View source for Gloster Gladiator

{{short description|1930s fighter aircraft}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = {{plainlist|
*Gladiator
*Sea Gladiator}}
|image = File:Gloster Gladiator 7985K.jpg
|caption =A Gloster Gladiator in [[RAF]] markings 
|type = [[Fighter aircraft|Fighter]]
|national_origin = United Kingdom
|manufacturer = [[Gloster Aircraft Company|Gloster Aircraft Company, Ltd.]]
|designer = [[Henry Phillip Folland]]
|first_flight = 12 September 1934
|introduction = 23 February 1937
|retired = 1953 (Portugal)
|status =
|primary_user = [[Royal Air Force]]
|more_users = {{plainlist|
*[[Fleet Air Arm]]
*[[Chinese Nationalist Air Force]]
*[[Finnish Air Force]]
*[[Norwegian Army Air Service]]
*[[Royal Egyptian Air Force]]}}
|produced =
|number_built = 747
|developed_from = [[Gloster Gauntlet]]
|variants =
}}

The '''Gloster Gladiator''' is a British [[biplane]] [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]]. It was used by the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) and the [[Fleet Air Arm]] (FAA) (as the '''Sea Gladiator''' variant) and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s.

Developed privately as the '''Gloster SS.37''', it was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft, and was rendered obsolescent by newer [[monoplane]] designs even as it was being introduced. Though often pitted against more advanced fighters during the early days of the [[World War II|Second World War]], it acquitted itself reasonably well in combat.

The Gladiator saw action in almost all theatres during the Second World War, with a large number of air forces, some of them on the Axis side. The RAF used it in [[Battle of France|France]], [[Norwegian campaign|Norway]], [[Greco-Italian War|Greece]], the [[Siege of Malta (1940)|defence of Malta]], the Middle East, and the brief [[Anglo-Iraqi War]] (during which the [[Royal Iraqi Air Force]] was similarly equipped). Other countries deploying the Gladiator included China against Japan, beginning in 1938; Finland (along with [[Flying Regiment 19, Finnish Air Force|Swedish volunteers]]) against the Soviet Union in the [[Winter War]] and the [[Continuation War]]; Sweden as a neutral noncombatant (although Swedish volunteers fought for Finland against the USSR); and Norway, Belgium, and Greece resisting Axis invasion of their respective lands.

South African pilot [[Pat Pattle|Marmaduke "Pat" Pattle]] was the top Gladiator ace with 15 victories with the type.<ref>Thomas 2002, p. 91.</ref><ref name = "mason 10">Mason 1966, p. 10.</ref>

==Design and development==
===Origins===
[[File: Gloster Gladiator.jpg|thumb|Gloster Gladiator in pre-war RAF markings]]
During the 1920s, Britain's air defences had been based around interceptor aircraft capable of flying only for short ranges and at speeds of {{convert|150|to|200|mph|km/h}}, but by 1930, figures within the [[Air Ministry]] were keen to supersede these aircraft. In particular, some dissatisfaction had arisen with the level of reliability experienced with the 'one pilot, two machine guns' design formula previously used; the guns were often prone to jams and being unreliable.<ref name = "mason 3">Mason 1966, p. 3.</ref> The Air Ministry's technical planning committee formulated [[List of Air Ministry specifications|Specification F.7/30]], which sought a new aircraft capable of a maximum speed of at least {{convert|250|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, an armament of no fewer than four machine guns, and such handling that that same fighter could be used by both day and night squadrons.<ref name = "mason 3"/> Gloster, being already engaged with development of the [[Gloster Gauntlet]], did not initially respond to the specification, which later proved to be beneficial.<ref name = "mason 3 4">Mason 1966, pp. 3-4.</ref>

The specification had also encouraged the use of the new [[Rolls-Royce Goshawk]] [[Radiator (engine cooling)#Evaporative cooling|evaporatively cooled]] inline engine; many of the submissions produced by various aviation companies in response accordingly featured the Goshawk engine.<ref name = "mason 4">Mason 1966, p. 4.</ref> However, the Goshawk engine proved to be unreliable, mainly due to its overcomplex and underdeveloped cooling system, and unsuited to use on fighter aircraft and this outcome stalled development of the aircraft intended to use it.<ref name = "mason 4"/> A further stumbling point for many of the submitted designs was the placement of the machine gun [[breech-loading weapon|breeches]] within arm's reach of the pilot. At the same time, the development of [[monoplane]] fighters such as the [[Hawker Hurricane]] and [[Supermarine Spitfire]] cast doubt over the future viability of the requirement altogether.<ref name = "mason 4"/>

Gloster recognised that instead of developing an all-new design from scratch, the existing Gauntlet fighter could be used as a basis for a contender to meet Specification F.7/30. Development of what would become the Gladiator began as a private venture, internally designated as the SS.37, at Gloster, by a design team headed by [[Henry Folland|H.P. Folland]], who soon identified various changes to increase the aircraft's suitability to conform with the demands of the specification. Making use of wing-design techniques developed by [[Hawker Aircraft]],<ref>By 1934 Hawker was parent company of Gloster</ref> the new fighter adopted [[interplane strut|single-bay]] wings in place of the two-bay wings of the Gauntlet, and two pairs of interplane struts were also dispensed with as a drag-reduction measure.<ref name = "mason 4"/> The [[Bristol Mercury|Bristol Mercury M.E.30]] [[radial engine]], capable of generating {{cvt|700|hp}}, was selected to power the SS.37, which provided a performance boost over the preceding Gauntlet.<ref name = "mason 4"/> Another design choice was the fitting of a [[cantilever]] main undercarriage, which incorporated [[Dowty Group|Dowty]] internally sprung wheels, allowing for more simple rigid landing gear struts.<ref name="Lumsden p10">Lumsden 1992, p.10.</ref><ref name="James p206">James 1971, p. 206.</ref>

===Prototype===
[[File:Gloster SS.37.jpg|thumb|The first prototype Gladiator, with Gauntlet fuselage, G-37, later K5200, April 1935]]
In spring 1934, Gloster embarked on the construction of a single SS.37 prototype.<ref name = "mason 4"/> On 12 September 1934, the SS.37 prototype conducted its [[maiden flight]], piloted by Gloster chief test pilot [[Gerry Sayer]].<ref name = "mason 4"/> Initially powered by a {{cvt|530|hp}} Mercury IV engine, the prototype was quickly re-equipped with a more powerful {{cvt|645|hp}} Mercury VIS engine. During flight tests, the prototype attained a top speed of {{convert|242|mph|km/h kn|abbr=on}} while carrying the required four {{convert|.303|in|mm|abbr=on}} machine guns (two synchronised [[Vickers gun]]s in the fuselage and two [[Lewis gun]]s under the lower wing).<ref name = "mason 4"/> According to aviation author Francis K. Mason, the Air Ministry were sceptical about the aircraft achieving such performance from a radial engine design, so funded a protracted series of evaluation trials.<ref name = "mason 4"/>

On 3 April 1935, the prototype was transferred to the RAF, receiving the designation ''K5200'', and commenced operational evaluations of the type.<ref name = "mason 4"/> Around the same time, Gloster proceeded to plan a further improved version, featuring an {{cvt|840|hp}} Mercury IX engine, a two-blade wooden fixed-pitch propeller, improved wheel discs, and a fully enclosed cockpit.<ref name="James p206-7">James 1971, pp. 206–207.</ref><ref name = "mason 4"/> ''K5200'' was later used to trial modifications for production aircraft, such as the addition of a sliding hood for the pilot.<ref name = "mason 4"/>

In June 1935, production plans for the aircraft were proposed; two weeks later, a production specification, Specification F.14/35, had been rapidly drawn up, partially prompted by events in continental Europe, such as the invasion of [[Ethiopia|Abyssinia]] by [[Fascist]] Italy and the rise of [[Adolf Hitler]] to power in Germany, in response to which the British government mandated an urgent expansion of the RAF to counter the emerging threats.<ref name = "mason 4"/> This culminated in an initial order for 23 aircraft. On 1 July 1935, the aircraft formally received the name ''Gladiator''.<ref name="Lumsden p12">Lumsden 1992, p. 12.</ref><ref name = "mason 4"/>

===Production===
Manufacturing of the Gladiator was started at Gloster's [[Hucclecote]] facility. Production of the initial batch was performed simultaneously, leading to many aircraft being completed around the same time. On 16 February 1937, ''K6129'', the first production Gladiator, was formally accepted by the RAF; on 4 March 1937, ''K6151'', the last aircraft of the initial batch, was delivered.<ref name="mason 4" /> In September 1935, a follow-up order of 180 aircraft was also received from the Air Ministry;<ref name="James p207">James 1971, p. 207.</ref> this order had the proviso that all aircraft had to be delivered before the end of 1937.<ref name="mason 4" />
===Variants===
The first version, the Gladiator Mk I, was delivered from July 1936, becoming operational in January 1937. When difficulties with [[Rolls-Royce Merlin]] combustion chamber threatened to postpone the readiness of the next-generation fighters, the Air Ministry hedged its bets by procuring three hundreds of Mk II Gladiators as a [[stopgap]] via [[List of Air Ministry specifications|Specification]] F.36/37 (the delivery of 252 planes took until April 1940).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pilotfriend.com/photo_albums/timeline/ww2/Gloster%20Gladiator.htm|title=Gloster Gladiator}}</ref> The main differences were a slightly more powerful Mercury VIIIAS engine with Hobson mixture control boxes and a partly automatic boost-control carburettor, driving a [[Fairey Aviation Company|Fairey]] fixed-pitch three-blade metal propeller, instead of the two-blade wooden one of the Mark I. All MK II Gladiators also carried [[Browning .303 Mark II|Browning 0.303-inch]] machine guns (licence-manufactured by the BSA company in Birmingham) in place of the Vickers-Lewis combination of the MK I.

