Jet Age Museum
SAVING GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S AVIATION HERITAGE
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Gloster Gladiator N5914

 

The Gladiator holds the distinction of being the last biplane fighter to enter RAF and Fleet Air Arm service.

  

 

A 20 year old New Zealander, Pilot Officer James Leon Wilkie, took off from Bardufoss at 14:30 along with N5681 (P/O Jacobsen) on patrol in the Narvik/Bjørnfjell area. He was attacked by two Bf 110's of I./ZG 76 east of Rombaksfjorden and shot down by the German ace Lt H Lent to become one of the seven daylight kills of the total 110 claimed by the ace up to his death on 7 October 1944.

 

The Gladiator held by Jet Age Museum is the one shot down on 2 June 1940 and the wreckage remained on Lille Haugefjellet until the end of 1998 it was recovered for restoration.

 

 

Above an image of the wreckage most probably taken during the war and from the site http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/lillehaugfjell.html

 

Below left members of Jet Age recovering the wreckage, Below right the airframe under restoration by Jet Age members.