263 Squadron

This book tells the story of RAF 263 Squadron, which took its Gladiators to Norway, not once but twice. In order to provide the ground troops with air cover in April 1940 the Squadron was sent to operate from a frozen lake in the south of Norway. After two days of heavy fighting the Gladiators had been destroyed and the Squadron was evacuated back to the UK. Re-equipped, 263 Squadron returned to Norway a month later, this time operating from an airfield further north. After almost three weeks of fighting the Squadron was once again evacuated. The remaining ten Gladiators were flown on board HMS Glorious, which set sail for the UK on 7th June. The next day the carrier was intercepted by German naval units and sank with a heavy loss of life, including all the 263 Squadron pilots. Using official documents and first-hand accounts the story of 263 Squadron's adventure in Norway can now be told in full detail.