French Air Show July'38 - Hurricane & Gladiator procession

[Jerome Ribeiro]

Hello everyone,

The popular airshow "Fête de l'Air" was done at Villacoublay airfield, near Paris on 10 july'38.
At this occasion, a franco-british air procession was organized. At the end, 9 Hurricanes flew "impeccably" then succeeded a patrol of three Gladiator bounded by a ribbon. They performed aerobatic figures despite a low ceiling. When Gladiators landed, "the God Save The Queen" resounded.
Does someone has an idea what was the unit of these Hurricane & Gladiator?

Thanks in advance
Cheers
Jerome

[alex crawford]

Hi Jerome,

The Gladiators were from 87 Squadron. Three of its pilots, Flying Officer G.H.J. Feeny, Pilot Officer R.L. Lorimer and Sergeant Dewdney stunned the crowd by performing tied-together aerobatics.

Also at the time they would have played "God save the King."

Alex

[Jerome Ribeiro]

Hello Alex,

Thanking you for the info on the Gladiator unit, the 87 Squadron. Do you know where this unit was based in England around this date?

Re the pilots, I don't know the fate of these pilots during the WW2 but I guess that F/O Feeny died when the Aircraft carrier Glorious sunk in June '40 whereas F/O Lorimer participate to the "Campagne de France" with Hurricane, N° 1 squadron - B.E.F. on May'40

Regards

Jerome

[Graham Boak]

The Hurricanes will have been from 111 Sq. There has been considereable discussion on the modelling boards about the colours used for the squadron numbers on these aircraft. I don't recall the Gladiators having been mentioned, or indeed photographed?

[Jerome Ribeiro]

Graham, you are right. This was entirely discussed in the thread "111 Sqn RAF at 1938 Paris Air Show" set in the tab "Pre-WW2 Military and Naval Aviation"
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=9466

Hence the question to move this thread in the same area

Jerome