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.