<p>Built 1939 and issued to 263 squadron. One of eighteen Gladiators which flew to a frozen lake in Norway in April 1940 (via HMS Glorious) to provide air cover against the German Invasion. German bombing raids on the lake destroyed most of the aircraft, including ‘N5628’ and when the ice melted the aircraft sank out of sight.
Recovered in August 1970, the forward fuselage (as seen here) was brought back to the UK and treated with preservative. It then went to Hendon for the opening of the museum in November 1972 and went on display in the Historic Main Hangars where it remains today.
RAF Museum, Hendon, London, UK.
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22-3-2015
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/65001151@N03">Alan Wilson</a> from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajw1970/16694434493/">Gloster Gladiator II [N5628] salvaged remains</a>