Boulton Paul Defiant 1
Serial Number:
N1671
Period: WWII
Collection Ref: 74/A/16
Location: RAF Museum London, Battle of Britain Hall
The Defiant introduced a new, and fatally flawed, concept
into RAF two seat single engined fighters; having no forward firing armament
and concentrating all its fire power in a rear gun turret. After initial
success the type had to be withdrawn from daylight operations for safer
night skies.
Powered by the same Merlin engine as the Spitfire and Hurricane the Defiant
took far longer in development and did not enter service until late 1939.
Early trials pointed up the disadvantage of the design concept and underlined
the vital need for close cooperation between the pilot and the air gunner.
Early daylight engagements were successful as German fighter pilots mistook
the Defiants for Hurricanes and attacked from behind into a deadly concentration
of fire. This success was short lived. The Luftwaffe changed its tactics
and began to attack from the front. Mounting losses forced Fighter Command
to withdraw Defiants from day time operations.
It had slightly more success in night operations although early operations
were hampered by the lack of radar. Just as radar equipped Defiants were
reaching squadrons they began to be replaced by more effective Beaufighters
and Mosquitos.