===Variant: the Sea Gladiator===
A modified Mk II, the Sea Gladiator, was developed for the [[Fleet Air Arm]], with an [[Tailhook|arrestor hook]], [[Aircraft catapult|catapult]] attachment points, a strengthened airframe, and an underbelly fairing for a dinghy lifeboat, all for operations aboard [[aircraft carrier]]s.<ref name="Barber6">Barber 2008, p. 6</ref><ref>Matricardi, Paolo. ''Aerei Militari: Caccie e Ricognitori''. Milano: Mondadori Electa, 2006.</ref> Of the 98 aircraft built as, or converted to, Sea Gladiators, 54 were still in service by the outbreak of the Second World War.<ref name="Barber6" />

===Last British biplane===
The Gladiator was the last British [[biplane]] fighter to be manufactured, and the first to feature an enclosed cockpit. It possessed a top speed of about {{convert|257|mph|km/h kn|abbr=on}}, yet even as the Gladiator was introduced, it was already being eclipsed by new-generation monoplane fighters, such as the RAF Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire, and the ''Luftwaffe'' [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]]. In total, 747 aircraft were built (483 RAF, 98 RN), with 216 being exported to 13 countries, some of which were from the total allotted to the RAF.<ref>Mason 1964, p. 128.</ref><ref>Spencer 2003, pp. 10, 12.</ref> Gladiators were sold to Belgium, China, Egypt, Finland, [[Free France]], Greece, Iraq, Ireland, [[Latvian Air Force|Latvia]], [[Lithuanian Air Force|Lithuania]], Norway, Portugal, [[South African Air Force|South Africa]], and Sweden.

==Operational history==
===Introduction to service===

[[File:Norwegian Army Air Service Gloster Gladiator 423.jpg|thumb|[[Norwegian Army Air Service|NoAAS]] Gloster Gladiator 423 in 1938–1940]]

In February 1937, No. 72 Squadron, based at [[Tangmere]], became the first squadron to be equipped with the Gladiator; No. 72 operated the type until April 1939, longer than any other home-based frontline unit.<ref name="mason 5">Mason 1966, p. 5.</ref> Between March and April 1937, No. 3 Squadron at [[Kenley]] also received Gladiators from the remainder of the first production batch, replacing their obsolete [[Bristol Bulldog]]s.<ref name="mason 5" /> Initial service with the type proved the Vickers guns to be problematical; the Gladiator was quickly armed with [[.303 British|.303&nbsp;in (7.7&nbsp;mm)]] [[M1919 Browning machine gun|Browning machine guns]], which were substantially more popular, leading to the other guns often only being resorted to if deemed necessary. On 27 March 1937, No. 54 Squadron at [[Hornchurch]] became the first unit to receive Browning-armed Gladiators.<ref name="mason 5" />

By September 1937, all eight Gladiator squadrons had achieved operational status and had formed the spearhead of London's air defences.<ref name="mason 5 6">Mason 1966, pp. 5-6.</ref> Difficulties with introducing the type had been experienced. Although the Gladiator was typically well-liked by pilots, the accident rate during operational training on the type was so high that a small replacement batch of 28 Gladiator Mk IIs was hurriedly produced.<ref name="mason 5" /> Most accidents were caused by pilots being caught out by the fighter's increased wing loading, and many aviators had little experience in landing aircraft with such a wide flap area.<ref name="mason 5" /> The aircraft had a tendency to stall more abruptly, frequently dropping a wing while doing so. The Gladiator very easily entered a [[Flat spin (aviation)|flat spin]], and great skill was needed to recover.<ref name="Håkan & Slongo 2012, p. 11">Håkan & Slongo 2012.</ref><ref name="mason 5" />

The first use of RAF Gladiators on active service was during the [[1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine]]. From September to December 1938, 33 Squadron RAF flew Gladiator strafing missions in support of British Mandate security forces. These were often in mountainous areas, and the aircraft came under substantial rifle fire. Three aircraft were destroyed, and two pilots killed, in these operations.<ref>Thomas, A. ''Gloster Gladiator Aces'' 2002 pp.9-10 {{ISBN|184176289X}}</ref>

During 1938, the RAF had begun to receive its first deliveries of the Hurricane and Spitfire monoplanes; an emphasis was soon placed on quickly re-equipping half of the Gladiator squadrons with either of these monoplane types.<ref name="mason 6">Mason 1966, p. 6.</ref> By the outbreak of the Second World War, the Gladiator had largely been replaced by the Hurricane and Spitfire in front-line RAF service in defending the UK itself against the Luftwaffe. The introduction of these aircraft had been eased by the presence of the Gladiator, squadrons that had operated Gladiators prior to converting to the monoplane types experienced a noticeably improved accident record than those who converted from older types such as the Gauntlet. Experiences such as operating the Gladiator's landing flaps and familiarisation with its sliding hood have been attributed to having favourably impacted pilot conversion.<ref name="mason 5" />  Gladiators remained the primary RAF front line fighter in North Africa, the Middle East, and later Greece into 1941, when Hurricanes began to replace them.<ref>Gladiator Ace, Brian Cull, ISBN 978 1 84425 657 9</ref>  Gladiators saw considerable action during early stages of the war, including participating in the action in the [[Battle of France|French]] and [[Norwegian campaign|Norwegian]] campaigns, the defence of Egypt, Malta, and Greece mainly against the Italians, and in various peripheral campaigns.<ref name="mason 6" />

Although by 1941, all Gladiators had been withdrawn from front-line duties defending the British Isles, there remained an ongoing need to defend Britain's colonies and trade routes throughout the [[British Empire]], so the RAF redeployed many of its Gladiators to the Middle East to defend the theatre and the crucial [[Suez Canal]].<ref name="mason 6" /> 

===China===
[[File:Arthur Chin.jpg|thumb|Arthur Chin (陳瑞鈿) was a Chinese ace during WWII]]
In October 1937, the Chinese Central Government ordered 36 Gladiator Is, which were delivered in two crated batches to [[Guangzhou]] via [[Hong Kong]]. The Chinese Gladiators used the American [[M1919 Browning machine gun]] to fire American [[.30-06 Springfield]] ammunition, the main ammunition of the [[Development of Chinese Nationalist air force (1937–1945)|new Chinese Nationalist Air Force]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} By February 1938, these aircraft had been assembled into two squadrons and the Chinese pilots familiarised themselves with them.<ref>Thomas 2006, pp. 73–75.</ref> The Gloster Gladiator had its combat début on 24 February 1938.<ref name="Thomas 2002, p. 11">Thomas 2002, p. 11.</ref> That day, in the [[Nanjing|Nanking]] area, Chinese-American Capt [[John Huang Xinrui|John Wong Sun-Shui]] (nicknamed 'Buffalo') shot down a [[Mitsubishi A5M]] "Claude" naval fighter, the first victim of a Gladiator. Wong is believed to have shot down a second A5M as the wrecks of two Japanese fighters were found.<ref name="Thomas 2002, p. 11" /> During that clash, Chinese Gladiators lost two of their number.<ref>Thomas 2006, p. 73.</ref>

Chinese Gladiators scored several more victories over Japanese aircraft from 1938 to 1940 during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]]. In China, Gladiators were used extensively before the start of 1940 by the 28th, 29th, and 32nd squadrons of the 3rd Group. Chinese aviators considered the Gladiator an excellent fighter in its class, but pilots soon found it increasingly difficult to hold their own against the modern A5M, and because of a lack of spare parts due to an arms embargo, the surviving Gladiators were mostly relegated to training.<ref name="Thomas 2002, p. 13">Thomas 2002, p. 13.</ref> When newer Japanese aircraft such as the [[Mitsubishi A6M Zero]] entered the theatre, the Gladiators' days were numbered. "Buffalo" Wong, the first Gladiator [[flying ace]] and first American fighter ace of the war, was eventually shot down in combat with A6M Zeros on 14 March 1941 and died two days later from his injuries.<ref name="Thomas 2002, p. 12">Thomas 2002, p. 12.</ref> [[Arthur Chin]] and he were among a group of 15 [[Chinese American]]s who formed the original group of American volunteer combat aviators in China.<ref>Gustavsson, Håkan. [http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/china_wong2.htm "Chinese biplane fighter aces – 'Buffalo' Wong Sun-Shui"] ''Håkans Aviation page'', 2 July 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2009.</ref>

===The Finnish Winter War and Continuation War===
During the [[Winter War]], the [[Finnish Air Force]] (FAF) obtained 30 Mk II fighters from the UK. Ten of the aircraft were donated, while the other 20 were bought by the FAF; all were delivered between 18 January and 16 February 1940, the first entering service on 2 February 1940.<ref name="FAF in Color">Perttula, Pentti. [http://www.sci.fi/%7Eambush/faf/fafincolor.html "Finnish Air Force Aircraft: Gloster Gladiator."]{{dead link|date=July 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ''Backwoods Landing Strip – Finnish Air Force Aircraft'', 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2009.</ref><ref>Stenman and de Jong 2013, p. 52</ref> The Finnish Gladiators served until 1945, but they were outclassed by modern Soviet fighters during the [[Continuation War]], and the aircraft was mostly used for reconnaissance from 1941. The Finnish Air Force obtained 45 aerial victories by 22 pilots with the aircraft during the Winter War and one victory during the Continuation War. Twelve Gladiators were lost in combat during the Winter War and three during the Continuation War.<ref name="FAF in Color" /> Two pilots became aces with this aircraft: [[Oiva Tuominen]] (6.5 victories with Gladiators) and [[Paavo Berg]] (five victories).

