Boulton Paul Defiant

MMP Books

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

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The Boulton Paul Defiant was one of the most famous dead ends in World War II aviation:  a two-seat turret fighter.  The Defiant’s sleek lines belied the fact that it failed in its intended role as a daylight bomber interceptor.  However unlike its Royal Navy equivalent, the Blackburn Roc, the Defiant proved to be a versatile airframe.  It enjoyed modest success as a night fighter and air-sea rescue platform, and served as a target tug until beyond the end of the war.

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All of this and more is captured in MMP’s latest Yellow Series book, which should be a one-stop reference for anyone who is interested in modelling the Defiant.  Author Mark Ansell tells the Defiant’s story more-or-less chronologically as follows.

• A New Bomber Destroyer.  Supported by some beautiful photographs of the first and second prototypes, this chapter describes the Defiant’s inception and development up to series production.

• Evaluation for Service.   The focus here is on the Defiant Mk.I, from its entry into service in December 1939, initial success over Dunkirk and then swift fall during the Battle of Britain. There are charts of technical specifications and production statistics, five pages of black and white plans, and more excellent period photographs.

• The same approach is used in the next two chapters, Night Ops and Radar and The Defiant II, to cover the type’s evolution into arguably Britain’s first effective night fighter of the war.

• Boulton Paul Type Mk.IID Turret.  Here the author takes a closer look at the Defiant’s most characteristic feature, and enlivens his description with some fairly dry observations from a former pilot.  It’s clear from these accounts that the odds were stacked against Defiant gunners if they ever needed to bail out.

• Defiant to the Rescue.  For six months in 1942 – including during the Dieppe raid in August – Defiants were used in the air-sea rescue role over the English Channel.  A list of the 50-odd airframes used for this purpose is included, along with a sketch and photograph showing dinghy stowage arrangements under the port wing.

• Target Practice.  The Defiant’s most enduring role is covered in detail via technical descriptions, a list of converted airframes, and some very helpful black and white sketches and photos.

• Special Duties.  Rounding out the Defiant story is a description of the type’s use in the development of anti-radar technology in 1942-43, which included radar jamming activities over the continent in support of Bomber Command operations.

• The next 50 pages are devoted to a detailed walkaround of the Defiant – mostly in the form of colour photos of the only surviving aircraft at RAF Hendon – but also including a few wartime photos and sketches.

The book concludes with over 40 full colour profile and plan view illustrations of Defiants. 

The illustrations cover all of the Defiant’s roles, and highlight the wide and interesting variety of camouflage and marking schemes employed.

This book clearly shows the Defiant was not the hapless failure it is sometimes made out to be.  To the contrary – it enjoyed a long service life in a wide variety of roles.  Whether you are clearing your desk to build Airfix’s great 1/48 or 1/72 Defiants, or like me are planning to soldier on with the older Classic Airframes kit, this book is an important reference.  The walkaround photos will reveal details that are inaccurate or missing from the kits, and the historical chapters and colour profiles will provide plenty of inspiration for camouflage and markings.

Thanks to MMP Books  for the sample.

All MMP Books are available direct from the publishers, who now accept credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex, Switch)  

North American distributors are MMD, Australian distributors are Platypus Publications. In Europe, the books are available from any good bookshop (via our UK distributors, Orca). Contact MMP direct in case of difficulties. 

Thanks to Roger at MMP Books  for the sample.

Review Copyright © 2016 by Brad Fallen
This Page Created on 30 May, 2016
Last updated 30 May, 2016

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