Gamautla e & Markings... Gladiator, Gauntlet, Northern Fury, Demon fe. Number 5 6s. (30n.p.)Gloster F.7/30, Gladiator prototype, on Brockworth Aerodrome. (Flight) Gladiator, Gauntlet, Fury, Demon REPRESENTING the ultimate development of a long line of ‘dog fighting’ biplanes, the Gloster F.7/30 was undergoing trials during 1936. This new development of the .S.19/Gauntlet series of Gloster biplane fighters was the successful contender for the F.7/30 specification orders. During initial trials the $.8.37, to give the new fighter its Gloster design number, was a private venture prototype and its sole marking on the polished metal and Aluminium finish was the number G.37 painted in Black on the fuselage sides in 24in. high letters and numerals. ‘When the S.S.37 was sent to Martlesham Heath for official trials, Type A roundels replaced the number on the fuselage sides, and Type A roundels were also painted on the upper and lower wings. The serial number K5200 was painted on the fuselage sides and under the bottom wings. During 1936 the Gladiator, as the new Gloster fighter was now named, entered production at Brockworth and in January 1937, the first three production aircraft, K6129, K6130 and K6131 flew. ‘All production Gladiators were painted in an overall finish of Aluminium (silver), without polished metal areas. The Type A fuselage roundels consisted of five ring widths of Sin. cach, making a total diameter of 25in. The upper wing roundels consisted of five ring widths of 8in, each, the overall diameter being 40in. Due to the greater width of the aileron chord on the lower wings, the lower Type A roundels were 30in, in diameter, and had 6in, ring widths. As there was a lack of space between the roundels and the lower gun fairings, the standard 30in. height of underwing serial letters and numerals could not be accommodated. They were, therefore, 20in. high. Bin, high serial letters and numerals were painted in Black on the fuselage, and those under the wings and ‘on the rudder were the same colour. ‘The first squadron to be equipped with the Gladiator was No, 72, initially stationed at Tangmere but moved 98 shortly afterwards to Church Fenton, The first Gladiators in Royal Air Force service were collected from Gloster Aircraft on 22nd February, 1937 Although at first squadron markings were not painted on their aircraft, No, 72 eventually used & colourful Red and Blue scheme. On the fuselage sides the marking consisted of two outer Red bars, with a Blue centre bar, forming a rectangle forward of the roundel and tapering to a point aft of the roundel. The tapered portion was broken to permit the painting of the serial number. On the upper wings ‘wo parallel Red bars, joined at the ends by vertical Red bars, and filled in the centre with a Blue bar, extended between the two roundels. Flight colours were carried on the wheel discs and on the fin of each Flight Leader’s aircraft. Examples of those in A Flight (Red wheel discs) were K6130, K6131, K6142 and K6144, ‘The second Gladiator squadron was No. 3, stationed at Kenley. They received their aircraft on 2nd April, 1937. For a long period of time No. 3 Squadron had used a single Green bar as their marking, but with the advent of the Gladiator this, became more refined, having first been used during the last days of the Bristol Bulldog. On the fuselage the marking was an elongated Green ‘pendant’ with f rounded front, on which the roundel was super- imposed. On the upper wings between the roundels the Green marking took the form of a narrow diamond. In this squadron the Flight colours were carried on the wheel discs and the Flight Leaders carried the colour on the upper part of the fins of their aircraft. No. $4(F) Squadron was equipped with Gladiators from 27th April the same year, and another Horn church-based squadron, No. 74, took delivery shortly after. No. 74 Squadron, however, did not keep their Gladiators for long. No. 54 Squadron confined its markings to the Flight colours on the fin of each aircraft, and superimposed upon the Flight colour was the regulaGladiator prototype brought up to production standard, (Gloster Aircraft) tion ‘spearhead’ symbol with the squadron badge. No. 80(F) Squadron, based at Henlow, received Gladiators in May 1937, and their marking was simple—the squadron’s ‘bell’ badge inside the regulation ‘spearhead.” ‘No. 65(F) Squadron, yet another Hornchurch-based unit, was armed with’ Gladiators on Ist June, 1937, and these aircraft carried the squadron’s Red chevron markings on wings and fuselage sides. One of the most colourful of Gladiator squadron heraldic markings was that of No. 73(F) Squadron, based at Debden, which received the new Gloster biplane on 8th June, 1937. Their markings consisted of a fuselage ‘sword blade’ shape in Blue and Yellow and on which the roundel was superimposed. On the upper surface of the wings two similar Blue and Yellow markings were situated, immediately inboard of each roundel, Another Debden Squadron, No. 87, also received their Gladiators on the same day as did No. 73. No. 87 carried very distinctive markings, consisting of a Black bar through which a Green wavy line was threaded. Three Gladiators of this squadron demon- strated ‘tied-together’ aerobatics at the Villacoublay Air Show in France on 10th July, 1938. The pilots were Flying Officer G. H. J. Feeny, Pilot Officer R. L, Lorimer and Sergeant Dewdney. Pilot Officer Lorimer was to lose his life during the “Battle of France’ whilst flying Hurricanes with No. 1(F) Squadron, ‘No. 56(F) Squadron, at North Weald, re-equipped with” Gladiators on 12th July and the squadron's familiar Red and White checkerboard markings were carried on the fuselage sides of each aircraft Early in 1938 two of the Gladiator squadrons, Nos. 3 and 56, converted to Hurricanes, and two. Gladiators of No. 72 (F) Squadron. The squadron's Red and Blue marking had been temporarily removed when the photograph was taken. (Official)