[[File:Gloster Gladiator, J 8.jpg|thumb|Preserved Swedish Air Force Gladiator in Finnish markings, 1976]]
Besides the FAF Gladiators, the [[Flying Regiment 19, Finnish Air Force|Swedish Voluntary Air Force]], responsible for the air defence of northernmost Finland during the later part of the Winter War, was also equipped with Gladiator fighters, known as J8s (Mk Is) and J8As (Mk IIs). The Flying Regiment F 19 arrived in [[Finnish Lapland]] on 10 January 1940 and remained there until the end of hostilities. It fielded 12 Gladiator Mk II fighters, two of which were lost during the fighting and five [[Hawker Hart]] dive bombers, plus a [[Raab-Katzenstein RK-26]] liaison aircraft and a [[Junkers F.13]] transport aircraft.<ref>Henriksson, Lars. [http://www.avrosys.nu/aircraft/Jakt/108J8.htm "J 8 – Gloster Gladiator (1937–1947)."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112001035/http://www.avrosys.nu/aircraft/Jakt/108J8.htm |date=12 November 2007 }} ''Avrosys.nu'', 2 January 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2009.</ref> The aircraft belonged to and were crewed by the [[Swedish Air Force]] but flew with Finnish nationality markings. The Swedish Gladiators scored eight aerial victories and destroyed four aircraft on the ground. One concern was expressed when F 19's executive officer Captain [[Björn Bjuggren]] wrote in his memoirs, that the tracer rounds of the Gladiator's machine guns would not ignite the aviation spirit when penetrating the fuel tanks of [[Soviet Air Forces|Soviet]] bombers.

===The Phoney War===
At the beginning of the Second World War, during what was known as the "[[Phoney War]]", Britain deployed the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF) into France to fight alongside the French army. As part of this force, RAF units operating various aircraft were dispatched to contribute, including two Gladiator squadrons.<ref name="mason 6" /> Initial air operations on either side were limited by the winter weather; however, immediately following Germany's commencement of the [[Manstein Plan]] and its invasion of the [[Low Countries]] on 10 May 1940, the BEF's Gladiators participated in the [[Dyle Plan]], an unsuccessful counterattack on German forces.<ref name="mason 6" />

From 10 May 1940 to 17 May, the Gladiators were in continuous demand on the front line, quickly losing numerous aircraft and their crews in the rapid action.<ref name="mason 6 7">Mason 1966, pp. 6-7.</ref> On 18 May 1940, a Luftwaffe bombing raid destroyed many of the BEF's Gladiators and Hurricanes on the ground at [[Vitry-en-Artois]], shortly after which the BEF's withdrawal to [[Dunkirk evacuation|Dunkirk]] for evacuation to mainland Britain began.<ref name="mason 7">Mason 1966, p. 7.</ref>

Gladiators typically flew patrol flights that led to occasional clashes with Luftwaffe reconnaissance aircraft. On 17 October 1940, British Gladiators scored their first success when No 607 Squadron "B" Flight shot down a [[Dornier Do 18]] flying boat ('8L+DK' of 2.KuFlGr 606), on the North Sea.<ref name="Thomas 2002, pp. 14-15">Thomas 2002, pp. 14–15.</ref> On 10 April 1941, 804 NAS took off from [[RNAS Hatston|Hatston]], in [[Orkney]], to intercept a group of approaching German aircraft. Lt Cdr J. C. Cockburn was credited with one destroyed and Blue Section with a "damaged".<ref name="Thomas 2002, p. 15">Thomas 2002, p. 15.</ref>

===The Norwegian campaign===
[[File:Norwegian Gloster Gladiator - Kristian Fredrik Schye.jpg|thumb|The sole Norwegian air-to-air Gloster Gladiator loss – Sergeant Pilot [[Kristian Fredrik Schye|Schye]]'s Gladiator 427 on 9 April 1940]]
The [[Norwegian campaign]] saw both Norwegian and British Gladiators battling the Luftwaffe, with the Norwegian [[Jagevingen]] fighting in the defence of [[Oslo]] on the first day of [[Operation Weserübung]], the German invasion. Later, British Gladiators fought to provide [[fighter cover]] for the [[Allied campaign in Norway|Allied reinforcements]] sent to the assistance of the Norwegian government.

====Norwegian action====
The Gladiator pilots of the Norwegian Jagevingen (fighter flight)<ref>Crawford, Alex. [https://web.archive.org/web/20091021080303/http://geocities.com/acrawford0/norwegia.html  "Norwegian Gloster Gladiators".] ''webachive.org.'' Retrieved: 26 August 2010.</ref> were based at [[Oslo Airport, Fornebu|Fornebu Airport]]. On 9 April, the first day of the invasion of Norway, the seven serviceable aircraft<ref>Thomas 2002, p. 25.</ref><ref>[[Ivar Kraglund|Kraglund, Ivar]]. [http://www.nb.no/utlevering/nb/d2e8afecb1aba47bf48bb3cd246dd070#&struct=DIV138 "Gladiator, Gloster" (in Norwegian).] ''[[Norsk krigsleksikon 1940–45]].'' Oslo: Cappelen, 1995, p. 136. {{ISBN|82-02-14138-9}}.</ref> managed to shoot down five German aircraft: two [[Messerschmitt Bf 110]] fighters, two [[Heinkel He 111|He 111]] [[bomber]]s and one [[Fallschirmjäger (Nazi Germany)|''Fallschirmjäger'']]-laden [[Junkers Ju 52|Ju 52]] [[Cargo aircraft|transport]]. One Gladiator was shot down during the air battle by the future ''experte'' [[Helmut Lent]], while two were [[Strafing|strafed]] and destroyed while refuelling and rearming at Fornebu airport. The remaining four operational fighters were ordered to land wherever they could away from the base. The Gladiators landed on frozen lakes around Oslo and were abandoned by their pilots, then wrecked by [[souvenir]]-hunting civilians.<ref>Gustavsson, Håkan. [http://www.dalnet.se/~surfcity/gladiator_norway.htm "The Gloster Gladiator in the Norwegian Army Air Service (Hærens Flygevåpen)."] ''Håkans Aviation page'', 25 May 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2009.</ref>

[[File:Gloster Gladiator fuselage gun.JPG|thumb|The fuselage .303 inch machine guns]] [[File:Gloster Gladiator2.JPG|thumb|The .303 inch machine guns under each lower wing]]
[[File:GlosterGApril1940N5628.JPG|thumb|Gloster Gladiator N5628. Damaged by German air attack while based on the frozen lake [[Lesjaskogsvatnet]] on 28 April 1940 and abandoned the same day. It eventually sank in May and was recovered in 1968 by a diving team from [[RAF Cranwell]].]]
No [[Norwegian Army]] [[Royal Norwegian Air Force|Air Service]] aircraft were able to evacuate westwards before the 10 June [[Surrender (military)|surrender]] of the [[mainland]] Norwegian forces. Only the aircraft of the [[Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service]] (one [[Marinens Flyvebaatfabrikk M.F.11|M.F.11]] and four [[Heinkel He 115|He 115s]]) had the range to fly from their last bases in northern Norway to the UK. Two Army Air Service [[Fokker C.V]].Ds and one [[Tiger Moth]] also managed to escape eastwards to [[Finland]] before the surrender. Three naval M.F.11s and one He 115 flew to Finland, landing on Lake Salmijärvi in [[Pechengsky District|Petsamo]].<ref name="FAF in Color" /> All the former Norwegian aircraft were later flown by the Finns against the Soviet Union.

====British action====
Gladiators were used also by [[No. 263 Squadron RAF|263 Squadron]] during the remaining two months of the Norwegian campaign. Prior to the German invasion of Norway, Britain had prepared this squadron with low-temperature environmental training.<ref name="mason 7" /> 263 Squadron arrived on the [[Aircraft carrier|carrier]] {{HMS|Glorious||6}} on 24 April and operated from an improvised landing strip built by Norwegian volunteers on the frozen lake [[Lesjaskogsvatnet]] in [[Oppland]] in central southern Norway. On 25 April, a pair of Gladiators destroyed a [[Heinkel He 115]] aircraft; Luftwaffe bombers attacked the runway that day, wounding several pilots on the ground.<ref name="mason 7 8">Mason 1966, pp. 7-8.</ref> By the end of the day, ten Gladiators had been destroyed for the loss of three German aircraft.<ref name="mason 8">Mason 1966, p. 8.</ref> After less than a week, all the squadron's aircraft were unserviceable and the personnel were evacuated to Britain.<ref name="mason 8" />

Having re-equipped in Britain, 263 Squadron resumed its Gladiator operations in Norway when it returned to the [[Nord-Norge|north of Norway]] on 21 May, flying from [[Bardufoss Air Station|Bardufoss]] airfield near [[Narvik (town)|Narvik]]. At the [[Battle of Narvik#Land battle|Narvik front]], 263 Squadron was reinforced by [[Hawker Hurricane|Hurricanes]] of [[No. 46 Squadron RAF|46 Squadron]], which flew to an airstrip in [[Skånland Municipality]] a few days later and several German aircraft were shot down. Due to unsuitable ground at Skånland, 46 Squadron moved to Bardufoss and was operating from this base by 27 May. The squadrons had been ordered to defend the fleet anchorage at Skånland and the Norwegian naval base at [[Harstad (town)|Harstad]] on the island of [[Hinnøya]], as well as the Narvik area after it was recaptured. In the last days of May ground attack missions were also flown by the Gladiators against railway stations, German vehicles and coastal vessels.<ref name="mason 8" />

On 2 June, one Gladiator pilot, Louis Jacobsen, was credited with the destruction of three Heinkel He 111s, along with the probable destruction of a Junkers Ju 88 and another He 111 aircraft, during one sortie.<ref name="mason 8" /> British action in the theatre was short but intense before the squadrons, due to the British government's response to the [[Battle of France|invasion of France]], were instructed on 2 June to undertake [[Operation Alphabet]] the evacuation from Norway.

