During their work-up on the new fighter, 264’s Boss, Sqn Ldr Hunter 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 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. On the other hand, 141 Sqn’s boss, on a visit to 264, claimed the ac was a death trap and that he had no faith in it; a clear case of a self fulling prophecy, unfortunately, but shows a clear case of Leadership and morale being an important factor.
The Defiant wasn’t a bad aeroplane; it was simply badly misused, as there were no alternatives and desperate times called for desperate measures, but they should never have been used as single Sqns in the heat of the BoB. If, as it was intended, it had been used in conjunction with other fighters (Hurricanes and Spitfires - eg 264 Sqn integrated into Bader's Big Wing in lieu of one of the Hurricane Sqns?) it could be extremely effective. Alternatively, 264 and 141 should have been based in 13 Gp where they might have performed well against Luftflotte's 5 raid across the North Sea on 15 Aug 40. The 'Dunkirk fable' needs to be put to rest, it was never as claimed, BUT the Defiants of 264 Sqn did put up a good show when they intercepted Ju 87 and He 111 attacks on the beaches.
Acknowledgements to Alec Brew, author of ‘The Defiant File’ and Andrew Thomas - "Defiant, Blenheim and Havoc Aces" that appear to be rather more balanced views of this particular aeroplanes' effectiveness.