The Boulton Paul Defiant was a result of an Air Ministry specification (F.9/35) issued before the onset of WWII. It was a low-wing, cantilever monoplane, two-seat fighter of all-metal construction, with retractable landing gear, looking not unlike the Hurricane. Like the Hurricane, it was powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. The Defiant was also equipped with an effective four-gun powered turret of their own design which proved its undoing.

The first Defiant prototype flew on August 11th, 1937, with the first production Defiant taking wing on July 30th, 1939. Deliveries to the first operational RAF unit, 264 squadron, began in December of that year. Unfortunately, heavy losses were incurred in the Battle of France due to the fact that the weight of the gun turret deteriorated overall performance. As a result, the RAF used the Defiant as a night fighter for some time before being employed as a target tug.

Shown here is a 1:72 scale replica of a RAF Boulton Paul Defiant Mk. I fighter that was crewed by Flt. Lt. Donald & Gunner Pilot Officer Hamilton, and nicknamed "Cock o' the North", which was attached to No. 141 Squadron, then deployed to Hawkinge during July 1940. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 6-inches
Length: 5-inches

Release Date: January 2011

Historical Account: "Cock o' the North" - No. 141 Squadron was originally formed on January 1st, 1918, but was disbanded on February 1st, 1920. The squadron reformed on October 4th, 1939, at RAF Turnhouse and was first equipped with Gloster Gladiators then Bristol Blenheims. These were replaced with Boulton Paul Defiants in April 1940.

The first operational patrol was flown on June 29th before moving to RAF West Malling in July. Its first and last daylight encounter with the enemy followed a few days later when 6 out of 9 aircraft were lost over the English Channel.

The squadron changed from a day- to night-fighter role, which was far better suited to the Defiant. L7009 (TW-H) was flown by Flt. Lt. D. G. Donald with gunner Plt. Off. A.C. Hamilton. This aircraft was shot down by a Bf 109E of JG51 near Dover on July 19th, 1940, and both crew members were killed. It featured a rare (for the RAF) but attractive nose art depicting a rooster with the name 'Cock o' the North'.