FLYING UNDER THREE FLAGS

摘要

During 1937, Latvia's air arm found itself sorely lacking a meaningful fighter force. Of 11 Bristol Bulldogs procured in 1929-30, several had been lost in accidents, and funds with which to replace the ageing machines were extremely short. To help find the money, capital had to be raised by means of a public lottery. The small Baltic republic's Aviation Regiment, the Armijas Aviacija, was looking forward to new equipment. Eventually a purchasing delegation, led by Capts Nikolajs Balodis and Augusts Graudinš, visited England in May 1937. An order was duly placed with Gloster for 13 Gladiator Is and 17 spare Bristol Mercury engines. This was the first export deal for the new fighter, Latvia's examples being specified with armament comprising four 7.7mm Vickers MkV machine guns. The two pilots then attended a blind flying course with the RAF's Central Flying School on the Avro Tutor and were attached to No 3 Squadron at Kenley until August to gain flying experience on the Gladiator. Meanwhile, the initial order was quickly followed by a second one for 13 more aircraft. The neighbouring republic of Lithuania soon acquired the Gladiator as well, buying 14 for its air corps, the Karo Aviacija.