Boulton Paul Defiant

This latest book from Mushroom Model Publications (MMP) describes the design, development and operations of the RAF’s anachronistic WWII turret fighter, the Defiant.

Although a sound design with excellent flying characteristics, it was out-moded in concept. As a day fighter it suffered badly at the hands of the Luftwaffe, once they realized that it had a turret and stopped miss-identifying it as a Hurricane. By night it proved the only effective defence until radar-equipped nightfighters became available.

When it was withdrawn from front-line operations the Defiant proved effective in the ASR and target-towing roles, and it served in the latter until the end of the war.

This book is in MMP’s usual 9” x 6 ½” soft cover format for their series of aircraft books. MMP also publishes a magazine for aircraft modelers called Mushroom Model Magazine. The book is 120 pages in length. This is more pages than some of their previous books. It contains 53 black and white wartime photos, 18 black and white line drawings of various marks in 1/72nd scale, 136 color photos that are walk-around shots of the last existing example of a Defiant in the Hendon Museum, UK, several information charts, 16 illustrations out maintenance manuals and 35 full color side profile paintings (a couple of which are three-views). Defiants are shown in markings for the RAF and some used by the USAAF.

The author, Mark Ansell, has been researching the Defiant for many years. He is a member of the Boulton Paul Association and has access to their archives and artifacts.

This new book will appeal to modellers, aircraft enthusiasts, and aviation historians alike. It is an invaluable addition to the shelves of RAF enthusiasts.

I want to thank Dr. Roger M. Wallsgrove, Editor-in-Chief of MMP for this review copy.