By then, 263 Squadron had flown 249 sorties and claimed 26 enemy aircraft destroyed. The ten surviving Gladiators landed on ''Glorious'' on 7 June.<ref name="mason 8" /> ''Glorious'' sailed for home but was intercepted by the German [[battleship]]s [[German battleship Gneisenau|''Gneisenau'']] and [[German battleship Scharnhorst|''Scharnhorst'']]. Despite the valiant defence put up by the destroyers, {{HMS|Acasta|H09|6}} and {{HMS|Ardent|H41|2}}, she was sunk along with the aircraft from four squadrons; 263 Squadron lost its CO, S/Ldr John W. Donaldson, and F/Lt Alvin Williams along with eight other pilots.<ref name="RAFHist">{{cite web | url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/h263.html | title=Royal Air Force History: History of No. 263 Squadron | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418220312/http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/h263.html |archivedate=18 April 2009 | publisher=Royal Air Force | date=22 January 2009 | accessdate=12 April 2009}}</ref><ref name="FSquad">Rawlings 1969.{{Page needed|date=September 2010}}</ref><ref name="NZWeb">{{cite web | url=https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-1RAF-c3.html | title=New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Vol. I) Chapter 3 – Meeting the German Attack | publisher=New Zealand Electronic Text Centre, University of Victoria | date=2008 | accessdate=12 April 2009}}</ref>

===Belgium===
Belgian Gladiators suffered heavy losses [[Battle of Belgium|to the Germans in 1940]], with all 15 operational aircraft lost,<ref>Crawford 2002, pp. 70–74.</ref><ref>Spencer 2003, pp. 31–32.</ref> while only managing to damage two German aircraft.<ref>Thomas 2002, pp. 18, 94.</ref> During the preceding [[Phoney War]], on 24 April 1940 Belgian Gladiators on neutrality patrol shot down a German Heinkel He 111 bomber which subsequently crashed in the [[Netherlands]]. The bomber, V4+DA of [[Kampfgeschwader 1]], had been damaged by French fighters at [[Maubeuge]], France, and chased across the Belgian border.<ref>Weal 2012, p. 49.</ref>

===Battle of Britain===
The Gloster Gladiator was in operational service with [[No. 247 Squadron RAF|247 Squadron]], stationed at [[RAF Roborough]], [[Devon]] during the [[Battle of Britain]]. Although no combat sorties took place at the height of the aerial battles, 247 Squadron Gladiators intercepted a Heinkel He 111 in late October 1940, without result. [[No. 239 Squadron RAF|239 Squadron]], using Gladiators for army cooperation and [[804 Naval Air Squadron]], outfitted with Sea Gladiators, were also operational during the Battle of Britain.<ref>Rimell 1990, p. 27.</ref>

===Mediterranean and Middle East theatres===
In the [[Mediterranean theatre of World War II|Mediterranean Theatre]] during 1940–41, Gladiators saw combat with four Allied air forces: the RAF, [[Royal Australian Air Force]], [[South African Air Force]] and [[Hellenic Air Force|''Ellinikí Vasilikí Aeroporía'']] (Royal Hellenic Air Force) squadrons. These achieved some success against the [[Italy|Italian]] ''[[Regia Aeronautica]]'', which was mainly equipped with [[Fiat CR.32]] and [[Fiat CR.42]] biplanes, and against ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' bombers. The South African ace [[Marmaduke Pattle|Marmaduke "Pat" Pattle]] (who served with the RAF), claimed 15 kills in Gladiators during the [[North African campaign|North African]] and [[Battle of Greece|Greek Campaigns]], making him the highest-scoring RAF biplane ace of the war.

The 1941 [[Anglo-Iraqi War]] was unique in that the RAF and [[Iraqi Air Force#History|Royal Iraqi Air Force]], used the Gladiator as their main fighter.<ref>Lyman 2006, p. 27.</ref> Gladiators also saw action against the [[Vichy France|Vichy French]] in [[French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon|Syria]].<ref>Ketley 1999, p. 32</ref>

====Malta====
[[File:ZZZ 003915 E Gladiator.jpg|thumb|''Faith'' (serial number N5520), a Gloster Sea Gladiator Mk I, on the ground at an airfield in [[Malta]], in about September 1940. The aircraft has been refitted with a Bristol Mercury XV engine and three-blade Hamilton Standard variable-pitch propeller salvaged from a Bristol Blenheim.]]
A stock of 18 Sea Gladiators from [[802 Naval Air Squadron]] had been delivered by [[HMS Glorious|HMS ''Glorious'']], in early 1940. Three were later shipped out to take part in the Norwegian campaign and another three were sent to Egypt. By April, Malta was in need of fighter protection and it was decided to form a [[flight (military unit)|flight]] of Gladiators at [[RAF Hal Far]], to be composed of RAF and FAA personnel. Several Sea Gladiators were assembled and test-flown.<ref>Ministry of Information 1944, p. 8.</ref> In the [[Siege of Malta (1940)|siege of Malta]] in 1940, for ten days the fighter force defending [[Malta]] was the [[Hal Far Fighter Flight]], giving rise to a myth that three aircraft, named ''Faith'', ''Hope'' and ''Charity'', formed the entire [[fighter cover]] of the island. The aircraft names came into use after the battle.<ref>Crawford 2002, pp. 120–121.</ref><ref>Hayles, John. [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/types/uk/gloster/gladiator/gladiator.htm "Gladiator."] ''aeroflight.co'', 17 April 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2009.</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150801134808/http://www.maltaviationmuseum.com/forum.asp "The fate of Gloster Gladiator 'Faith'."]}} ''Malta Aviation Museum'', 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2009. Archived 1 August 2015.</ref><ref>Sanderson, Michael. [http://www.killifish.f9.co.uk/Malta%20WWII/Faith%20Hope%20&%20Charity.htm "Faith, Hope and Charity."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911055427/http://www.killifish.f9.co.uk/Malta%20WWII/Faith%20Hope%20%26%20Charity.htm |date=11 September 2007 }} ''killifish.f9.co''. Retrieved 12 April 2009.</ref> More than three aircraft were operational, though not always at the same time; others were used for spare parts.<ref name="Malta">{{cite web | last=Crawford | first=Alex | url=http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/malta.htm | title=Gloster Gladiators and Fiat CR.42s over Malta 1940–42 | publisher=geocities.com | accessdate=23 October 2010}}</ref> [[No. 1435 Flight RAF|No 1435 Flight]], which later assumed control of Malta's air defence, took on the names ''Faith'', ''Hope'' and ''Charity'' for its aircraft upon its reformation as the air defence unit in the Falkland Islands in 1988.

The Italian air force units deployed against Malta should have easily defeated the Gladiators but its manoeuvrability and good tactics won several engagements, often starting with a dive on [[Savoia-Marchetti SM.79]] ''Sparviero'' bombers before the [[Fiat CR.42]] and [[Macchi MC.200]] escort fighters could react. On 11 June 1940, a Gladiator damaged a Macchi and on 23 June, a Gladiator flown by George Burges, managed to shoot down an MC.200.<ref>Gustavsson, Håkan. [http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/commonwealth_burges.htm "Group Captain George Burges DFC OBE, RAF no. 33225."] ''Håkans aviation page'', 30 March 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2010.</ref> Another successful pilot over Malta was [[William Woods (pilot)|"Timber" Woods]] who managed to shoot down two S.79s and two CR.42s, also claiming a Macchi hit on 11 June and another S.79 damaged.<ref>Gustavsson, Håkan. [http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/commonwealth_woods.htm "Flight Lieutenant William Joseph 'Timber' Woods DFC, RAF no. 39605 ."] ''Håkans aviation page'', 29 April 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2010.</ref> The Gladiators forced Italian fighters to escort bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Although the ''Regia Aeronautica'' had started with a numerical advantage and air superiority, during the summer of 1940 the situation was reversed, with Hurricanes being delivered as fast as possible and gradually taking over the island's air defence.<ref>Marcon 1997, pp. 11–15.</ref>

By June, two of the Gladiators had crashed and two more were assembled.<ref>Crawford 2002, pp. 59–66.</ref> ''Charity'' was shot down on 31 July 1940.<ref>CALL-OUT 2002 p. 32</ref><ref>or on 31 July, according to the historian Håkan Gustavsson</ref> Its pilot, Flying Officer Peter Hartley, scrambled at 09.45 with fellow pilots F. F. Taylor and Flight Lieutenant "Timber" Woods, to intercept an SM.79, escorted by nine CR.42s from 23° Gruppo. During a dogfight a CR.42 flown by Serg. Manlio Tarantino shot down Hartley's Gladiator (N5519), badly burning him.<ref>Shores et al. 1987, p. 41.</ref> Woods shot down Antonio Chiodi, commander of the 75a ''Squadriglia'' five miles east of Grand Harbour. Chiodi was subsequently awarded a posthumous ''Medaglia d’Oro al Valor Militare'', Italy's highest military award. In May 2009, the remains of ''Charity'' and others were the subject of an underwater search by NATO minesweepers.<ref name=usearch>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120509115011/http://www.maltaviationmuseum.com/listsearch2.asp?ID=145 "Underwater search for Gloster Gladiator 'Charity'."]}} ''Malta Aviation Museum News & Events'', 20 May 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2009. Archived 9 May 2012.</ref> ''Hope'' (N5531) was destroyed on the ground by enemy bombing in May 1941.<ref name=usearch /> The fuselage of ''Faith'' is on display at the [[National War Museum (Malta)|National War Museum]], [[Fort St Elmo]], [[Valletta]] today. The fate of at least five more Gladiators that saw action over Malta is not as well documented.

