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.

Photo Menu

Prototypes

Boulton Paul Defiant Prototype K8310 at Northolt, 22 May 1939

The prototype Boulton Paul Defiant, K8310, which first flew in August 1937

Under Construction

Boulton Paul Defiant assembly line in Wolverhampton

264 Squadron – Day Fighters

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 of No. 264 Squadron being refuelled, July 1940.

264 Squadron Defiant PS-Z L7025

Boulton Paul Defiant of No. 264 Squadron being refuelled, July 1940.

Crews being taken out to their Boulton Paul Defiants of No. 264 Squadron, July 1940

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 PS-H

264 Squadron Defiant PS-V

264 Squadron Defiant PS-Z L7025

264 Squadron Defiant

264 Squadron Defiant L7025 PS-Z

264 Squadron Defiant PS-K

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

Boulton Paul Defiant

The pilots of 264 Squadron in front of a Boulton Paul Defiant

264 Squadron Defiant PS-A

Boulton Paul Defiant

Defiants of No 264 Squadron The Squadron Leaders aircraft signified by the A on the fuselage

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

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

Defiants of 264 Squadron in formation

264 Squadron – Night Fighters

Air Gunner with No. 264 Squadron, wearing an oxygen mask, standing beside his Defiant

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

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

Miscellaneous Day Fighters

Boulton Paul Defiant ZJ-K

Boulton Paul Defiant

Polish Night Fighters

Boulton Paul Defiant

Night Fighters

Boulton Paul Defiant

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 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 TT Mk 1

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

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 Turret

Undergoing Maintenance

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, of No. 264 Squadron RAF in a hangar at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, following their battle with German fighters over Dunkirk on 29 May 1940.