Identification bi-plane

Thanks everyone for the information and photos.

Hi,
263 were based at Filton during the early stages of the war.
Therefore, I suspect that these images were taken there between September 39 and May 40.
They are incredible pictures and I thank you for posting them.
Best wishes
gerry

I don’t know much about them but could they have been based with a Filton Fighter Pool for local defence or anything?

The photo I posted was most likely taken at Filton as Dad was with the 501 as ground crew. I have no record of them operating Gloster Gladiators – could it have been there were other units operating there at the same time?

HE-J is mentionend in connection with a
Westland Whirlwind
P7116 HE-F *NOTE: This aircraft was later re-coded as HE-J
and a
Hawker Typhoon
MN823 HE-J
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?33-263-Squadron-individual-id-letters

Yes, but I meant in regards to a 605 Gladiator… 😀

HE-J is mentionend in connection with a
Westland Whirlwind
P7116 HE-F *NOTE: This aircraft was later re-coded as HE-J
and a
Hawker Typhoon
MN823 HE-J
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?33-263-Squadron-individual-id-letters

Here’s some info from Ian Piper’s book “605”

605 sqn aircraft list – shows Mk 1 & 2 Gladiators

605 Gladiators showing HE codes

of course, their’s no mention of HE-J, I or T ……. 🙁

Doesn’t look long enough to be a normal T, unlikely I know but could it have been an I?

Except that the code letter J usually didn’t have a cross bar, so it’s probably “T”.

John

ahh…. that’s where we differ…… I have no notes. at all…. Just a guess….:D

Early war picture (code HF.T ?) Black port wing, white stbd. Good pictures..

just going through my codes, HF not used till Nov 42.

I don’t think the bar on the ‘T’ is long enough, but it does fit a ‘J’.

Baz

You probably noticed the white starboard and black port wing. This aeroplane almost certainly coded HE@J belonged to 263 squadron post oct 39 (ex 605s)
Formed at Filton then up to Drem.

Early war picture (code HF.T ?) Black port wing, white stbd. Good pictures..

Concur.

Gloster Gladiator

Jon