Ordered in 1935, the Gladiator was the last bi-plane fighter ordered and used by the RAF. Most early production had the Watts wooden propeller (like the Hurricane Mk I), though performance was better with the three-blade metal Fairey-Reed type.
Gladiators of the Auxiliary Air Force intercepted the first bombing raid on Britain over the Firth of Forth in September 1939, and these highly manoeuvrable biplanes were constantly in heroic action for the next three years.
Source: Fighting Aircraft of World War II
Salamander Books Ltd.
Source: Wings Palette http://wp.scn.ru/en/
