On display at RAF Museum Hendon. The first unit to receive the Defiant was No. 264 (Madras Presidency) Sqn, which put up its turret fighters over The Hague and Dunkirk in May 1940. Unsuitable against the Bf-109, the Defiant was switched to the nightfighter role during the Blitz. This aircraft is the 179th production example and sole survivor of 1,064 built. It was flown by the third Defiant unit, No. 307 (Lvov) Sqn. Defiants saw further use as ECM aircraft to jam Freya radars, as ASR aircraft and target tugs.

Part-way through reassembly after relocation from Hendon.

This Defiant was operated by No 307 (Polish) Squadron RAF from September 1940 and is the only complete example extant, being fortunately earmarked for preservation as early as September 1944. Photographed here after having returned to RAF Museum Hendon following a complete restoration by the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society at Rochester Airport It was reassembled for display in early 2013.

The Defiant, carrying all its four guns in its dorsal turret, initially fought as a day fighter in the Battle of Britain but was soon shifted to the night fighter role.