Boulton Paul Defiant Mk I

RAF No.264 Sqn, N1801 Coimbatore II, Desmond Hughes, RAF Rochford, England, 1941

Corgi 1:72 AA39306

Although the Boulton Paul Defiant fought alongside Spitfires and Hurricanes during the air battles above the Dunkirk evacuation beaches and the Battle of Britain which followed, it enjoys nothing of the widespread public recognition its two contemporaries could boast. Surprisingly, the Defiant actually made its first flight and RAF squadron introduction quite some time after both the Hurricane and Spitfire, something which may explain its limited success when used in the day fighter role during WWII. The idea behind the Defiant's unusual design came from inter-war thinking that future air combat would be fought by fast, heavily armed bomber formations, which would not need the protection of dedicated fighter cover.

Despite this, the Boulton Paul Defiant definitely remains one of the more interesting aircraft of the Second World War.For a crew to attain the coveted status of air "Ace" whilst operating the Boulton Paul Defiant turret fighter, they must have been an incredibly cohesive team, something which Flying Officer Frederick Desmond "Hawkeye" Hughes and his gunner Sergeant F Gash most definitely were. During the height of the Battle of Britain, the pair claimed two Dornier Do17 bombers destroyed during the same sortie, however, these would prove to be their only successes during daylight operations. With the Defiant becoming increasingly vulnerable to enemy fighter attack, the type was transferred to night defence duties, where it was to prove much more successful.

Frederick Desmond Hughes would go on to post further success in the night air war flying Beaufighters and Mosquitos, eventually ending the war as one of the RAF's most decorated airmen and able to boast a victory tally of 18.5 enemy aircraft destroyed. Adding further interest to the exploits of this exceptional airman, another story associated with Hughes is that he was one of the first WWII airmen to take his pet dog on an operational sortie with him. His beloved mongrel "Scruffy" was dressed in flying overalls for warmth during his unusual trip and is thought to have enjoyed at least one night sortie in an RAF Beaufighter.

Boulton Paul Defiant Mk I
Designed to meet a British Air Ministry requirement for a two-seat fighter with power-operated gun turret, the P.82 Defiant was first flown August 11th, 1937. At the time, it was thought that turret-equipped fighters would be necessary to engage large bomber formations, enabling the pilot to maneuver into the target's blind spot while the gunner pressed home the attack. Unfortunately though, it was soon discovered that the additional weight and drag of the turret inhibited the Defiant's ability to out-maneuver enemy fighter escorts and the design was re-tasked with night-fighter and air-sea-rescue roles.

The Corgi Aviation series includes collectible models designed for collectors by collectors.

The models are highly detailed, authentically decorated and made of die-cast metal.

The Corgi Aviation Series offers: 

• Die-cast metal construction with some plastic components.
• Panel lines, antennas, access panels and realistic surface details.
• Markings and stamped plates that will not fade or peel like decals
• Interchangeable landing gear extended / retracted with rotating wheels.
• A display to display the plane "in flight".
• Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
• Detailed and hand-painted characters of pilots and crew members.
• Loads of genuine detachable ammunition
• Some interchangeable features such as speed brakes, open awnings and access panels.
• Some moving parts such as turrets, control surfaces and swivel wings