Iraqi Air Force Gladiators
During the thirties the Royal Iraqi Air Force purchased numerous aircraft from various countries. Among these purchases were 15 ex-Royal Air Force Gladiator MkIs, although the exact date of purchase remains a mystery. Although pro-British, Iraq, being a neutral country was a hot bed for foreign spies to undermine British influence. This came to a head when Raschid Ali Al Ghailani came to power in early 1941. Raschid was anti-British and with German help he brought about a revolt to throw the British out of Iraq. He sent a large force to take over the RAF camp at Lake Habbaniya. By May 1941 the RIAF consisted of the following units;
1 (Army C0-Operation) Squadron. 25 Nisrs, Pegasus engined Audaxes, at Mosul.
2 (Fighter) Squadron. 9 Gladiator MkIs at Kirkuk.
5 (Fighter) Squadron. 15 Breda Ba65s at Raschid.
7 (Fighter) Squadron. 15 Douglas-Northrop 8A-4s.
In addition to these there were 4 twin engined Savoia SM 79Bs, plus numerous Rapides, Dragonflies, Ansons and Tiger Moths.
2/5/41
On the 2nd May 1941 RIAF aircraft made several attacks on the RAF base at Habbaniya. The first was at 1000hrs when several strafing runs were made. During one such attack, by six Gladiators, two Audaxes and one Oxford were destroyed on the ground. The Savoias also participated in one raid and these were intercepted by a lone RAF Gladiator flown by Fly Off Cleaver, although little damage was inflicted. A Ba65 was also attacked by a Gladiator, flown by Fly Off Graigie, and suffered some slight damage.
At 1800hrs RAF Wellingtons from 70 Sqn bombed Iraqi troops overlooking the camp and were themselves attacked by two Northrops and two Gladiators. No apparent damage was caused to both sides.
The Iraqi leaders were appealing to their German and Italian Allies for help. These two Nations would eventually send air support to the Iraqis but it would arrive too late to make any difference to the campaign.
3/5/41
The RAF bombed several of the Iraqi airfields in the hope of destroying the RIAF on the ground. During a raid on Raschid by three Wellingtons, Iraqi Nisrs rose to intercept. Gunners on the Wellingtons shot down one of the Nisrs and damaged a second. One Wellington however, suffered slight damage in return.
The SM79s were again active over Habbaniya and Fly Off Cleaver was again able to attack them. One of the bombers was last seen losing height and trailing smoke. The Northrops also bombed the camp and were also intercepted by a lone Gladiator, Flt Lt May inflicted some damage to one of them.
4/5/41
Iraqi airfields were once more the targets for RAF bombers. Eight Wellingtons bombed Raschid in the early morning, claiming several buildings and one biplane destroyed. Fighters took off and attacked the bombers. One of the Northrops flew too close to a Wellington and was hit by the rear gunner, The aircraft fell away pouring black smoke from its engine. Another Northrop was also damaged by return fire from a Wellington. Two Gladiators, the first of which caused slight damage to one of the bombers, made a final attack. The second Gladiator closed in on the Wellington flown by Plt Off Rash. Rash`s aircraft had already been hit by AA over the target and had fallen behind the rest of the formation, thereby losing the protective fire from the other aircrafts defensive armament. The Gladiator made several attacks and eventually the big bomber went down.
Later in the day Iraqi airfields were once again the target for RAF Blenheims. At Raschid a SM79, Ba65 and a Nisr were all attacked and the Nisr was left in flames. Baghdad was also hit and a Gladiator and three Nisrs were all damaged. A Blenheim also carried out a recce over Mosul, where two Nisrs were strafed, Kirkuk, Baghdad and Solman Doh.
During the return flight from one of the RAF raids a pilot saw a Nisrs flying on a course of 65 degrees from Habbaniya. Also on this bearing were a force-landed Savoia and a Northrop. It was believed that these were the aircraft attacked by Cleaver and May the previous day, and subsequently their claims were upgraded to confirmed.
5/5/41
A lone Blenheim from 203 Sqn damaged two SM79s and a Gladiator during a strafing attack over Raschid airfield.
6/5/41
Raschid was again raided by the RAF on the 6th. A hanger was left on fire, as was a twin-engined aircraft.
A lone Northrop carried out a retaliatory raid on Habbaniya and was intercepted by a Gladiator, which inflicted minor damage.
7/5/41
Early in the morning two Nisrs carried out a surprise attack on Habbaniya. A Blenheim, piloted by Sgt Hemstead, was already in the air on a patrol over the camp. The Nisrs had completed their attack when Hemstead came down on them. One fled for home but the other was chased across the camp at low level and eventually shot down into the Euphrates. The Blenheim was so close behind that it was covered in the muddy water thrown up by its victim.
Later in the day Iraqi aircraft were caught on the ground at Baquba. Three were completely destroyed and several more were damaged. In the air an Iraqi Gladiator was hit from behind by a RAF Gladiator flown by Plt Off Watson. The Iraqi was claimed as probably destroyed.
9/5/41
Further raids were carried out on Iraqi airfields during the day by Blenheims and Wellingtons, damaging a further three aircraft.
After a week of constant attacks on their airfields the RIAF virtually ceased to exist. Both the Germans and Italians had promised aid but this was slow to arrive and when it did it was too late. Raschid was forced to flee for his life and the former Government was restored. The RAF helped to rebuild the RIAF and supplied them with several more Gladiators. These were used to patrol the various tribal states that made up Iraq. Two of these Gladiators were still in service at Mosul during 1949.
Royal Iraqi Air Force claims
PILOT UNIT SERIAL CLAIM
2 Sqn Audax destroyed on the ground at Habbaniya, 2/5/41
2 Sqn Audax destroyed on the ground at Habbaniya, 2/5/41
2 Sqn Oxford destroyed on the ground at Habbaniya, 2/5/41
2 Sqn Wellington shared destroyed over Raschid, 4/5/41
Royal Iraqi Air Force Gladiators
Most of the aircraft listed were delivered after the Iraqi Revolt. At the moment the serials of the initial batch of 15 aircraft bought from Britain during the late thirties are unknown, although they may include K6140, K6141, K6147, K8005-K8007 and K8011.
SERIAL COMMENTS
K6140 Returned to RAF
K6141 Returned to RAF
K6147 Returned to RAF
K7907 Delivered 12/42
K7929 Delivered 12/42
K7989 Delivered 12/42
K8005
K8006
K8007
K8011
N5780 Delivered 1/6/43
N5825 Delivered 1/3/44
N5827 Delivered `41
N5828 Delivered 1/3/44
N5830 Delivered 1/3/44
N5857 Delivered 6/2/42
Camouflage and markings
The Iraqi Gladiators probably wore the same colour scheme as most other Iraqi aircraft. This consisted of Aluminium or silver dope overall, National markings were carried above and below the wings and on the fuselage sides. The rudder wore green/white/red/black stripes. The serial number was in Arabic with a smaller English one below.
References:
Dust Clouds in the Middle East- Christopher Shores, Grub Street ISBN 1-898697-37-X
Monografie Lotnicze No 24, Gloster Gladiator- B Belcarz and R Peczkowski, A J Press
Additional information:
Yuri M Svoyski
Bob Massey (SAFCH #364)