ADF-SERIALS
Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History

RAAF Gloster Gauntlet Mk.II
3 Sqn & 451 Sqn, RAAF

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Gauntlet Mk.II K7843
     
 

Gloster Gauntlet Image Gallery

  
     
 

1940

3 Squadron, RAAF sailed from Sydney on 15 July 1940 and arrived in the Middle East on 23 August 1940. At the time, it was planned to equip the Squadron with Westland Lysanders operating in its intended role as an army cooperation unit in support of the 6th Division of the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) under the command of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Middle East Command.

While the unit experienced some delays in equipping with Lysanders, it was decided to expand the squadron with a flight of Gloster Gladiators and a detachment of Gloster Gauntlets.

The unit received six Gloster Gauntlets early in October 1940 for dive-bombing and strafing ground attack missions. 

The initial Gauntlet detachment consisted of the following personnel:

Aircrew: F/L Blake Pelley, F/O Allan Rawlinson, P/O Lyndsey Knowles, P/O Woof Arthur plus two relief pilots: F/L Gordon Steege and P/O Alan Davidson.
Ground Crew: Sgt. Max Quinton, Sgt. Mort Kieley, L.A.C. Jock Thom, L.A.C. Les Fitzpatrick, L.A.C. Ted Bainbridge, L.A.C. Ken Carrera, A.C. Harry Sadler, A.C. Griffiths

This flight was attached to No 208 Squadron, RAF at Casarba. Two of the Gauntlets (as yet unidentified) were left with 208 Sqn as unserviceable. The unit then operated the Gladiators and at least 5 Gauntlets were engaged on operations dive bombing and strafing of Italian troops.

On 13 November 1940 the contingent returned to Gerawla to commence operations under 3 Squadron, RAAF control.

By mid-December 1940, 3 Squadron ceased Gauntlet operations due to the difficulty in supporting the type and the squadron continued to operate with Gloster Gladiators & Westland Lysanders until converting to Hurricanes from 21 January 1941.

1941

3 Squadron commenced the conversion from the Hawker Hurricane to Curtiss Tomahawks from mid May 1941 at Aqir in Palestine. The squadron would then move on to Lydda where on the 14th May 1941, they received the first two Tomahawks (AK407 and AK410, flown by Sqn Ldr Jeffrey and F/Lt Perrin respectively).

While the days of Hurricanes were now over, an older but familiar type in the form of the Gauntlet was briefly re-issued to the squadron to help in the conversion of new pilots.

The first was a single Gloster Gauntlet (K5268), which was then replaced by K5318 on the 30th May 1941. K5318’s time with the squadron was only a matter of weeks as it was passed back to 102 MU, RAF before being issued to the Greek Air Force Flight being formed in the Middle East (who also operated ex 3 Sqn Gauntlets K5268 & K5325).

  
     
 

Aircraft Serial

Type

Airframe History

K5268

Mk.II

28/03/1936 Delivered to 111 Squadron, RAF,
14/02/1938 46 Squadron, RAF,
15/03/1939 26 Maintenance Unit, 
36 Maintenance Unit, RAF Sealand, Wales,
Shipped to the Middle East,
08/05/1939 Air Depot Aboukir, (102 MU, RAF),
??/05/1941 To 3 Sqn, RAAF while converting from Hurricanes to Tomahawks,
??/05/1941 Returned to RAF (102 MU, Aboukir?),
To Greek Flight, Gaza,
10/11/1941 Crashed near Gaza, Damaged Beyond Repair.

K5318

Mk.II

08/07/1936 Delivered to 9 Flying Training School, RAF,
10/11/1936 46 Squadron, RAF,
27/02/1939 24 Maintenance Unit, RAF Ternhill,
08/05/1939 36 Maintenance Unit, RAF Sealand, Wales,
Shipped to the Middle East,
06/07/1939 Air Depot Aboukir, (102 MU, RAF),
??/07/1940 Pilot Reserve and Reinforcement Pool, RAF,
29/08/1940 Force landed on approach to Ismailia,
Repaired on Site,
21/09/1940 The Pilot Reserve and Reinforcement Pool became Training Unit and Reserve Pool,
??/10/1940? To 3 Sqn, RAAF,
13/12/1940 To 102 MU, RAF Aboukir,
30/05/1941 To 3 Sqn, RAAF to replace K5268 while converting from Hurricanes to Tomahawks,
??/??/1941 Returned to RAF (102 MU?),
To Greek Flight, Gaza,
13/04/1942 Undershot landing and hit tents, Gaza,
Damaged Beyond Repair and Struck off Charge.

