Global Aviator South Africa - April 2018

74 Vol. 10 / No. 4 / April 2018 Global Aviator

be Germany, and the new Defiant
would inflict significant damage on
the slower bombers. Such a theory
offered great possibilities, but in the
unforgiving arena of air combat it would
be revised in a most salutary manner.
Boulton Paul’s submission for the
new fighter was well received by the
Air Ministry. In 1935 work began on
the prototype, a well proportioned
monoplane, similar in dimension to
the Hurricane, although more angular
in the wing area. Like the Hurricane it
was powered by a Rolls Royce Merlin,
with a predicted maximum speed
over 300 mph. In August 1937 the
Defiant prototype made its maiden
flight, revealing few shortcomings
in performance and handling. It was
ordered into quantity production,
but two years were to elapse before

it entered squadron service

Meanwhile the Hawker project,

which closely followed the design

of the Henley light bomber never

progressed beyond one example. In

any case, the Hotspur, the name it was

allotted was unlikely to offer a superior

performance to the Defiant, which

saw the Hawker project terminated.

In March 1940 the Defiant entered

service with 264 squadron and by May

the unit was deemed to be operational.

On May 11, operating from Duxford

they achieved immediate success

with the destruction of a Ju88. The

turret-fighter concept seemed to be

vindicated but on the following day

there was a prophetic omen. After

destroying four Ju87s over the Dutch

coast, the six Defiants were set upon

by the escorting Me109s. Five Defiants

were brought down; their loss causing

an immediate review of their ability

to operate in daylight. Despite these

setbacks there was still to be one brief

moment of glory for the Defiant.

During the Dunkirk evacuation

a mixed formation of Defiants and

Hurricanes was engaged in strength

by Me109s. In the ensuing melee the

RAF claimed the destruction of 37

of the opposing 109s. Such a claim

sounds wildly optimistic and there

was a suggestion that the Germans

mistook the Defiants for Hurricanes. If

that was the case it was unlikely they

would repeat the error, and shortly

afterwards the type was withdrawn

from daylight operations. An obvious

alternative for the Defiant was in the

night interceptor role. Eventually

thirteen squadrons were raised, and

Defiant N1671, RAF Museum, 2015

Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough,

Cambs, UK - Boulton Paul Defiant

I ‘N1671’. This is the sole surviving

complete Defiant. It was saved by the

AHB (Air Historical Branch) in 1944

and stored until 1958 went it began

making static appearances. Repainted

in to a night-fighter scheme in 1967.

Went on display at Hendon when the

museum opened in 1972 and moved to

the Battle of Britain Hall in 1978 and

was there until removed for restoration

in 2009. The restoration was carried out

to an extremely high standard by MAPS

(Medway Aircraft Preservation Society)

and the aircraft returned to Hendon

in early 2013, now in an accurate and

genuine 307 (Polish)sqn colour scheme.

This aircraft served with 307sqn as

both a day fighter and a night fighter

and remains on display in the Battle of

Britain Hall. RAF Museum, Hendon,

London, UK. 22-3-2015

A bit of history

Boulton Paul

Defiant I