Boulton Paul Defiant

[Downwind.Maddl-Land]

Sqn Ldr Hunter also flew in mock combat against a Spitfire of 65 Sqn flown by one Flg Off Tuck! Hunter flew on a course from Northolt to White Waltham (I lived at both those places during my Service career!) and Tuck attacked when and how he liked. Hunter went into a steep turn followed by the Spitfire. In an engagement that lasted 10 minutes, the Defiant gunner expended all his cine film, but Tuck expended none as he could not bring his sights to bear. He was often able to turn inside the Defiant but this only enabled the gunner to fire on him across the arc. On one occasion Hunter managed to get on the tail of the Spitfire, slightly below so that the gunner could fire forward and upwards. This engagement showed that a well-flown Defiant, which circled when attacked by a single seat fighter could adequately defend itself, provided its speed did not drop below 160 mph, which usually involved a spiral dive. Again, acknowledgements to Alec Brew, author of ‘The Defiant File’.

[Wildcat]

Very interesting. Were these trials done before or after the Defiants were withdrawn from frontline service?

[Downwind.Maddl-Land]

Before; the inference is they were conducted during operational Work Up, while tatics were being developed for the new fighter.