K5325

Mk.II

 17/07/1936 Delivered to 32 Squadron, RAF,
16/01/1939 601 Squadron, RAF,
24/03/1939 24 Maintenance Unit, RAF Ternhill,
02/05/1939 36 Maintenance Unit, RAF Sealand, Wales,
Shipped to the Middle East,
06/07/1939 Air Depot Aboukir, (102 MU),
22/09/1940 51 Repair and Salvage Unit,
??/10/1940 3 Sqn, RAAF,
??/??/1941 Returned to RAF (102 MU?),
To Greek Flight, Gaza,
14/01/1942 Struck Off Charge.

K7825

Mk.II

30/09/1936 Delivered to 66 Squadron, RAF,
05/11/1936 Tipped up in forced landing,
13/11/1938 615 Squadron, RAF,
17/07/1939 5 Maintenance Unit, RAF Kemble,
18/09/1939 36 Maintenance Unit, RAF Sealand, Wales,
To Middle East for Southern Rhodesian Air Force as 152,
??/10/1939? To 3 Sqn, RAAF,
16/12/1940 Two Gauntlets from 3 RAAF Squadron flown by Flying Officers Peter Turnbull (K7843) and John Perrin (K7825) took off for Maaten Bagush at 07:45. At 08:00 they arrived at Bagush and took off again at 08:30 to escort three Lysanders conveying General Wavell and staff bound for ALG 75. They landed at 09:40. They took off again at 14:20 to escort one Lysander back to Bagush were the Lysander landed at 15:30. The Gauntlets (which didn’t land at Bagush) returned to Gerawla and landed at 15:40,
??/12/1940 Returned to RAF (102 MU?).

K7843

Mk.II

Delivered to 46 Squadron, 04/11/36
26 Maintenance Unit, 18/02/39
36 Maintenance Unit, 06/04/39
Shipped to the Middle East for Air Depot Aboukir, 22/04/39
To 112 Squadron, RAF,
??/10/1940? To 3 Sqn, RAAF,
16/12/1940 Two Gauntlets from 3 RAAF Squadron flown by Flying Officers Peter Turnbull (K7843) and John Perrin (K7825) took off for Maaten Bagush at 07:45. At 08:00 they arrived at Bagush and took off again at 08:30 to escort three Lysanders conveying General Wavell and staff bound for ALG 75. They landed at 09:40. They took off again at 14:20 to escort one Lysander back to Bagush were the Lysander landed at 15:30. The Gauntlets (which didn’t land at Bagush) returned to Gerawla and landed at 15:40
??/12/1940 Returned to 102 MU, RAF?,
30/05/1941 Issued to 3 Sqn, RAAF again to replace K5268 while transitioning from Hawker Hurricanes to Curtiss Tomahawks.
Later to 451 Sqn, RAAF?

Photo below with Caption: Gauntlet Mk.II K7843  - 451 Squadron, El Daba, Egypt, Sept 1943 (Used by 3 Squadron in 1940).

Gauntlet Mk.II K7843

Unidentified

Mk.II

??/10/1940 3 Sqn, RAAF,
??/10/1940 Unserviceable and left with 208 Sqn, RAF.

Unidentified

Mk.II

??/10/1940 3 Sqn, RAAF,
??/10/1940 Unserviceable and left with 208 Sqn, RAF.
 		  
 

Gloster Gauntlet Timeline: 3 Squadron RAAF

  
     
 

1

23/08/1940

3 Sqn, RAAF arrives at Port Tewfik, Egypt aboard HT Delaware

2

Late/08/1940

3 Sqn, RAAF proceeds to Ismailia

3

Early/09/1940

Initial 2 Lysanders loaned to 3 Sqn from 102 MU Abu Suier (Awaiting allotted the Squadron's Lysanders )

4

12/09/1940

3rd Lysander Loaned from 102 MU Abu Suier

5

16/09/1940

Signal received from HQME advising that 3 Sqn is to expand from 2 flights to 3 and be equipped with 2 Flights of Gloster Gladiators and retain 1 Flight equipped with Lysanders

6

19/09/1940

Four pilots (Pelly, Turnbull, Rawlinson & Knowles) to proceed to 102 MU Abu Suier to collect 4 Gauntlets and detach to 208 Sqn, RAF at Quasaba.