====North Africa====
[[File:Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. CM354.jpg|thumb|Seven Gladiators of No. 3 Squadron RAAF making a low pass in loose formation over the Squadron's mobile operations room at their landing ground near Sollum, Egypt, circa 1941]]
In North Africa, Gladiators faced Italian Fiat CR.42 ''Falcos'' biplanes, which had a slightly superior performance to that of the Gladiator at higher altitudes.<ref>Williams and Gustin 2003, p. 106.</ref>

The first aerial combat between the biplanes took place on 14 June over Amseat. ''Tenente'' [[Franco Lucchini]], of 90<sup>a</sup> ''Squadriglia'', 10° ''Gruppo'', 4° ''Stormo'', flying a CR.42 from [[Tobruk]], shot down a Gladiator; it was the first claim made against the RAF in the desert war.<ref name="Jackson p. 94.">Jackson 1989, p. 94.</ref> On the afternoon of 24 July, CR.42s and Gladiators clashed over [[Bardia]]. A formation of 11 CR.42s from 10° ''Gruppo'', backed by six more from the 13° ''Gruppo'' attacked a British formation of nine Blenheims that was attacking Bardia, and was in turn reportedly attacked by 15 Gladiators. The five Gladiators of 33 Squadron claimed four CR.42s destroyed.<ref>Gustavsson, Håkan. [http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_lucchini.htm "Biplane fighter aces: Italy, Capitano Franco Lucchini Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare."] ''Håkans aviation page'', 30 March 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2009.</ref>

On 4 August 1940, Fiat biplanes from 160<sup>a</sup> ''Squadriglia'' of ''Capitano'' Duilio Fanali intercepted four Gladiators commanded by [[Marmaduke Pattle|Marmaduke "Pat" Pattle]] (eventually to become one of the top-scoring Allied aces with approximately 50 claims) that were attacking [[Breda Ba.65]]s while they were strafing British armoured vehicles. The battle became confused. Initially it was thought that only the old CR.32s were involved, but there were also many CR.42s; it is likely that the then inexperienced Pattle was shot down by another future ace, [[Franco Lucchini]]. On this occasion, the Fiats managed to surprise the Gladiators, shooting down three of them.<ref>Massimello, Giuseppe Pesce con Giovanni. ''Adriano Visconti Asso di guerra''. Parma: Edizioni Albertelli Speciali srl, 1997.</ref> Wykeham Barnes, who was shot down but survived, claimed a Breda 65, while Pattle claimed a Ba 65 and a CR.42.<ref>Thomas 2002.{{Page needed|date=September 2010}}</ref>
On 8 August 1940, during another [[dogfight]], 14 Gladiators of 80 Squadron took 16 Fiat CR.42s from 9° and 10° ''Gruppi'' of 4° ''Stormo'' (a ''Regia Aeronautica'' elite unit) by surprise over Gabr Saleh, well inside Italian territory. British pilots claimed 13 to 16 confirmed victories and one to seven probables, while losing two Gladiators.<ref name="Håkan and Slongo p. 109.">Håkan and Slongo 2010, p. 109.</ref>
Actually the Italians lost four aircraft, and four more force-landed (it seems that all were later recovered).<ref name="Pattle">Gustavsson, Håkan. [http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/commonwealth_pattle.htm "Flight Lieutenant Marmaduke Thomas St. John Pattle, D.F.C. (39029), No. 80 Squadron."] ''surfcity.kund.dalnet.se''. Retrieved 26 August 2010.</ref>
That battle highlighted the strong points of the Gladiator over the CR.42, especially the radio equipment, which had permitted a coordinated attack, being also crucial for obtaining the initial surprise, and the Gladiator's superior low-altitude overall performance, including speed and a markedly superior horizontal manoeuvrability over its Italian opponent.<ref name="Pattle" />

Overall, the few Gladiators and CR.42s clashed with a substantial parity: considering all theatres, the kill ratio was 1.2-to-1 in favour of the former, a ratio similar to that of the Bf 109 and the Spitfire in the Battle of Britain, a duel considered evenly balanced by most historians.<ref>Gustavsson and Slongo, p. 70</ref> However, the Gladiator, optimised for dogfighting, met with only little success against the relatively fast Italian bombers, shooting down only a handful of them and suffering almost as many losses in the process, which could be one of the reasons for its quick retirement from first-line duty; the CR.42 on the other hand was successful against early British bombers, shooting down a hundred of them with minimal losses.<ref>Gustavsson and Slongo, p. 78</ref>

====Eastern Africa====
In Eastern Africa, it was determined that Italian forces based on [[Ethiopia]] posed a threat to the British [[Aden Protectorate]], thus it was decided that an offensive would be necessary, in which the Gladiator would face off against the Italian biplane fighters: Fiat CR.32s and CR.42s. On 6 November 1940, in the first hour of the British offensive against Ethiopia, the Fiat CR.42 fighters of the 412a Squadriglia led by Capt. Antonio Raffi shot down five Gloster Gladiators of 1 SAAF Sqn; among the Italian pilots was the ace [[Mario Visintini]], who later became the top scoring pilot of all belligerent air forces in Eastern Africa (Africa Orientale) and the top biplane fighter ace of World War II. Tactically, the SAAF aircraft erred by engaging the CR.42's in a piecemeal fashion and not en masse, and they were heavily outnumbered.<ref>Gustavsson, Håkan. [http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_visintini.htm  "Biplane fighter aces, Italy, Capitano Mario Visintini."] ''Håkans aviation page: Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War'', 20 February 2006.</ref>

Early on in the offensive, Gladiators of No. 94 Squadron performed various attacks on the Italian forces; typical targets included airfields, supply depots, and aircraft. They were also assigned the mission of defending Aden airspace at day and night, and to protect Allied shipping operating in the vicinity.<ref name="mason 9">Mason 1966, p. 9.</ref> It was in the latter role that a single 94 Squadron Gladiator, piloted by Gordon Haywood, was responsible for the surrender and capture of the Italian [[Archimede-class submarine]] [[HMS X2|Galilei Galileo]].<ref name="mason 9" />

On 6 June 1941, the ''Regia Aeronautica'' had only two serviceable aircraft remaining: a CR.32 and a CR.42, therefore air superiority was finally achieved by Gladiators and the Hurricanes. The Gladiator's last air combat with an Italian fighter was on 24 October 1941, with the CR.42 of Tenente Malavolti (or, according to historian Håkan Gustavsson, ''sottotenente Malavolta''). The Italian pilot took off to strafe British airfields at [[Dabat]] and [[Adi Arcai]]. According to the Italian historian Nico Sgarlato, the CR.42 was intercepted by three Gladiators and managed to shoot down two of them, but was then itself shot down and the pilot killed.<ref name="Fiat CR.42">Sgarlato 2005</ref> Other authors state that Malavolti managed only to fire on the two Gladiators before being shot down.<ref>Emiliani et al. 1979, p. 63.</ref>

According to Gustavsson, SAAF pilot (no. 47484V) Lieutenant Lancelot Charles Henry "Paddy" Hope, at Dabat airfield, scrambled to intercept the CR.42 (MM7117). Diving on it, he opened fire at 300 yards. Although the CR.42 pilot took violent evasive action, Hope pursued, closing to 20 yards and firing as it tried to dive away. There was a brief flicker of flame and the last Italian aircraft to be shot down over East Africa spun into the ground and burst into flames near Ambazzo. The next day the wreckage was found, the dead pilot still in the cockpit. Hope dropped a message on Italian positions at Ambazzo: "Tribute to the pilot of the Fiat. He was a brave man. South African Air Force." But operational record books of the Commonwealth units in the area state that they did not suffer any losses on this date. The dedication of the posthumous ''Medaglia d’oro al valor militare'' states that Malavolti shot down a Gladiator and forced another to crash land, but was himself shot down by a third Gladiator.<ref>Patri, Salvatore. ''L' Ultimo Sparviero dell'Impero Italiano. A.O.I. 1940–1941''. Roma: IBN editore, 2006.</ref> This was the last air-to-air victory in the East African campaign.<ref>Gustavsson, Håkan. [http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/commonwealth_hope.htm "Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War."] ''Håkans aviation page'', 21 March 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2009.</ref>

Towards the end of the war Gladiators were flown by Meteorological Flight 1566 out of Hiswa, Aden.

====Greece====
Tension had been building between Greece and Italy since 7 April 1939, when Italian troops [[Albania under Italy|occupied Albania]]. On 28 October 1940, Italy issued an ultimatum to Greece, which was [[Ohi Day|promptly rejected]]; a few hours later, Italian troops launched an invasion of Greece, initiating the [[Greco-Italian War]].

Britain dispatched help to the embattled Greeks in the form of [[No. 80 Squadron RAF|80 Squadron]], elements of which arrived at [[Trikkala]] by 19 November. That same day, the Gladiator debut came in the form of a surprise, intercepting a section of five Italian CR.42s on [[Coritza]], only one of which returned to base. On 27 November, seven Gladiators attacked three Falcos, shooting down the lead aircraft, piloted by Com. Masfaldi, commanding the 364a Squadriglia. On 28 November, the commander of 365a ''Squadriglia'', Com. Graffer, was shot down during a combat where seven aircraft were downed, four of them British.<ref name="de Marchi 1994">de Marchi 1994</ref> On 3 December, the Gladiators were reinforced with elements from [[No. 112 Squadron RAF|112 Squadron]]. The following day, a clash between 20 Gladiators and ten CR.42s resulted in a loss of five, two of them Italians.<ref name="de Marchi 1994" /> After a break of two weeks, 80 Sqn returned to operations on 19 December 1940. On 21 December, 20 Gladiators intercepted a force of 15 CR.42 Falcos, shooting down two with two losses.<ref name="Falco">Gustavsson, Håkan. [http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/commonwealth_hickey.htm "Biplane Fighter Aces: Squadron Leader William Joseph ‘Bill’ Hickey DFC, RAF no. 32035."] ''Håkans Aviation page'', 23 October 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2009.</ref> Over the next few days, several groups of Italian [[Savoia-Marchetti SM.79]] and [[Savoia-Marchetti SM.81]] bombers were also intercepted and victories claimed.

