Established as a building constructor in Norwich, Norfolk,
turned to subcontract construction of aircraft in First World
War, including RAF F.E.2d, Sopwith 1/2-Strutter and Sopwith
Camel. Known originally as Aircraft Department of
Boulton & Paul Ltd. As the war neared its end, the company
decided to continue in aircraft industry. First original
design P.3 single-seat biplane fighter which did not, however,
enter production. Designed and built P.6 research
aircraft, which provided much data for later P.9. P.7
Bourges twin-engined fighter-bomber built at the end of
1918, followed later by somewhat similar
"Defiant"
Bugle. Neither
entered RAF service. Continued to build small numbers of
civil aircraft during inter-war years. Sidestrand 3/4-seat
medium bomber entered RAF service with one squadron in April 1928. Replaced by improved Overstrands, with
power-operated gun turret, in 1934. When production
ended, in 1936, company re-established at Wolverhampton,
Staffs. Name of Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd. adopted
1934. Designed and built P.82 Defiant for RAF, prototype
first flew 11 August 1937; two-seat fighter with power-operated
gun turret was entirely new concept and enjoyed
initial operational success. Production ended 1943 after
more than 1,000 built. Designed P.108 Balliol three-seat
advanced trainer for RAF, 162 built subsequently as two-seat
Balliol T.2, of which 30 built under subcontract by
Blackburn Aircraft Ltd. Built P.111 and P.120 for research
into behavior of delta wing at transonic speeds.
