Hawker Nimrod

I have a note that N5518 could have been transferred to 263Sqn as a replacement for N5624 which crashed prior to landing on.
I guess that the book/s have been compiled using official resources and private or personal records – if there was nothing in there then it would have been heresay (although there is scope for that kind of info too).
They are still good books though: must be about time for updates to be thought about…;)

Flood

Hi Flood,

Thanks for the info.

I believe that N5518 was passed on to 263 Squadron when they were onboard HMS Glorious during their first visit to Norway in April 1940. One of 263 Sqn’s Glads crashed short of the Carrier when being landed on by FAA pilots. 802 Sqn gave them a replacement Sea Glad, possibly N5518. When Glorious was sunk all of 802’s Sea Glads went down with her and all the squadron records, so we will never know for sure.

There is a photo that shows a Gladiator on the lake wearing FAA colours and coded HE-K. This may be the Sea Glad that was passed on to 263 Sqn. There are a couple of colour side views of this aircraft going around.

I have also been told that some of the Glads were repainted while on the carrier. The dark earth was replaced by light grey/sea grey. Photos of 263 Glads on the lake are very few. There seems to be more photos of the wrecks than actual aircraft, but that is understandable as they were only at the Lake for two days.

The fuselage frame that is at the FAA Museum may be made up of bits of N5518 when it was recovered from Lake Lesjaskog in the 70’s. I’m still looking into this with the help of a member of staff at the FAA.

I’ll see if I can get a hold of these books anyway. They will have info on other aircraft I am interested in.

I got my wires crossed about the Nimrod pattern aircraft for Denmark. I was thinking about the Gauntlet. I have loads of photos of Danish Nimrods, some showing the license built ones under construction.

Alex

Thanks.

So would it also have info on the Sea Gladiators that flew with the FAA? If so what does it say about N5518?

Alex

60 Sea Gladiator ordered under Cont No.952950/38 from Gloster, Hucclecote and numbered N5500-N5549 & N5565-N5574. (840hp Bristol Mercury VIII or IX)
N5518 – Deld 36 MU 21/3/39; to Malta 19/4/39; AD Aboukir to 802Sqn HMS Glorious 5/39-6/39
For the rest of its history (the nature of the book means that the info generall ends in 1939 when the Royal Navy was finally given back control of the Fleet Air Arm [on or about 24/5/39] and/or the start of WWII) you need to consult Air Britains FAA Aircraft 1939-45 – which unhelpfully gives the same information as above, adding possibly lost in HMS Glorious 8/6/40.
If you want info on the Flycatcher, the Fairey III series, or anything that served at that period then this is the book (if it is still available).

Pix of Danish Nimrods from the net (nothing else on Google image unless you want a DH Comet [jet] derivative!)

Flood

Time for a gratuitous pic of S1581 I think!

Still one of my favorite aircraft.

Jim

Thanks.

So would it also have info on the Sea Gladiators that flew with the FAA? If so what does it say about N5518?

Alex

There are 38 S-serialled Nimrods, but none – including the K serialled aircraft – are marked as being anything like patten aircraft for anywhere, let alone Denmark. Most of them have fairly obvious ends – by which I mean that the end was, um, obvious (collisions, stalling or spinning into the sea, etc).
The book is an excellent source of information for all the aircraft that served in the between-wars period with the Fleet Air Arm – if there are any left for me to plug to you…

Flood

Hi Flood,

Many thanks. I have a photo of S1577 and was wondering about its history. I’m not sure if this aircraft went to Demark as well as a pattern aircraft for their Nimrods. I may be confusing this with another ‘S’ series Nimrod.

Are there many Nimrods in the ‘S’ series? I don’t want to buy the book just for the Nimrod info.

Cheers,

Alex

From Air Britains FAA Aircraft, Units, and Ships 1920-39:
S1577 – Ordered under Cont No.54576/30 to A.M.Spec 16/30. Built at Kingston. 525hp Kestrel IS

FF 20/9/31; re-engined Kestrel IIMS; to Buenos Aires 1931; to Japan 1/32; A&AEE (22 Sqn) Martlesham Heath by 1/32 (radiator and consumption tests); to ER Flt RAE 13/2/32; retd A&AEE 3/32 (prop tests); DL trials in HMS Eagle (must be incorrect – out of commision then); MAEE Felixstowe 1932 (performance trials)[either a confusion with S1578 or it was also fitted with floats]; A&AEE by 10/32-3/33 (performance, stability and FR version wooden prop, ease of maintenance trials 2/32) MAEE by 5/34 (presumably as seaplane).

Flood

What sort of details? Air Britains FAA Aircraft, Units, and Ships 1920-39 is open before me…

Flood