One of the more notable Gladiator engagements of the whole war occurred on the Albanian border with Greece on 28 February 1941. A mixed force of 28 Gladiators and Hurricanes encountered roughly 50 Italian aircraft, and claimed to have shot down or severely damaged at least 27 of them.<ref name="mason 10" /> A single Gladiator, piloted by ace pilot Marmaduke "Pat" Pattle, claimed five aircraft during that single skirmish.<ref name="mason 10" /> Actually the British heavily overclaimed as it seems that ''Regia Aeronautica'' that day lost only two CR.42s.<ref name="Pattle" />

The complete 112 Squadron moved to [[Eleusina|Eleusis]] by the end of January 1941, and by the end of the following month, had received 80 Sqn's Gladiators, after the latter unit had converted to [[Hawker Hurricane]]s. On 5 April, German forces [[Battle of Greece|invaded Greece]] and quickly established air superiority. As the Allied troops retreated, Gladiators covered them, before flying to [[Crete]] during the last week of April. There No 112 Sqn recorded a few claims over twin-engined aircraft before being evacuated to Egypt during the [[Battle of Crete]].<ref>Thomas 2002, pp. 61–69.</ref>

====Anglo-Iraqi War====
{{Main|Anglo-Iraqi War}}
[[File:Legionnaires guards gladiators.jpg|thumb|[[Arab Legion]]naires guard Gloster Gladiators of No. 94 Squadron RAF at the landing ground at H4 pumping station in Transjordan]]
The Royal Iraqi Air Force (RoIAF) had been trained and equipped by the British prior to independence in 1932.<ref>Lyman 2006, p. 25.</ref> One result of this was the dominance of British-built aircraft in the RoIAF inventory. In 1941, the sole RoIAF single-purpose fighter squadron, [[4th Squadron (Iraq)|4th Squadron]] consisted of seven operational Gloster Gladiators at [[RAF Hinaidi|Rashid Air Base]].<ref>Lyman 2006, p. 26.</ref>

On 2 May 1941, in response to a [[blockade]] established by increasing numbers of Iraqi forces on [[RAF Habbaniya]] and demands from the revolutionary Iraqi government, a preemptive RAF attack was launched to break the encirclement. During this action, Iraqi Gladiators took part in attacks on the British air base, repeatedly strafing it ineffectively.<ref>Lyman 2006, p. 44.</ref> Although much of the RoIAF was destroyed in the air or on the ground in the following days, the Iraqi Gladiators kept flying until the end of the war, carrying out strafing attacks on A Company of 1 Battalion, The [[Essex Regiment]] on the outskirts of [[Baghdad]] on 30 May.<ref>Lyman 2006, p. 84.</ref>

Before the outbreak of hostilities in Iraq, [[No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAF]] at Habbaniya operated three old Gladiators as officers' runabouts. With the increased tension, the base was reinforced with another six Gladiators on 19 April, flying in from Egypt.<ref>Lyman 2006, pp. 16, 22.</ref> During the early part of the war, these nine Gladiators flew numerous sorties against air and ground targets, taking off from the base's [[polo]] field.<ref>Lyman 2006, p. 40.</ref> The RAF's Gladiator force in Iraq was further reinforced when, on 11 May, another five aircraft arrived, this time from [[No. 94 Squadron RAF|94 Squadron]] in [[Ismaïlia]] on the [[Suez Canal]].<ref>Lyman 2006, p. 52.</ref><ref name="mason 9" /> A last resupply of Gladiators came on 17 May in the form of four more 94 Squadron aircraft.<ref name="Lyman 68">Lyman 2006, p. 68.</ref>

During the fighting, the sole Gladiator-on-Gladiator kill occurred on 5 May, when Plt. Off. Watson of the fighter flight shot down an Iraqi Gladiator over [[Baqubah]] during a bomber escort mission. The Iraqi Gladiators' only claim during the war was a [[Vickers Wellington]] bomber shared with ground fire on 4 May.<ref>Thomas 2002, p. 80.</ref> RAF Gladiators proved effective against the Iraqi aircraft, which had been reinforced by Axis aircraft.<ref name="mason 9" /> Immediately after launching his coup against King [[Faisal II of Iraq|Faisal II]] in early April 1941, Prime Minister [[Rashid Ali al-Gaylani]] approached Germany and Italy for help in repelling any British countermeasures. In response, the Germans assembled a Luftwaffe task force under Iraqi colours called ''[[Fliegerführer Irak]]'' ("Flyer Command Iraq") which from 14 May operated out of Mosul.<ref>Lyman 2006, p. 64.</ref> Before this force collapsed due to lack of supplies, replacements, and quality fuel in addition to aggressive RAF attacks, two Gladiators fought a pair of Bf. 110s over Rashid Airfield at Baghdad on 17 May. Both German machines were swiftly shot down.<ref name="Lyman 68" />

The ''Regia Aeronautica'' had also dispatched a force of 12 Fiat CR.42s that arrived in Iraq on 23 May. Six days later, the Fiat CR.42s intercepted an RAF [[Hawker Audax]] and clashed with escorting Gladiators in what was to prove the final air-to-air combat of the brief campaign. Italian pilots claimed two No. 94 Sqn Gladiators; one Fiat was shot down by a Gladiator flown by Wg. Cdr. Wightman, close to Khan Nuqta.<ref name="Thomas 2002, p. 81">Thomas 2002, p. 81.</ref> Following the end of hostilities in Iraq, No 94 Squadron handed its Gladiators over to SAAF and RAAF units.<ref name="mason 9 10">Mason 1966, pp. 9-10.</ref> The Iraqis continued to operate their remaining Gladiators, some remaining in use as late as 1949;<ref name="mason 12">Mason 1966, p. 12.</ref> these were reportedly used to conduct ground-attack missions against the [[Kurdish people|Kurds]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}}

====Syria====
After the end of the Iraq fighting the British invaded Vichy French-controlled Syria to prevent the area from falling under direct German control. The French in Syria had supported the Iraqi rebellion materially and allowed ''Luftwaffe'' aircraft to use their airfields for operations over Iraq. The month-long [[Syria-Lebanon Campaign]] in June–July 1941 saw heavy fighting both in the air and on land, until the Vichy French authorities in Syria surrendered on 12 July 1941. In one encounter between the Royal Air Force and the [[Vichy French Air Force]] on 15 June 1941, six Gloster Gladiators were jumped by an equal number of [[Dewoitine D.520]] monoplane fighter aircraft. In a confused battle, both sides lost one aircraft shot down and one severely damaged. French fighter ace [[Pierre Le Gloan]] shot down the Gladiator for his 15th confirmed kill. Le Gloan himself had to crash-land his damaged D.520 at his own air base.<ref>Ketley 1999, pp. 31–32, 36</ref>

As late as mid-1941, the RAF Chief-of-Air Staff offered 21 Gloster Gladiators gathered from various meteorological and communications flights in the Middle East, as well as five from a Free French unit, to [[Air Officer Commanding|AOC]] [[Singapore in the Straits Settlements|Singapore]] in order to strengthen the colony's defences against the emerging Japanese threat. The offer was turned down and later reinforcements consisted of Hawker Hurricanes.<ref>Cull 2004, p. 12</ref>

===Operations elsewhere===
The [[Irish Air Corps]] was supplied with four Gladiators on 9 March 1939. On 29 December 1940, two Irish Gladiators were scrambled from [[Baldonnel, Ireland|Baldonnel]] to intercept a German [[Junkers Ju 88|Ju 88]] flying over Dublin on a photographic reconnaissance mission, but were unable to make contact.<ref>Kennedy 2008, p. 180.</ref> Although unable to intercept any intruding aircraft, the Irish Gladiators shot down several British [[barrage balloon]]s that had broken from their moorings.<ref>Crawford, Alex. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080328183643/http://www.geocities.com/acrawford0/iac.html "Irish Air Corps Gladiators."] ''geocities.com''. Retrieved 12 April 2009.</ref> For a short time in 1940, an order was given to Irish fighter pilots to use their aircraft to block the runways of airfields. They were then to use rifles and shoot at any invaders.<ref>Fodor 1982, p. 134.</ref>

The Luftwaffe used captured Latvian Gladiators as glider tugs with ''Ergänzungsgruppe'' (S) 1 from Langendiebach near Hanau during 1942–3.<ref>Gustavsson, Håkan. [http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/gladiator_luftwaffe.htm "Luftwaffe use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War."] ''Håkans Aviation page''. Retrieved 22 May 2012.</ref>

After becoming obsolete, RAF Gladiators carried out non-combat tasks such as meteorological work, being operated as such across various parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Europe as late as 1944.<ref>Gustavsson, Håkan. [http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/gladiator_raf_mf.htm "Gloster Gladiator in Meteorological Flights service."] ''Håkans Aviation page''. Retrieved 11 April 2009.</ref> By the end of the war, few intact aircraft remained and many of these were quickly scrapped. Two survivors were privately purchased by V.H. Bellamy, who completed a flightworthy Gladiator out of parts from ''L8032'' and ''N5903'', which became the sole example of the type in such a condition.<ref name="mason 11">Mason 1966, p. 11.</ref>

===Final engagements===
The [[Finnish Air Force]] was the last to use the Gloster biplane in combat. It was under Finnish insignia that the Gladiator achieved its last air victory. During the [[Continuation War]], against the Soviets, Glosters supported the advance of the Karelian Army around [[Lake Ladoga]]. On 15 February 1943, 1st Lt Håkan Strömberg of ''[[LLv 16]]'', during a reconnaissance mission along the [[Murmansk]] railway, between the White Sea and the [[Lake Onega]], spotted, on Karkijarvi, a Soviet [[Polikarpov R-5]] taking off. Stromberg dived on it and shot it down into the forest near its airfield with two bursts.<ref name="Thomas 2002, p. 82">Thomas 2002, p. 82.</ref> This was the last confirmed victory in the Gladiator.

