List of Boulton Paul Defiant operators
This is a list of the Boulton Paul Defiant operators.
Operators
[edit]Australia
[edit]- No. 456 Squadron RAAF used the Defiant between its formation in June 1941 and November 1941 when it converted to Beaufighters. Squadron code letters 'PZ'.[1]
British India
[edit]- No.1 Air Gunners School (India)
- No.22 Anti Aircraft Co-Operation Unit
Canada
[edit]- No. 409 (Nighthawk) Squadron used the Defiant on night fighter operations between July 1941 and October 1941,[3] using the squadron code letters 'KP'.[4]
- No. 410 (Cougar) Squadron used the Defiant as a nightfighter between June 1941 and June 1942, using the squadron code letters 'RA'.[5]
Poland
[edit]- No. 307 Polish Night Fighter Squadron "Lwowskich Puchaczy" used the Defiant between September 1940 and August 1941,[6] using the squadron code letters 'EW'. 307 was a new nightfighter Defiant squadron formed but did not become operational until December defending western Britain. One of their aircraft was serial number N1671, EW-D, and is the sole complete surviving Defiant which is on display at the RAF Museum at Hendon.
United Kingdom
[edit]| Squadron | Period | Operations |
|---|---|---|
| No. 2 Squadron RAF | August - November 1940 | Fighter, Squadron code KO[7] |
| No. 85 Squadron RAF | January - February 1941 | Fighter, probably Squadron code 'VY'.[7] |
| No. 96 Squadron RAF | March 1941 - July 1942 | Fighter, Squadron code 'ZJ'.[7] |
| No. 125 (Newfoundland) Squadron | June 1941 - April 1942 | Night fighter, Squadron code 'VA',[7] |
| No. 141 Squadron RAF | April 1940 - August 1941 | Fighter, Squadron code 'TW',[7] |
| No. 151 Squadron RAF | December 1940 - July 1942 | Nightfighter as radar countermeasures, Squadron code 'DZ', .[7] |
| No. 153 Squadron RAF | October 1941 - May 1942 | fighter, Squadron code 'TB', .[7] |
| No. 255 Squadron RAF | November 1940 - September 1941 | Fighter, Squadron code 'YD',[7] |
| No. 256 Squadron RAF | November 1940 - June 1942 | Fighter, Squadron code 'JT', .[7] |
| No. 264 Squadron RAF | December 1939 - July 1942 | Fighter, Squadron code 'PS', .[7] |
| No. 275 Squadron RAF | May 1942 - June 1943 | air-sea rescue, Squadron code 'PV', .[7] |
| No. 276 Squadron RAF | May 1942 - May 1943 | Air-Sea Rescue, Squadron code 'AQ',[7] |
| No. 277 Squadron RAF | May 1942 - May 1943 | Air-Sea Rescue, Squadron code 'BA', .[7] |
| No. 280 Squadron RAF | May - December 1942 | Air-Sea Rescue, Squadron code 'MY', .[7] |
| No. 281 Squadron RAF | April 1942 - July 1943 | Air-Sea Rescue, Squadron code 'FA', FA-H[7] |
| No. 285 Squadron RAF | March 1942 - January 1944 | Anti-Aircraft Co-operation, Squadron code 'VG', .[7] |
| No. 286 Squadron RAF | April 1942 - July 1944 | Anti-Aircraft Co-operation, Squadron code 'NW'.[7] |
| No. 287 Squadron RAF | April 1942 - October 1943 | Anti-Aircraft Co-operation, Squadron code 'KZ'.[7] |
| No. 288 Squadron RAF | May 1942 - April 1943 | Anti-Aircraft Co-operation, Squadron code 'RP'.[7] |
| No. 289 Squadron RAF | May 1942 - July 1943 | Anti-Aircraft Co-operation, Squadron code 'YE'.[7] |
| No. 515 Squadron RAF | June 1942 - December 1943 | Radar Counter Measures (RCM) operations. |
| No. 567 Squadron RAF | ||
| No. 667 Squadron RAF | December 1943 - February 1945 | Anti-Aircraft Co-operation, Squadron code 'U4'.[7] |
| No. 691 Squadron RAF | December 1943 - April 1945 | Anti-Aircraft Co-operation, Squadron code '5S'[7] |
- No. 1422 Flight RAF
- No. 1479 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF
- No. 1480 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF
- No. 1481 Target Towing and Gunnery Flight RAF
- No. 1482 Target Towing and Gunnery Flight RAF
- No. 1483 (Bombing) Gunnery Flight RAF
- No. 1484 (Bombing) Gunnery Flight RAF
- No. 1485 (Bombing) Gunnery Flight RAF
- No. 1566 (Meteorological) Flight RAF
- No. 1600 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF
- No. 1602 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF
- No. 1616 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF
- No. 1622 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF
- No. 1623 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF
- No. 1624 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF
- No. 1631 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF
- No. 1692 (Radio Development) Flight RAF used the Defiant on Radar Counter Measures (RCM) operations
- Operated the Defiant Target-Tug[8]
- 721 Naval Air Squadron
- 726 Naval Air Squadron
- 727 Naval Air Squadron
- 728 Naval Air Squadron
- 770 Naval Air Squadron
- 771 Naval Air Squadron
- 772 Naval Air Squadron
- 774 Naval Air Squadron
- 775 Naval Air Squadron
- 776 Naval Air Squadron
- 777 Naval Air Squadron
- 779 Naval Air Squadron
- 788 Naval Air Squadron
- 789 Naval Air Squadron
- 791 Naval Air Squadron
- 792 Naval Air Squadron
- 794 Naval Air Squadron
- 797 Naval Air Squadron
United States
[edit]- No. 11 Combat Crew Replacement Centre USAAF[9][10] - 1 aircraft
References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Halley 1988, p. 478.
- ^ Boulton-Paul Defiant TT.I & TT.III article at Bharat Rakshak website. Archived 2012-10-02 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Halley 1988, p. 496.
- ^ Hall 2003, p. 14
- ^ Halley 1988, p. 497.
- ^ Halley 1988, p. 360.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Hall 2003, p. 14.
- ^ Thetford 1991, p. 421.
- ^ Ansell 2005, p. 46 and back cover.
- ^ Hall 2003, p. 19,25.
Bibliography
[edit]- Ansell, Mark. Boulton Paul Defiant. Sandomierz, Poland/Redbourn, Herts: Mushroom Model Publications, 2005. ISBN 83-89450-19-4.
- Hall, Alan W. and Thomas, Andrew. Boulton Paul Defiant, (Warpaint Series No.42). Luton, Bedfordshire: Warpaint Books Ltd., 2003. OCLC 64949042.
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Thetford, Owen (1991). British Naval Aircraft since 1912. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books, an imprint of Conway Maritime Press Ltd. ISBN 0-85177-849-6.