| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | N5641 |
| Military Code: | HE-G |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Gloster Gladiator/Sea Gladiator |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Gloster Gladiator/Sea Gladiator |
| Aircraft Version: | Gloster Gladiator Mk2 |
| C/n (msn): | [ N5641 ] |
| Operator Titles: | UK - Air Force |
| Unit Markings: | 263 Sqn |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Airport: | Oslo - GardermoenMap |
| Country: | Norway |
| Airport Codes: | ICAO: ENGM IATA: OSL Local: - Other: - |
| Collection: | Forsvarets Flysamling Gardermoen |
| Event: | RNoAF 50th anniversary air show 1994 |
| Photo Date: | 11 June 1994 |
| Photo by: | Kjell O Granlund - Scanavphoto |
| Photo ID: | 440167 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
Following the German invasion of Norway on 9 April 1940, 263 Sqn was sent to Norway on HMS Glorious and landed southwest of Trondheim. It was a cold spring and the the RAF used the frozen Lake Lesjaskog to operate from. However the frozen surface thawed during the day, and disregarding advice from the Norwegian liaison officer, the RAF left the aircraft unattended overnight and when the Luftwaffe He 111s attacked in the early morning, the Gladiators were frozen into the ice and most of 263 Sqd was obliterated. The remains of the aircraft were sold to a local scrap merchant. N5641 was dismantled and placed in a shed where it remained until the mid-1970s when it was moved to Rygge for restoration. It is now on display in Bodø. This photo is copyright © Kjell O Granlund - Scanavphoto, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 17 February 2022, and has since been viewed 252 times. |