==Quotations==
{{blockquote|Those old Gladiators aren't made of stressed steel like a [[Hawker Hurricane|Hurricane]] or a [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spit]]. They have taut canvas wings, covered with magnificently inflammable [[aircraft dope|dope]], and underneath there are hundreds of small thin sticks, the kind you put under the logs for kindling, only these are drier and thinner. If a clever man said, 'I am going to build a big thing that will burn better and quicker than anything else in the world,' and if he applied himself diligently to his task, he would probably finish up by building something very like a Gladiator.|[[Roald Dahl]]|"A Piece of Cake", from the short story collection ''[[The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More|The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar]]''}}

==Gladiator aces==
The top scoring Gladiator aces flew it in North Africa and Greece, scoring most of their successes against ''Regia Aeronautica'' aircraft. The top ace was Flight Lieutenant [[Pat Pattle]], from No. 80 Squadron, who won 15.5 confirmed air victories while flying the Gladiator (out of his 50+ kills), plus four probably destroyed and six damaged. Second was Pilot Officer [[William Vale|William "Cherry" Vale]], from No. 33 and 80 Squadrons, with ten individual kills, 1 shared kill, and 1.5 damaged. Flight Lieutenant Joe P. Fraser, from No. 112 Squadron, and Flight Sergeant Don S. Gregory, from Nos. 33 and 80 Squadrons, scored all of their kills (respectively, 9.5 and 8) flying the Gladiator. Sergeant C. E. "Cas" Casbolt, from No. 80 Squadron, shot down 7.5 enemy aircraft (plus one probably destroyed and 1.5 damaged).<ref name="Thomas 2002, p. 83">Thomas 2002, p. 83.</ref> [[Rhodesia]]n pilot [[Caesar Hull]] scored five of his eight victories in a Gladiator during the [[Norwegian campaign]] in 1940, including four in the same afternoon. He was the leading Allied pilot of the campaign.

Top [[Finnish Air Force]] Gladiator ace was Captain Paavo Berg, who claimed 6 of his 11 victories with Gladiators. Warrant Officer [[Oiva Tuominen]] claimed 5 of his 44 victories with Gladiators. Several other FiAF aces also claimed victories with Gladiators.

Three pilots flying for the wartime ''[[Development of Chinese Nationalist air force (1937–1945)|Nationalist Air Force of China]]'', John Wong (Huang Xinrui), [[Arthur Chin]] and Zhu Jiaxun, all former pilots of [[List of aircraft used in China before 1937|Chinese provincial-warlord air forces]], achieved ace statuses while fighting in Gladiators, with Zhu Jiaxun scoring a double-kill against the formidable [[Mitsubishi A5M]] over [[Nanxiong]], Guangdong province on 30 August 1938.<ref>Thomas 2002, pp 12-14</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Peter |title=Zhu Jiaxun |url=https://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=938 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306193906/https://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=938 |archive-date=6 March 2023 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=WW2DB |quote=Zhu Jiaxun, flying a Gladiator fighter, shot down two Japanese A5M fighters over Nanxiong, Guangdong Province, China, but his fighter would run out of fuel, forcing him to crash land in a rice paddy; he suffered light injuries as he was thrown out of the aircraft on landing.}}</ref>

==Variants==
;SS.37
:Prototype.
;Gladiator I
:Version powered by a single {{cvt|840|hp}} [[Bristol Mercury]] IX air-cooled radial piston engine. The aircraft was designated '''J 8''' in Swedish Air Force service. Delivered 1937–38, 378 built.
;Gladiator II
:Version powered by a single Bristol Mercury VIIIA air-cooled radial piston engine. The aircraft was designated '''J 8A''' in Swedish Air Force service. Delivered 1938–39, 270 built.
;Sea Gladiator Interim
:Single-seat fighter biplane for the Royal Navy, 38 modified Gladiator II aircraft. Fitted with [[Tailhook|arrestor hooks]]. Serial numbers: N2265 – N2302.
;Sea Gladiator
:Single-seat fighter biplane for the Royal Navy, 60 built. Fitted with arrestor hooks and provision for [[dinghy]] stowage. Serial numbers: N5500 – N5549 and N5565 – N5574.

[[File:Gladiator I Irsko.jpg|thumb|Gloster Gladiator Mk I of the 1st Squadron of the [[Irish Air Corps]]]]

==Operators==
{{Main|List of Gloster Gladiator operators}}
[[File:Gloster Gladiator 1.jpg|thumb|Gladiator I in Second World War [[Norwegian Army Air Service]] colours]]
[[File:F19-014.jpg|thumb|[[Swedish Voluntary Air Force (Winter War)|Swedish Voluntary Air Force]] Gladiator fighter from the [[Flygflottilj 19|air squadron F 19]], with [[Finnish Air Force]] markings]]

;{{AUS}}
* [[Royal Australian Air Force]]

;{{BEL}}
* [[Belgium Air Force]]

;{{flagcountry|Nationalist government}}
* [[Chinese Nationalist Air Force]]

;{{flag|Egypt|1922}}
* [[Royal Egyptian Air Force]]
 
;{{flag|Free France}}
* [[Free French Air Force]]

;{{FIN}}
* [[Finnish Air Force]]
* [[Swedish Voluntary Air Force (Winter War)|Swedish Voluntary Air Force]]
;{{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}} 
* [[Luftwaffe]] operated small numbers, including some of former Latvian and Lithuanian Gladiators)<ref>Ketley and Rolfe 1996, p. 11.</ref><ref name=":0" />

;{{flag|Greece|old}}
* [[Hellenic Air Force]]

;{{flagcountry|Mandatory Iraq}}
* [[Iraqi Air Force]]

;{{IRL}}
* [[Irish Air Force]]

;{{LVA}}
* [[Latvian Air Force]] had 26 units.

;{{flag|Lithuania|1918}}
* [[Lithuanian Air Force]] had 14 units.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|year=1989|title=Gloster "Gladiator"|url=https://www.plienosparnai.lt/page.php?23|access-date=23 April 2021|website=Plieno sparnai|publisher=Lietuvos Oreivis Nr. 4 1989 m.|language=Lithuanian}}</ref>

;{{NOR}}
* [[Norwegian Army Air Service]]

;{{flagcountry|Portugal}}
* [[Portuguese Air Force]]

;{{flagcountry|Kingdom of Romania}}
* [[Royal Romanian Air Force]]

;{{flagcountry|Union of South Africa}}
* [[South African Air Force]]

;{{flag|Soviet Union|1936}}
* [[Soviet Air Force]] took over former Latvian and Lithuanian Gladiators following the [[Occupation of the Baltic states|occupation of the Baltic States]]

;{{SWE}}
* [[Swedish Air Force]]

;{{UK}}
* [[Royal Air Force]]
* [[Fleet Air Arm]]

==Surviving aircraft==
[[File:Gladiator pair - Flying Legends 2013 (9304445682).jpg|thumb|Gladiator ''L8032'' (civil registration ''G-AMRK''), owned by the Shuttleworth Trust, and Gladiator ''N5902'' (''G-GLAD'') owned by The Fighter Collection, flying in formation (2013)]]
[[File:Malta 482.jpg|thumb|The fuselage of ''N5520'', Fort St. Elmo, Malta (2006)]]

;Malta
* N5520 ''Faith'' – Sea Gladiator fuselage on static display at the [[National War Museum (Malta)|National War Museum]] in [[Valletta]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Fort St Elmo – National War Museum |url=http://heritagemalta.org/museums-sites/national-war-museum |website=Heritage Malta |access-date=24 November 2018 |archive-date=23 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723001620/http://heritagemalta.org/museums-sites/national-war-museum/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is the only surviving Gladiator from the [[Hal Far Fighter Flight|Fighter Flight]].<ref>{{cite web |title=ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN MALTA, GIBRALTAR AND THE MEDITERRANEAN, 1940-1945. |url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205207926 |website=Imperial War Museums |access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref> Research on the airframe has indicated that it incorporates parts of at least one other Gladiator.<ref>Crawford 2002, pp. 122–123.</ref>

;Norway
* N5641 – Gladiator II on static display at the [[Norwegian Aviation Museum]] in [[Bodø|Bodø, Nordland]]. It was operated by No. 263 squadron and abandoned at Lake Lesjaskog during the squadron's retreat.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gloster Gladiator II |url=http://luftfartsmuseum.no/fly/gloster-gladiator-ii-2 |website=Norsk Luftfartsmuseum |access-date=24 November 2018 |archive-date=25 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125073908/https://luftfartsmuseum.no/fly/gloster-gladiator-ii-2/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The aircraft had been purchased by a local farmer who preserved it into the 1960s when it was brought to the museum for restoration.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hunt |first=Leslie |date=7 December 1967 |title=Norwegian Gladiator Recovery |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1967/1967%20-%202376.html |magazine=Flight International |publisher=Iliffe Transport Publications |access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref>

