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Squadrons!

Number 19 - The Boulton Paul Defiant

Philedition

S u m m a r y :

Catalogue Number, Description and ISBN:

Philedition
Squadrons! No. 19 – The Boulton Paul Defiant

ISBN: 979-10-96490-06-6

Contents & Media:

Soft-cover format, 80 pages plus covers, 80 black and white photos and four colour illustrations

Price:

Available online from www.raf-in-combat.com and selected retailers

Review Type:

First Look

Advantages:

Focuses on interesting and timely subject matter; well-written text and well-chosen photographs; atractive artwork by Juanita Franzi.

Disadvantages:

No Table of Contents or Index; some layout issues.

Conclusion:

Coverage of the Defiant's development, Squadron usage as both day fighter and night fighter, statistics and more are thoroughly supported by many relevant wartime photos and attractive artwork. This is a useful and compact reference package for the armchair historian or the modeller. Highly Recommended.


Reviewed by Brett Green


HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron

FirstRead

 

Phil Listemann's Squadrons! series of books describe “the operational usage of an aircraft version used by the RAF, squadron per squadron…with plenty of first hand photos and unpublished material.”  The latest in this series, No. 19, covers the Boulton Paul Defiant day fighter and night fighter.

This title is presented over 80 pages between its soft covers and includes more than 80 photos plus four colour profiles.

 

 

The book is laid out logically, although there is no Table of Contents for quick reference.

Layout is as follows:

  • Glossary of Terms covering Personnel, Ranks and other.

  • A brief history of the development of the Defiant.

  • 141 Squadron Usage.

  • 151 Squadron Usage.

  • 264 Squadron Usage.

  • Other Night Fighter Squadrons and Second Line Units.

  • In Memoriam Table covering day and night fighter crew lost.

  • Four colour profiles by talented aviation artist Juanita Franzi.

Each of the Squadron Usage Chapters include text histories, helpfully captioned photos, and Tables listing Claims, Losses on Operations and Losses by Accident.

My criticisms are minor, and are mainly concerned with layout. In my opinion, the well-written narrative is not helped by being arranged in large blocks of text across the width of each page. I think it would be easier on the eye if the text was laid out in two or three columns per page.

 

  • Philedition Squadrons Number 19 - The Boulton Paul Defiant Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Philedition Squadrons Number 19 - The Boulton Paul Defiant Review by Brett Green: Image
  • Philedition Squadrons Number 19 - The Boulton Paul Defiant Review by Brett Green: Image
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Also, the Chapter headings could be more obvious. Each Squadron Usage Chapter is headed with the relevant Squadron crest, but I think a separate heading with the Squadron Number clearly noted at the top of the page would be helpful, as would a one-page Table of Contents at the start of the book.

Having said that though, this new title is still a valuable resource for anyone interested in the Boulton Paul Defiant, and in particular modellers who are looking for reference and inspiration when building any of the Defiant kits currently available in 1/72 and 1/48 scales.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Coverage of the Defiant's development, Squadron usage as both day fighter and night fighter, statistics and more are thoroughly supported by many relevant wartime photos and attractive artwork.

This is a useful and compact reference package for the armchair historian or the modeller.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Phil Listemann for the review sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2017 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 22 June 2017
Last updated 22 June, 2017

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