The Gladiator gave further commonwealth service in Africa from early 1940, to the end of the war (although latterly in very much a support capacity). When the war began In the Western Desert, Egypt was very much a secondary concern to the Empire, the best types were needed in France to fight the invasion, then in Britain for home defence; so the RAF in the region was equipped primarily with Gladiators and Blenheims. On 14th June 1940, the first air combat for the RAF in Egypt came, against the Italians. A CR.42 of the 90° Squadriglia, 10° Gruppo, 4° Stormo, flown by Tenente Franco Lucchini shot down a lone Gladiator. However, that afternoon, when Gladiators of 33sqn RAF, supporting an attack on Fort Capuzzo, claimed four CR.42s in combat. On 4th August, four Gladiators of 80sqn RAF, including the legendary ace Marmaduke 'Pat' Pattle, took off having received orders to escort a Lysander from 208sqn on a mission to collect intelligence on enemy troop dispositions. Pattle, Pilot Officers Wyekham-Barnes and Lancaster, and Sgt Rew, located the Lysander at 6000ft. Two of the Gladiators took up a position astern of the Lysander, 3000 feet above, and two (including Pattle), took up position 4000 feet above the 208sqn machine to the starboard.
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