Gloster Gladiator II N5716. Unst, Shetland. 21/06/1940.
This Gladiator of Sumburgh Fighter Flight had ben on a routine patrol when it suffered an engine failure of the NE coast, the pilot in haste spotted a place to land and set the aircraft down on a beach in shallow water at Haroldswick,Unst, however before coming to a halt it hit a dip and flipped over, it is not certain how the pilot managed to free himself or whether he was helped by locals, but it would appear he was OK and lived to fly another day.
Pilot: P/O Noel .I.L. Francis.
Pilot: P/O Noel .I.L. Francis.
An aerial view of Samphrey Island off Mossbank in Shetlands NE mainland
Footnote:
Another Gladiator of SFF crash landed on Samphrey Island after engine trouble and overturned also in a boggy area, this is reputed to be N5642 which was S.o.C on 30/12/1941 piloted by P/O Winter. More info is needed on this aircraft and it is hoped ARGOS members up in Shetland will be able to locate the site if anything still remains.
Another Gladiator of SFF crash landed on Samphrey Island after engine trouble and overturned also in a boggy area, this is reputed to be N5642 which was S.o.C on 30/12/1941 piloted by P/O Winter. More info is needed on this aircraft and it is hoped ARGOS members up in Shetland will be able to locate the site if anything still remains.
Shetland (Or Sumburgh as it was often referred) Fighter Flight Gladiator pilots, L to R: Gillan, Thomas & Winter. Photo: Shetland Museum.
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