Boulton Paul Defiant Union Jack Rocks Glass

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The Boulton Paul Defiant was a British two-seat turret fighter designed in the late 1930s. It first flew on 11 August 1937 and entered RAF service in December 1939. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, its unique feature was a powered dorsal turret armed with four .303-inch Browning machine guns, operated by a dedicated gunner. Notably, it lacked any forward-firing armament.

Initially, the Defiant achieved success against unescorted bombers, especially during the Battle of France and early stages of the Battle of Britain. However, it proved vulnerable to more agile single-seat fighters like the Messerschmitt Bf 109, leading to heavy losses in daylight operations. Subsequently, it was reassigned to night-fighting roles, where it found renewed effectiveness, particularly when equipped with airborne interception radar.

Beyond combat, the Defiant served in various capacities, including as a target tug, electronic countermeasures platform, and air-sea rescue aircraft. It was also instrumental in early ejection seat testing. A total of 1,064 Defiants were built, with the type being retired from frontline service by 1945.