01 April 2009

Defiant bound for Medway

The last remaining Boulton Paul Defiant fighter is due to arrive in the workshops of the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society at Rochester Airport in April. Originally built in 1938 by Boulton Paul at its factory in Pendeford, Wolverhampton, N1671 was fitted with a a Merlin III engine.

From the factory it was taken on charge at No.6 Maintenance Unit at Brize Norton before being issued to 307 (Lwowski) Polish Squadron then based at Kirton-on-Lindsey on September 17 1940.

The aircraft had a busy few years on active service and in October 1942 it was taken to No.10 MU Hullavington which was an aircraft storage unit. It remained there until the Air Historical Branch of the RAF requested a Defiant aircraft of Battle of Britain vintage for museum display. After several more moves in maintenance units, the aircraft arrived at Cosford and Hendon respectively for display.

The move of the aircraft to Maps at Rochester for restoration is another indication of just how high esteem the RAF Museum hold for the work carried out on previous museum aircraft.

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