RAF Cosford posting images of some of their aircraft cockpits.

September 14, 2020

For those without or refusing to use Facebook:

"Over the next few weeks, as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, we will be sharing a series of cockpit images, giving you inside access to our rare and historic aircraft at both London and Cosford, which help to tell the incredible story of the Battle of Britain.

Today we share the Boulton Paul Defiant Mk I (Serial No. N1671) on display in the War in the Air hangar at Cosford, and the Messerschmitt Bf109E (Serial No.4101) on display in Hangars 3 and 4 at the RAF Museum London.

The Boulton Paul Defiant was designed and built by Boulton Paul Aircraft of Wolverhampton. It introduced a new tactical conception in two-seater fighter aircraft whereby no forward firing armament (as in the Hurricane and Spitfire) was carried, all offensive firepower being instead concentrated in a gun turret located behind the cockpit. In combat, the Defiant was reasonably effective at its intended task of destroying bombers in the early days of the Battle of Britain but proved vulnerable to the Luftwaffe's more manoeuvrable, single-seat Messerschmitt Bf109 fighters. The lack of forward firing armament proved to be a great weakness in daylight combat and the weight of two crew members and a turret greatly affected its performance. It was subsequently withdrawn from its day-fighter role in August 1940 but it was used subsequently in the night fighter role in which it repeated its earlier successes. It was gradually replaced in its night role by the Bristol Beaufighter and de Havilland Mosquito. Defiants were later used as gunnery trainers and for air-sea rescue duties.

As the last surviving example of its type, Defiant Mk I, Serial No. N1671, is unique. It was not used in the Battle of Britain but represents those which did serve during the early days of the conflict. N1671 was taken on charge by the RAF in August 1940 and delivered to No 307 (Polish) Squadron at Kirton-in-Lindsey in Lincolnshire. It is exhibited today in the markings of that Squadron. The aircraft flew numerous sorties until October 1942 when it was withdrawn from use. In April 1944 the Air Historical Branch requested that a Defiant be made available for display and N1671 was chosen, joining the RAF Museum’s collection in 1971.

You can learn more about the Defiant on our website:
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/boulton-paul-defiant-mk-1/

The Messerschmitt Bf109 was a German Second World War fighter aircraft that formed the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force. It first saw operational service during the Spanish Civil War and was still in service at the dawn of the jet age. Originally conceived as an interceptor, later models were developed to fulfil multiple tasks including bomber escort, fighter-bomber, ground-attack and photographic reconnaissance. Bf109E, Serial No. 4101, was built in Leipzig by the Erla Maschinewerk company and was originally assigned to 6th Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 before transfer to the 2nd Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 with whom it served during the Battle of Britain, operating from Wissant.

On Wednesday 27 November 1940 the Luftwaffe undertook several fighter sweeps over Kent, losing six Bf109E’s in the process, including this particular aircraft. It was flown that day by 21-year-old Leutnant Wolfgang Teumer of 2/JG51, being shot down by Flt Lt George Christie DFC flying a Spitfire of No.66 Squadron. Leutnant Teumer made a wheels-up landing at RAF Manston in Kent. The aircraft was recovered, repaired and used for evaluation purposes by the Royal Aircraft Establishment and Rolls Royce. In 1943 the aircraft was eventually put into long term storage, along with other Air Historic Branch aircraft, as a future Museum exhibit.

You can learn more about the Bf109E on our website:
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/messerschmitt-bf-109e-3/

The Defiant and the Bf109E will feature in the new Battle of Britain displays at RAF Museum Cosford and London respectively, opening on 12 September 2020. For more information on Battle of Britain 80 anniversary activities at the RAF Museum, click here: https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/whats-going-on/news/commemorate-battle-of-britain-80-at-the-raf-museu/

The Museum is now open daily with a range of measures in place to ensure a safe and great day out for the whole family. While still offering FREE entry to all, visitors are kindly asked to pre-book their arrival time online https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/.

Defiant