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Destination’s Journey

It’s About the Journey Not Just the Destination

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Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I night fighter, N3313 PS-P, of No. 264 Squadron RAF based at West Malling, Kent, in flight

Boulton Paul Defiant

The Boulton Paul Defiant is a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force during World War II. The Defiant was designed as a turret fighter, without any forward-firing guns.

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Prototypes

Boulton Paul Defiant Prototype K8310 at Northolt, 22 May 1939
Boulton Paul Defiant Prototype K8310 at Northolt, 22 May 1939
The prototype Boulton Paul Defiant, K8310, which first flew in August 1937
The prototype Boulton Paul Defiant, K8310, which first flew in August 1937

Under Construction

Boulton Paul Defiant production line
Boulton Paul Defiant production line

264 Squadron – Day Fighters

Boulton Paul Defiant Mk Is N1536 PS-R
Boulton Paul Defiant Mk Is N1536 PS-R
Boulton Paul Defiant Mark Is, N1536, PS-R nearest, of No. 264 Squadron RAF, lined up at Kirton-in-Lindsey
Boulton Paul Defiant Mark Is, N1536, PS-R nearest, of No. 264 Squadron RAF, lined up at Kirton-in-Lindsey
Boulton Paul Defiant of No. 264 Squadron being refuelled, July 1940.
Boulton Paul Defiant of No. 264 Squadron being refuelled, July 1940.
264 Squadron Defiant PS-Z L7025
264 Squadron Defiant PS-Z L7025
Boulton Paul Defiant of No. 264 Squadron being refuelled, July 1940.
Boulton Paul Defiant of No. 264 Squadron being refuelled, July 1940.
Boulton Paul Defiant of No. 264 Squadron being refuelled, July 1940.
Boulton Paul Defiant of No. 264 Squadron being refuelled, July 1940.
Boulton Paul Defiant
Crews being taken out to their Boulton Paul Defiants of No. 264 Squadron, July 1940
Boulton Paul Defiant Mark Is
Boulton Paul Defiant Mark Is (L7006 ‘PS-X’ nearest) of No. 264 Squadron RAF, being prepared for take off by groundcrew at Kirton-in-Lindsey
264 Squadron Defiant
264 Squadron Defiant
264 Squadron Defiant PS-H
264 Squadron Defiant PS-H
264 Squadron Defiant PS-V
264 Squadron Defiant PS-V
264 Squadron Defiant PS-L
264 Squadron Defiant PS-Z L7025
264 Squadron Defiant PS-Z L7025
264 Squadron Defiant
264 Squadron Defiant
264 Squadron Defiant L7025 PS-Z
264 Squadron Defiant L7025 PS-Z
264 Squadron Defiant PS-K
264 Squadron Defiant PS-K
Air Gunner Leslie Plimmer Russell standing beside his No. 264 Squadron Defiant PS-L
Air Gunner Leslie Plimmer Russell standing beside his No. 264 Squadron Defiant PS-L
Pilot Officer MH Young (pilot)(left) and Leslie Plimmer Russell (Air Gunner)(right) standing beside their No. 264 Squadron Defiant
Pilot Officer MH Young (pilot)(left) and Leslie Plimmer Russell (Air Gunner)(right) standing beside their No. 264 Squadron Defiant
The Boulton Paul Defiant is a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force during World War II. The Defiant was designed as a turret fighter, without any forward-firing guns.
Boulton Paul Defiant
The pilots of 264 Squadron in front of a Boulton Paul Defiant
The pilots of 264 Squadron in front of a Boulton Paul Defiant
264 Squadron Defiant PS-A
264 Squadron Defiant PS-A
The Boulton Paul Defiant is a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force during World War II. The Defiant was designed as a turret fighter, without any forward-firing guns.
Boulton Paul Defiant
Defiants of No 264 Squadron The Squadron Leaders aircraft signified by the A on the fuselage
Defiants of No 264 Squadron The Squadron Leaders aircraft signified by the A on the fuselage
a 'vic' of Defiant
No 264 Squadron’s CO, Squadron Leader Philip Hunter, leads a ‘vic’ of Defiants up from Kirton-in-Lindsey, early August 1940
Boulton Paul Defiants of 264 Squadron
Boulton Paul Defiants of 264 Squadron
Six Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I night fighters of No. 264 Squadron RAF based at West Malling, Kent, flying in port echelon formation.
Six Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I night fighters of No. 264 Squadron RAF based at West Malling, Kent, flying in port echelon formation.
Boulton Paul Defiants of No 264 Squadron 1940
Boulton Paul Defiants of No 264 Squadron 1940
Defiants of 264 Squadron in formation
Defiants of 264 Squadron in formation

