1/48 Airfix Defiant, 264 Sqadron Summer 1940

[jackroadkill]

This build has taken me ages.   I started it way back at the beginning of March, and thought it would be a quick build, but somehow I struggled with life impacting on both my time and my mojo, not to mention building several other kits alongside this one.  The four GB's I joined this year have run one after the other, and maybe in retrospect I shouldn't have dived in quite so deep.  However, the Defiant is now done, so I'm pleased with that.  The kit was pretty good, only requiring a few minor fettles along the way, and I think it builds well and nails the essence of the Defiant really nicely.

 

The kit was built largely OOB, with added Eduard PE.  I managed to trash one of the decals so had to use some Xtradecals markings to salvage things.  The paints were my usual Colourcoats enamels (courtesy of @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies) and spraying was done with a set of Topnotch camouflage masks.  I used Mig Ammo panel line wash and pigments for weathering.  WIP thread is here:

 

 

Anyway, some images:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, there she is; not perfect but hey...  I've still got a real soft spot for the Defiant and genuinely feel that her reputation is undeserved.  Her crews were brave beyond brave and flew with an unsurpassed dedication to their duty, and for that they have my undying gratitude and respect.  The Defiant was intended to attack a stream of unescorted bombers and when that didn't materialise, they were thrown into the fight to intercept the might of the Luftwaffe formations of both bombers and fighters.  They shot down a surprisingly high number of German aircraft before being withdrawn from the front line following the decimation of 141 Squadron's Defiants in a battle known as the Slaughter Of The Innocents.

 

Robert Verkaik's  excellent book  Defiant: The Untold Story of the Battle of Britain tells the story of the Defiant and the role it played in the strategic and tactical thinking behind the defence of Britain in the early part of the war, as well as the failures in the Chamberlain government's top brass's approach to air defence.

 

The aircraft represented here, L7021, was flown by Squadron Leader G D Garvin and his gunner, Flight Lieutenant R C V Ash on the 28th of August 1940.  The aircraft was badly damaged in combat with a Bf109 of JG26 (I haven't been able to identify who the pilot was) and the crew baled out of the burning fighter.  S/L Garvin sustained minor injuries but F/L Ash was killed.  L7201 impacted the ground near Faversham (see http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Garvin.htm  http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Ash.htm and https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-aviation/31796-defiant-walkaround).  Staggeringly, with hindsight, F/L Ash had requested a transfer to Defiants.  His body was found riddled with machine gun bullets, suggesting that he may well have been attacked whilst making his descent by parachute.

 

An imperfect aircraft used in imperfect circumstances, then, but a brave and steadfast crew, one of whom gave his life in the worst of circumstances during the defining air battle of WWII.  Lest we forget...

 

Thanks,

 

JRK

 

 

[bigbadbadge]

What a fantastic looking Defiant, you have done a top job on this and provided very interesting backround,  what brave fellows indeed and a tragic end too.

Great work 

Chris

[tonyot]

Lovely job mate. 

[Dunny]

Lovely work jrk - finish and weathering are superb!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[GREG DESTEC]

Excellent modelling on your Defiant👍

 

Well done too for researching the aircraft and it's crew, a fine tribute.

 

Cheers Greg🍺

[LDSModeller]

Hi Jack,

 

Very very Nice

 

With 264 Squadron in the title, had to have look in, as there were

Kiwi's serving with 264 Squadron.

 

Here are a pair of 264 Sqn Defiants taken by a Kiwi Defiant crewman.

 

The rear most aircraft is your model

(RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)

 

Thanks for sharing your model with us

 

Regards

 

Alan

 

[keith in the uk]

That s great , nice model and interesting story behind it.  

[jackroadkill]

15 hours ago, bigbadbadge said:

What a fantastic looking Defiant, you have done a top job on this and provided very interesting backround,  what brave fellows indeed and a tragic end too.

Great work 

Chris

 

15 hours ago, tonyot said:

Lovely job mate. 

 

15 hours ago, Flight Line Media said:

Awesome build! Thanks for sharing it, JRK!

 

14 hours ago, Dunny said:

Lovely work jrk - finish and weathering are superb!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

 

6 hours ago, GREG DESTEC said:

Excellent modelling on your Defiant👍

 

Well done too for researching the aircraft and it's crew, a fine tribute.

 

Cheers Greg🍺

 

4 hours ago, keith in the uk said:

That s great , nice model and interesting story behind it.  

 

Thanks guys, very kind of you.  I was unsure as to the reception this one would get!

 

5 hours ago, LDSModeller said:

Hi Jack,

 

Very very Nice

 

With 264 Squadron in the title, had to have look in, as there were

Kiwi's serving with 264 Squadron.

 

Here are a pair of 264 Sqn Defiants taken by a Kiwi Defiant crewman.

 

The rear most aircraft is your model

(RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)

 

Thanks for sharing your model with us

 

Regards

 

Alan

 

 

Wow, thanks Alan - I really appreciate you taking the time to post the picture.  It's not one I've seen before, I don't think.  The Kiwi connection is one that I seem to bump into over and over again, somehow - perhaps due to the huge contribution to the war effort made by New Zealanders.

 

Cheers,

 

JRK

[AndyL]

Lovely Defiant - you've done a great job. 

The real thing was possibly shot down by Adolf Galland, as in his memoir he recalled that he overshot his intended target and hit the leader of the formation; Squadron Leader George Garvin had ordered the squadron into a line astern formation for their attack on some He 111's.  With reference to Flight Lieutenant Robert Ash (known as Clifford ) he had earlier served with 149 Squadron and had flown operationally up until June 1940 before requesting a transfer to Defiants. His death has been attributed to being shot while descending in his parachute - his father certainly thought so, and also thought George Garvin was fired at, however Garvin made no reference to this happening in his letters home or log book. Clifford Ash was found dead in field near Faversham; he had been wounded prior to having to bale out of the burning Defiant, but it appears that he struck the tail as he went out of the turret and broke his neck, the last thing he did while alive was to pull the ripcord - this was according to the squadron medical officer. The Clifford family were still trying to see if he had been machine gunned, and were trying to get an answer way into 1944 ( I have copies of the  correspondence ). But on a decent note, the night before, 264 had held a rather boisterous party, and it was noticed that Clifford had unwound to a level never seen before by squadron members, so at least his last evening alive had been a decent one.

 

Regards

 

Andy

[jackroadkill]

@AndyL, thanks very much for the added information regarding the aircraft and crew - it's very much appreciated indeed.  Discovering the backstory to each aircraft I build is something I find very appealing, and I feel a responsibility to do so.  Thanks for taking the time to post the above to the thread.