7

20/09/1940

Pilots fly the 4 Gauntlets to 208 Sqn at Quasaba and the ground contingent are conveyed in a Bristol Bombay.

8

23/09/1940

Gladiator flights proceed to Helwan to take over Gladiators from 33 Sqn, RAF with ground echelon conveyed by motor transport.

9

6/10/1940

Steege replaces Turnbull

10

12/10/1940

Two more Gauntlets received from 102 MU (Perrin & Davidson) and they join the Detatchment to 208 Sqn, RAF.

11

14/10/1940

Turnbull returns to Gauntlet Detachment to208 Sqn, RAF.

12

16/10/1940

6 Gauntlets on strength with 3 Sqn's detachment to 208 Sqn, RAF.

13

2/11/1940

All six pilots return from  to 208 Sqn, 2 Gauntlets left with 208 Sqn as U/S

14

5/11/1940

Gauntlets conduct exercise with the 2nd Battalion of the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders and B Squadron of the 7th Royal Tanks.

15

13/11/1940

First Gladiator Operation

16

26/11/1940

Gauntlet Exercises with ground forces.

17

8/12/1940

5 Gladiators and 5 Gauntlets ordered by HQ 202 Group, RAF to move to ALG74 for 10 days to form part of an Advanced Detached Flight lead by GrpCapt Brown, RAF

18

8/12/1940

Gladiators patrol over Sidi Barrani <insert details>

19

8/12/1940

5 Gauntlets dive bomb enemy escarpment NW of Sofafi <insert details>

20

10/12/1940

Gauntlets in major combat 3 successes and 4 losses <insert details>, No Gauntlet Ops

21

11/12/1940

Gladiator Op <insert details>

22

11/12/1940

Gladiator Op <insert details>

23

11/12/1940

Gauntlet Op <insert details>

24

11/12/1940

Gauntlet Op <insert details>

25

12/12/1940

Gauntlet Op <insert details>

26

12/12/1940

Gauntlet Op <insert details>

27

13/12/1940

Gladiator and Gauntlet Det moves to ALG at Bin Mella

28

14/12/1940

3 Gauntlets return from ALG Bin Mella to 3 Sqn at Gerawla

29

15/12/1940

2 Gauntlets return from ALG Bin Mella to 3 Sqn at Gerawla

30

16/12/1940

Two Gauntlets from 3 RAAF Squadron flown by Flying Officers Peter Turnbull (K7843) and John Perrin (K7825) took off for Maaten Bagush at 07:45.
At 08:00 they arrived at Bagush and took off again at 08:30 to escort three Lysanders conveying General Wavell and staff bound for ALG 75.
They landed at 09:40 and took off again at 14:20 to escort one Lysander back to Bagush were the Lysander landed at 15:30.
The Gauntlets did not land at Bagush and returned to Gerawla and landed at 15:40

31

??/12/1940

Gauntlets returned to 102 MU due to difficulty in maintaining serviceability

32

21/01/1941

3 Sqn Commences conversion to Hawker Hurricanes at Aqir, Palestine

33

14/05/1941

3 Sqn Commences conversion to Curtis Tomahawk at Lydda, Palestine

34

??/05/1941

Gauntlet K5268 Issued to 3 Sqn ex 102 MU

35

30/05/1941

Gauntlet K5268 Replaced by Gauntlet K5318 ex 102 MU

36

??/06/1941

K5318 passed back to 102 MU, RAF before being issued to the Greek Air Force Flight being formed in the Middle East (who also operate ex 3 Sqn Gauntlets K5268 & K5325)
 
     

Page Author: Brendan Cowan - with invaluable assistance from Alex Crawford

Sources: British Military Aircraft Serials 1911-1979 (Bruce Robertson), Australian War Memorial, National Archives of Australia , Gloster Gauntlet (MMPBooks: Author Alex Crawford), 3 Sqn RAAF, http://mmpbooks.biz/gauntlet/AppendixGauntlet.pdf , Operational Record Book (ORB) A.50, ADF Telegraph 2014 Summer, http://www.3squadron.org.au/

Emails: Bob Livingston, Alex Crawford, Gordon Birkett,

Updated 19th October 2018
     

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