Boulton Paul Defiant facts for kids

The Boulton Paul Defiant Mk I flying.

The Boulton Paul Defiant was a British fighter aircraft. It had a single engine. This plane first flew in August 1937. The British Royal Air Force used it during World War II.

Defiants were different from other fighter planes. Most fighters had guns that shot forward. But the Defiant had its guns in a special rotating turret. This turret could turn and shoot in almost any direction. It had four Machine guns.

The Defiant needed two crew members. One person was the pilot. The other person was the gunner. The gunner sat in the turret and aimed the guns.

What Made the Defiant Unique?

The main special thing about the Defiant was its gun turret. This was a big, round part on the plane's back. It held four machine guns. A gunner sat inside and could spin the turret around. This meant the Defiant could shoot at enemy planes from many angles.

Most fighter planes had guns fixed in their wings or nose. These guns could only shoot straight ahead. The Defiant's turret gave it a different way to fight. It was designed to attack enemy bombers from below or behind.

Fighting in World War II

The Defiant was first used during the Battle of Britain. This was a big air battle in 1940. The Defiant was good at shooting down enemy bomber aircraft. It could fly under them and fire its guns upwards.

But the Defiant had some problems. It was slower than German fighter planes. It also could not turn as quickly. German fighters, like the Messerschmitt Bf 109, were very fast. Many Defiants were shot down by these German planes.

A Night Fighter

After the Battle of Britain, the British changed how they used the Defiant. They started flying them mostly at night. At night, German bombers still flew. But German fighter planes usually did not.

So, the Defiant became a "night fighter." It could attack German bombers in the dark. This helped it avoid the faster German fighters. The Defiant was very useful in this new role.

Where is it Now?

Today, only one Boulton Paul Defiant is left in the world. You can see it in a museum in London. It is a reminder of a unique plane from World War II.

Images for kids

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  Defiants of No. 264 Squadron in 1940.

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  Defiant N1671 from 307 Squadron at the RAF Museum London, partially dismantled, with its tail, engine cowling and outer wing sections removed, 2016

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  An air-gunner of 264 Squadron wearing a GQ Parasuit, or "rhino suit", August 1940

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  Defiant Mk.I N1585, PS-A of No. 264 Sqn., RAF Kirton in Lindsey, July 1940

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  Flight Sergeants E R Thorn (pilot, left) and F J Barker (air gunner) pose with their Defiant after destroying their 13th Axis aircraft; Thorn and Barker were the most successful Defiant crew of the war.

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  Groundcrew working on the Merlin engine of a Defiant at RAF Fairwood Common, Wales, January 1942

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  A Defiant TT Mk I in flight

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  Defiant TT Mk III target tug, number N1697; RAF Desford, May 1944. The wind-driven generator provided power for the target winch

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  A formation of Defiants

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  Several parked Defiants

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  Defiant N1671, RAF Museum, 2015

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  Closeup view of the turret of a Defiant. Note the four 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns

See also

In Spanish: Boulton Paul P.82 Defiant para niños