J-8 Gladiator
In 1936, the Swedish Ministry of Defense passed a new resolution to organize one new fighter wing and four new bombers in light of rising tensions in Europe. After a selection process, the Gloster Gladiator was found to be the most suitable aircraft and an order was placed for 55 aircraft to be fitted with engines and armament on site. The first Gloster Gladiator was delivered to the Swedish Air Force on 15 April 1937 and received the local designation "Jaktplan 8" (J8). Although the first few Swedish Gladiators were fitted with a three-bladed Fairey propeller, the decision was made to revert to the previous fixed-pitch two-bladed wooden propeller. The first 37 aircraft were built to Gladiator Mk.I standard with the 645 hp Bristol Mercury VIS2 produced by NOHAB; the final batch of 18 aircraft were built to Gladiator Mk.II standard with the 840hp Bristol Mercury VIII produced by NOHAB. Thus, the first batch became known as J8, while the last batch was known as J8A. Initial impressions of the Gloster Gladiator were mixed: the type was completely new (first flown in 1934 and entered RAF service in February 1937), but already conceptually outdated compared to such types as the German Bf 109, the British Hawker Hurricane. and the American P-35. In this regard, more modern types were urgently purchased. International events led to the combat debut of the Swedish J8 in 1939, although not under Swedish colors. Following the Soviet Union's invasion of Finland on 30 November 1939, numerous countries offered Finland military support, including neighboring Sweden, which went so far as to form a volunteer squadron – Flygflottilj 19 – to fight under the Finnish flag. The F19 wing consisted of 12 J8A Gloster Gladiators. In early January 1940, the F19 wing entered combat on 12 January 1940, raiding Soviet concentrations and airbases near Merkäjärvi, Salmijärvi and Salla. While the Hawker Hart bombers fared rather poorly against enemy opposition, the Gloster Gladiators continued to do better during their deployments
