The Boulton Paul Defiant was designed in the mid-1930s, as a response to rapid development of fast bomber aircraft and aerial warfare model based on theories created by General Giulio Douhet.
According to Specification F.9/35 issued by the Air Ministry in April of 1935, the so-called ´turret fighter´ had to be capable of reaching the speed of 470 kph (290 mph) at altitude of 4,600 m (15,000 feet). There were no forward-firing guns necessary, and the only armament had to be placed in a hydraulic powered rear gun turret. The Boulton Paul company, having already some experience with designing turret-equipped aircraft, entered the competition with an aircraft designated P.82.
On 11th August 1937, prototype of the P.82 successfully completed its maiden flight and shortly after received its final name, the Defiant.
In December of 1939, the RAF received its first production examples of the new fighter aircraft that were assigned to No. 264 (Madras Presidency) Squadron. On 12th May 1940, Boulton Paul Defiant fighters performed its first operational sortie, during which they intercepted a single Junkers Ju 88 and shot the enemy aircraft down.
The first months of combat service of the new interceptor were marked by changing luck. There were days when the Defiants managed to intercept and destroy a couple of enemy aircraft without any loses – but the next day almost entire formation of the ´turret fighters´ was shot down by enemy fighters.
During the summer months of 1940 it became clear that high losses among the Defiant crews is not acceptable any longer. Therefore, the Defiants were assigned to night operations only.
The night fighter Defiants were mainly operated by Nos. 96, 151, 262 and 307 (Polish) Squadrons. They successfully protected the British night skies until the mid-1942, being then succeeded by Beaufighter and Mosquito aircraft.
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Cover photo: Boulton Paul Defiant – original wartime caption: The Boulton Paul Defiant is a two seater fighter monoplane powered by a single Rolls Royce Merlin engine and carrying a multiple gun turret amindships. It is believed to be the fastest aeroplane of its class in service. (photo IWM CH 139, cropped). IWM photos used under Non-Commercial licence.
