Boulton Paul Defiant

[Lusekofte]

Boulton Paul Defiant Mk Is (including L7026 PS-V and N1535 PS-A) of No. 264 Squadron RAF based at Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, late July 1940.

Squadron Leader Philip Algernon Hunter DSO in Defiant N1535 PS-A, was leading this patrol at the time.

Hunter continued to lead 264 Squadron during the Battle of Britain but by now the Germans had discovered the weakness of the Defiant and the aircraft sustained heavy losses including Hunter, who was lost in action on 24 August 1940, in Defiant N1535.

The Defiant was withdrawn from day fighter operations one month later.

Nº264 was credited with about 150 victories during the war with close to 105 on the Defiant and 90 of those were on daytime missions.

IWM (CH 884), photographer B. J. Daventry

Coloured by Doug

[Beazil]

I always wondered why the defiant didn't have forward facing guns on the wings instead of just the tailgun.

[cardboard_killer]

British!

 

[AndyJWest]

@JG51_Beazil:

 

The Defiant had significant weight problems as it was. Forward-facing guns in sufficient quantity to be useful as an offensive weapon would have made it even worse.

[DD_Arthur]

2 hours ago, JG51_Beazil said:

I always wondered why the defiant didn't have forward facing guns on the wings instead of just the tailgun.

 

Pity they didn’t put at least four guns in the wing as it would never have gotten off the ground and the very brave men who had to fly it would have had their lives saved.

 

I find it hard to believe one squadron of Defiants shot down that many planes in daylight.