Boulton Paul Defiant Royal Air Force
multi-use aircraft. Boulton Paul Defiant became obsolete early in world
war two, this aviation art print by Kinnear superbly show this aircraft.
Aviation art print available from Cranston Fine Arts, the aviation art
print company.
Defiant but Doomed by Stan Stokes.
Jagdeschwader 26, or JG 26, was one of the Lufwaffes elite fighter forces. Nicknamed the Abbeville Boys, or the Abbeville Kids,JG 26 gained tremendous notoriety early in the War while operating out of Abbeville in Northern France. Although JG 26 never operated with more than 124 fighter aircraft, the unit dominated its airspace over Northern France and Belgium for more than a two year period. Adolf Galland was one of Germanys top fighter aces of the War, with more than 100 confirmed victories. For most of his flying career Galland was associated with JG 26. By year-end 1940 he had attained 57 victories, and was awarded the Oak Leaves, the highest award of the time. Galland took over command of JG 26 in August 1940 during the Battle of Britain. In Stan Stokes painting, entitled Defiant, But Doomed, Galland is depicted during a mission with the Abbeville Kids on August 28, 1940. Flying low cover for a formation of Heinkel bombers Galland was shocked to see a squadron of 12 Royal Air For.........
Boulton Paul Defiant of 151 Sqn, based at Wittering, attacking a Messerschmitt Me110. Following an exhausting summer during the Battle of Britain, 151 was designated a night fighter squadron and was equipped both with Hurricanes and Defiants. On the night of 15th January 1942, two Defiants succeeded in bringing down three German aircraft and further successes were recorded during enemy raids on Birmingham when a further nine kills were claimed.
Item Code : B0292
Night of Defiance by Ivan Berryman. - Editions Available
On 8 December 1939 at Martlesham Heath, 264 Squadron was reformed and equipped with the new Boulton Paul Defiant fighter. In March 1940 the squadron started operations doing convoy patrols. After initial successes the Luftwaffe soon realised that the Defiant was vulnerable to frontal attack, and 264 Squadron along with the other Boulton Paul Defiant squadrons started to suffer heavy losses of aircraft and crew. At the end of May 1940, 264 Squadron was withdrawn from operations as a day-fighter squadron and began to train in the night-fighter role. During the Battle of Britain 264 Squadron was used again for day fighting but again suffered losses and returned to the night-fighter role.
Item Code : NTR0084
Boulton Paul Defiants by Barry Price. - Editions Available
Maximum
speed of 304 mph, and a ceiling of 30,350 feet. armament on the
defiant was four .303 browing machine guns in the Boulton Paul Turret.
Designed
as a intercepter fighter, the Defiant first flew in August 1937. and
entered service with the Royal Air Force in October 1939 with no 264
squadron. and first flew in operations in march 1940 the Boulton
Paul Defiant was certainly no match for the German Fighters, due to their
lack of fire power as the defiant had no wing mounted machine guns. Heavy
losses. The aircraft was re deployed as a night -Fighter in the autumn of
1940. This role also being taken over by Bristol Beaufighters in
1941, leaving the defiant for training, target tug, and air-sea rescue
roles. A Total of 1075 Boulton Paul Defiant's were built
Boulton Paul Defiants by Barry Price RAF Defiants of Squadron 264 in 1940/41.