;Sweden
* 278 – J 8 on static display at the [[Swedish Air Force Museum]] near [[Linköping|Linköping, Östergötland]].<ref>{{cite web |title=J 8 |url=https://www.flygvapenmuseum.se/samlingar/flygplan/flygvapenmuseum-linkoping/j-8--gloster-gladiator |website=Flygvapenmuseum |access-date=24 November 2018 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624211350/https://www.flygvapenmuseum.se/samlingar/flygplan/flygvapenmuseum-linkoping/j-8--gloster-gladiator |url-status=dead }}</ref>

;United Kingdom
* K8042 – Gladiator I on static display at the [[Royal Air Force Museum Cosford]] in [[Cosford, Shropshire]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Gloster Gladiator 1 |url=http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/gloster-gladiator-1 |website=Royal Air Force Museum |access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Simpson |first1=Andrew |title=INDIVIDUAL HISTORY [K8042] |url=http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/74-A-17_Gladiator_K8042.pdf |website=Royal Air Force Museum |access-date=24 November 2018 |date=2017}}</ref>
* L8032 – Gladiator I airworthy at the [[Shuttleworth Collection]] in [[Old Warden|Old Warden, Bedfordshire]].<ref>{{cite web |title=GLOSTER GLADIATOR |url=http://www.shuttleworth.org/collection/glostergladiator |website=Shuttleworth |access-date=24 November 2018 |archive-date=18 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218124818/http://www.shuttleworth.org/collection/glostergladiator/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* N5628 – Gladiator II forward fuselage on static display at the [[Royal Air Force Museum London]] in [[London]]. It is displayed unrestored.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forward fuselage of Gloster Gladiator Mk II (Salvaged remains only) |url=http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/forward-fuselage-of-gloster-gladiator-mk-ii-s |website=Royal Air Force Museum |access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Simpson |first1=Andrew |title=INDIVIDUAL HISTORY [N5628] |url=http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/72-A-472_Gladiator_II_N5628.pdf |website=Royal Air Force Museum |access-date=24 November 2018 |date=2015}}</ref>
* N5903 – Gladiator II airworthy at [[The Fighter Collection]] in [[Duxford, Cambridgeshire]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Gloster Gladiator G-GLAD |url=http://fighter-collection.com/cft/gloster-gladiator-g-glad |website=The Fighter Collection |date=29 November 2012 |access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref>
* N5914 – Gladiator II under restoration at the [[Jet Age Museum]] in [[Gloucester, Gloucestershire]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Gloster Gladiator N5914 |url=http://jetagemuseum.org/elementor-797 |website=Jet Age Museum |date=13 July 2018 |access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gladiator |url=http://historyjournal.co.uk/Gladiator.aspx |website=History Journal |access-date=24 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314234633/http://historyjournal.co.uk/Gladiator.aspx |archive-date=14 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier – Gloster Gladiator II, s/n N5914 RAF, c/n Unknown |url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=123206 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref>
* N5719 – Gladiator II Restoration at Retro Track And Air (UK) Ltd
* N5518 - Gladiator II Restoration at Fleet Air Arm Museum

==Specifications (Gloster Gladiator Mk I)==
[[File:Gloster Gladiator 3-view line drawing.svg|thumb|3-view drawing of the Gladiator Mk.I]]
[[File:Gloster Gladiator Cockpit.jpg|thumb|Cockpit of a Gladiator]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Gloster Aircraft since 1917,<ref name="James p226">James 1971, p. 226.</ref> The Gloster Gladiator,<ref name = "mason 16">Mason 1966, p. 16.</ref><ref name="Thetford RAF p227">Thetford 1957, p. 227.</ref> 
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=1
|length ft=27
|length in=5
|length note=
|span ft=32
|span in=3
|span note=
|height ft=11
|height in=9
|height note=
|wing area sqft=323
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=RAF 28<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight lb=3217
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=4594
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Bristol Mercury IX]]
|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 hp=830
|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch metal propeller
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed mph=253
|max speed note=at {{cvt|14500|ft|0}}
|cruise speed mph=210
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=53
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|range miles=
|range note=
|combat range miles=
|combat range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=2 hours
|ceiling ft=32800
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ftmin=2300
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude={{cvt|10000|ft|0}} in 4 minutes 45 seconds
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/weight=

|more performance=<!--<br />
*'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Take-off distance to {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Landing run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Landing distance from {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}-->
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns= <br/>
:*'''Initially''': two [[synchronization gear|synchronised]] [[.303 British|.303 in]] [[Vickers machine gun]]s in fuselage sides, two .303 in [[Lewis machine gun]]s; one beneath each lower wing.
:*'''Later aircraft''': four [[Browning .303 Mark II]] machine guns, two synchronised guns in fuselage sides and one beneath each lower wing.
:*In at least some Sea Gladiators, provision existed for a pair of Brownings to be fitted under the upper wings as well, bringing the total to six. Official service release trials were not completed before the Sea Gladiators were replaced by later types – but some upper wing Brownings may have been fitted in the field, in particular in Malta.<ref>Mason 1964, pp. 82, 117.</ref>

|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|related=
*[[Gloster Gauntlet]]
*[[Gloster F.5/34]]
|similar aircraft=
*[[Avia B-534]]
*[[Bristol Bulldog]]
*[[Fiat CR.32]]
*[[Fiat CR.42]]
*[[Grumman F3F]]
*[[Polikarpov I-15]]
*[[Polikarpov I-153]]
|lists=
*[[List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force]]
*[[List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm]]
*[[List of aircraft of World War II]]
|see also=
*[[F. H. Maynard]]
*[[John Lapsley]]
}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

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* {{cite book |last=Spencer |first=Tom |title=Gloster Gladiator |series=Warpaint Series No.37 |publisher=Warpaint Books |location=Luton, UK |year=2003 |oclc=78987788}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Stenman |first=Kari |title=From Britain to Finland: Supplies for the Winter War |magazine=[[Air Enthusiast]] |issue= 94 |date=July–August 2001 |issn=0143-5450 |pages=56–59 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Stenman |first1=Kari |last2=de Jong |first2=Peter |title=Fokker D.XXI Aces of World War 2 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford, UK |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-78096-062-3}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Stulas |first1=Saulius |title=Le chasseur biplan Gloster Gladiator, ou la fin d'une époque (5ème partie: les Gladiator Lithuaniens) |journal=Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire |date=January 1998 |issue=58 |pages=41–43 |trans-title=The Biplane Fighter Gloster Gladiator, or the End of an Era (Lithuanian Gladiators) |language=French |issn=1243-8650}}
* {{cite book |last=Thetford |first=Owen |title=Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918–57 |publisher=Putnam |location=London, UK |year=1957}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Thetford |first=Owen |title=On Silver Wings – Part 20 |magazine=Aeroplane Monthly |volume=20 |issue=5 |date=May 1992 |pages=8–15 |issn=0143-7240}}
* {{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Andrew |title=Gloster Gladiator Aces |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Botley, UK |year=2002 |isbn=1-84176-289-X}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Thomas |first=Andrew |title=Oriental Gladiators: The combat debut for the Gloster biplane |magazine=Air Enthusiast |issue=121 |date=January-February 2006 |pages=73–75}}
* {{cite book |last=Weal |first=John |title=He 111 Kampfgeschwader in the West |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford, UK |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-84908-670-7}}
* {{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Anthony G. |last2=Gustin |first2=Emmanuel |title=Flying Guns: World War II |publisher=The Crowood Press |location=Ramsbury, Marlborough, UK |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-84037-227-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Zbiegniewski |first=Andre R. |title=112 Sqn "Shark Squadron", 1939–1941 |publisher=Oficyna Wydawnicza Kagero |location=Lublin, Poland |year=2003 |isbn=83-89088-55-X |language=Polish, English}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{External media|topic= |width=19% |float=right |video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zb7CGKTt-g Engine startup of a Gloster Gladiator] |video2=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KANP2dN2Ae8 Documentary on ''Faith'' ''Hope'' and ''Charity'' Gladiators on Malta during the Second World War] |video3=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrpWcm8V3k4 Preserved airworthy Gladiator Mk II  ''N5903'' taking off and performing an aerobatic display, 2013]}}
* [https://collections.rafmuseum.org.uk/collection/object/object-1775/?return=%2Fcollection%2F%3Fq1%3Dsearch%26q2%3DGloster%2BGladiator%2B RAF Museum]
* [http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/0008.html BoB net]
* [http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/BARC/gladiator.html Warbirds Resource Group]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20030823084309/http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/aircraft/Gladiator.htm Fleet Air Arm Archive]}}
* [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/types/uk/gloster/gladiator/gladiator.htm aeroflight]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150801134808/http://www.maltaviationmuseum.com/forum.asp Malta Aviation Museum]}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070911055427/http://www.killifish.f9.co.uk/Malta%20WWII/Faith%20Hope%20%26%20Charity.htm Faith, Hope & Charity]
* [http://ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/1999/10/stuff_eng_profile_gladiator1.htm Gladiator Camouflage and Markings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114232658/http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/1999/10/stuff_eng_profile_gladiator1.htm |date=14 January 2015 }}
* [http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_tarantino.htm Håkans aviation page Biplane fighter aces]
* [http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/commonwealth_hope.htm Håkans aviation page Biplane Fighter Aces]
* [http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_lucchini.htm Håkans aviation page Biplane Fighter Aces]

{{Gloster aircraft}}
{{Swedish military aircraft designations}}

[[Category:1930s British fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:Carrier-based aircraft]]
[[Category:Gloster aircraft|Gladiator]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1934]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]
[[Category:Anglo-Iraqi War]]