqn 6.39 - 10.39; Possibly lost in Glorious 8.6.40.

N5526
Deld 36 MU 21.3.39; To Malta 19.4.39; Kalafrana SS 25.5.39; 802 Sqn 12.39 - 1.40. Possibly lost in Glorious 8.6.40.

N5527
Delt 36 MU 21.3.39; To Malta 19.4.39; Kalafrana SS 25.5.39; 802 Sqn 6.39 - 7.39; FL rocky ground, tail damaged Abmey Bay, Egypt 6.6.39 ( PO HC Kimber); Possibly lost in Glorious 8.6.40.

N5530
Deld 36 MU 21.3.39; To Malta 19.4.39; AD Aboukir to 802 Sqn 5.39 - 10.39 ; Possibly lost in Glorious 8.6.40.

There are other 802 Sqn Sea Gladiator's not linked to Glorious but have details of fate not related to ships loss. They were -
N5519/"Charity".
N5520/"Faith".
N5524.
N5528.
N5529.
N5531/"Hope".
N5532.
N5533.
N5534.
N5537
N5539.

Alex

[BruceMk11]

Thanks Alex