264 Squadron – Night Fighters

Air Gunner with No. 264 Squadron, wearing an oxygen mask, standing beside his Defiant
Air Gunner with No. 264 Squadron, wearing an oxygen mask, standing beside his Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I night fighter,
Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I night fighter, N1801 ‘PS-B’ ‘Coimbatore II’, of No. 264 Squadron RAF, undergoing a routine service in a dispersal, probably at Colerne, Wiltshire. This aircraft was flown by the effective night-fighting team of Flying Officer F D Hughes (pilot) and Sergeant F Gash (gunner), and displays a victory tally of 5 enemy aircraft shot down.
Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I night fighter, N3313 PS-P, of No. 264 Squadron RAF based at West Malling, Kent, in flight
Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I night fighter, N3313 PS-P, of No. 264 Squadron RAF based at West Malling, Kent, in flight
Bouton Paul Defiant Group of No. 264 Squadron personnel pose for the camera during clearing snow from one of their aircraft
Bouton Paul Defiant Group of No. 264 Squadron personnel pose for the camera during clearing snow from one of their aircraft
Boulton Paul Defiant Mk I night-fighter of No. 264 Squadron RAF
Boulton Paul Defiant Mk I night-fighter of No. 264 Squadron RAF

Miscellaneous Day Fighters

Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant ZJ-K
The Boulton Paul Defiant is a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force during World War II. The Defiant was designed as a turret fighter, without any forward-firing guns.
Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant

Polish Night Fighters

Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant

Night Fighters

Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I night fighter,
Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I night fighter, T4037 JT-T, of No. 256 Squadron RAF, on the ground at Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancashire. The retractable fuselage fairings aft of the turret have been lowered for firing.

Target Tugs

Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant's from 777 Naval Air Squadron after taking off from HMS Spurwing
Boulton Paul Defiants from 777 Naval Air Squadron after taking off from HMS Spurwing
Boulton Paul Defiant Mark III, N1697 target tug at Desford, Leicestershire Previously a Mark 1 fighter with No 256 Squadron RAF
Boulton Paul Defiant Mark III, N1697 target tug at Desford, Leicestershire Previously a Mark 1 fighter with No 256 Squadron RAF
Boulton Paul Defiant TT Mk 1
Boulton Paul Defiant TT Mk 1
Boulton Paul Defiant TT Mark I, DR863
Boulton Paul Defiant TT Mark I, DR863, on the ground at the Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd aerodrome, Wolverhampton.

Turret Detail

An airgunner of 264 Squadron wearing a GQ Parasuit or rhino suit August 1940
An airgunner of 264 Squadron wearing a GQ Parasuit or rhino suit August 1940
Flight Sergeant E R Thorn pilot and Sergeant F J Barker air gunner pose with their Boulton Paul Defiant after their 13th victory
Flight Sergeant E R Thorn pilot and Sergeant F J Barker air gunner pose with their Boulton Paul Defiant after their 13th victory
Boulton Paul Defiant Gun Turret
Boulton Paul Defiant Gun Turret
Boulton Paul Defiant Turret
Boulton Paul Defiant Turret

Undergoing Maintenance

Fitters working on the 1,030hp Rolls-Royce Merlin III of a No 125 Squadron Defiant
Fitters working on the 1,030hp Rolls-Royce Merlin III of a No 125 Squadron Defiant at Fairwood Common, January 1942

Damaged

Riggers examining the damage to the elevators of a Boulton-Paul Defiant Mark I,
Riggers examining the damage to the elevators of a Boulton-Paul Defiant Mark I, of No. 264 Squadron RAF in a hangar at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, following their battle with German fighters over Dunkirk on 29 May 1940.

Shot Down

Hit by fire from enemy fighters by Bf 109s of 5.JG 26, L6960 exploded in mid-air, the aircraft breaking up and both Pilot Officer Gordon Chandler and LAC Douglas McLeish dying in the crash
Hit by fire from enemy fighters by Bf 109s of 5.JG 26, L6960 exploded in mid-air, the aircraft breaking up and both Pilot Officer Gordon Chandler and LAC Douglas McLeish dying in the crash
Hit by fire from enemy fighters by Bf 109s of 5.JG 26, L6960 exploded in mid-air, the aircraft breaking up and both Pilot Officer Gordon Chandler and LAC Douglas McLeish dying in the crash
Hit by fire from enemy fighters by Bf 109s of 5.JG 26, L6960 exploded in mid-air, the aircraft breaking up and both Pilot Officer Gordon Chandler and LAC Douglas McLeish dying in the crash
Another Defiant shot down by 5.JG 26 in the same action, was L6969, 'R'
Another Defiant shot down by 5.JG 26 in the same action, was L6969, ‘R’

Photographs of scale models of the Defiant can be found here