The RAF (full English name: Royal Air Force) is the British Air Force that began to bear this name in April 1918. Previously, it was known as the Royal Flying Corps. From April 1918, they also became an independent air force, not under the command of the army or navy. For a large part of the interwar period, the RAF did not take part in any major military conflict, mainly dealing with communication and transport tasks. However, in the face of the growing threat from Nazi Germany, in 1936 the RAF was reorganized, separating three commands within it: coastal defense, fighter and bombing. From the mid-1930s, the process of implementing new types of aircraft began, such as the Hawker Hurricane (prototype flight in 1935) or Supermarine Spitfire (prototype flight in 1936). The process of building a radar network in England and Scotland, which was later called Chain Home, was started and continued with considerable success. RAF squadrons took part in combat operations from the beginning of World War II, and the greatest success of the British Air Force is the victory in the Battle of Britain (1940), achieved despite the numerical superiority on the German side, and with the support of pilots from many countries - in the ones from Poland. It is worth adding that in the course of these struggles the hunting tactics were subjected to a profound reform. The RAF also made great contributions to the air defense of Malta against the Italian and German air forces. He also participated in virtually every major British land offensive from 1942 to 1945. Independently, and later together with American bombers, it carried out strategic bombing of Germany. There is no doubt that the RAF during World War II proved to be one of the most powerful air force in the course of this conflict.
The Gloster Gladiator is a British semi-metal biplane fighter from the beginning of World War II. A prototype flight took place in 1934, and the planes entered the line in 1937. The drive, depending on the version, was the Bristol Merkury Mk IX (Gladiator Mk.I) or Bristol Mercury Mk VIIIA (Gladiator Mk.II and Sea Gladiator) engines. A total of 747 Gloster Gladiator cars were made. During World War II, this type of aircraft fought over the skies of Norway (Squadron 263), France (Squadrons 607 and 615) and in North Africa and the Middle East (Squadrons 33, 80, 94 and 112). Interestingly, only one squadron equipped with Gladiator fighters (247th) fought in the Battle of Britain in 1940. The plane was most famous for the heroic defense of Malta in June 1940 against the overwhelming Italian forces. Despite the high-quality construction and its durability, after 1940, the Gladiator was sent to training and meteorological units. The Gloster Gladiator plane was used until 1953, the last one to be withdrawn by the Portuguese air force. Technical data (Mk.I version): length: 8.36 m, wingspan: 9.83 m, height: 3.58 m, maximum speed: 407 km / h, rate of climb: 11.7 m / s, maximum range: 708 km, ceiling maximum 1000m, armament: fixed-4 Vickers 7.7mm machine guns.
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