Brewster F2A Buffalo

American fighter plane

In 1935, the US Navy announced a competition for a new carrier-based fighter. One of the three designs featured was a machine designed by the Daytona T. Brown team at Brewster.
The prototype of the aircraft, designated as XF2A-1, was flown in December 1937, after which it was handed over to the Navy for further trials and tests.
In June 1938, after making the necessary corrections to the new aircraft, the US Navy placed an order for 54 machines, designated F2A-1. Aircraft production, which began in 1939, progressed slowly due to the low production capacity of Brewster. In addition, the plane at that time was also offered to Finland, which had just been attacked by the USSR. The Finnish machines were designated Brewster Model 239 and differed from the F2A-1 by the lack of marine equipment, engine and weapons. Meanwhile, the US Navy modified the contract with Brewster, ordering 43 copies of the development version designated as F2A-2. Compared to the F2A-1, this variant had a more powerful engine, a new propeller, reinforced armament and a number of other improvements. The new planes, the assembly of which had already started, were to be delivered to another foreign recipient - Belgium (designation Model 339B). Thus, the deliveries for the US Navy started with a long delay, as it was not until August 1940.
The next user of the "Buffalo" planes was Great Britain.
Two contracts were signed for the supply of 170 machines in the modernized F2A-2 version. This export version received the designation Model 339E and the designation "Buffalo" Mk I. The aircraft had no marine equipment, had a fixed tail wheel, an export version of the Wright "Cyclone" engine with a Hamilton Standard propeller, and a few other minor changes to the F2A-2. The weight of the aircraft increased by 408 kg, which resulted in a drop in performance. The Netherlands also became interested in the Buffalo plane, for which several dozen machines were produced at the Brewster plant, marked as Model 339C (with the Wright R-1820 G105 engine) and Model 339D (with the G205 engine). These machines strengthened the military forces in the Dutch Inie in April 1941.

In January 1941, the US Navy signed its last contract with Brewster to supply 108 machines in an upgraded version known as the F2A-3. The plane received a new Wright R-1820-40 engine and additional fuel tanks. All the changes resulted in an increase in weight, which had a negative impact on the machine's performance (out of range).
Later that same year, the US Navy finally gave up the continuation of production and development of the F2A. This decision was mainly influenced by the continuous problems of the navy with the Brewster plant. Thus, all the "Buffalo" machines were gradually withdrawn from the front line and directed to aviation schools. The last (and practically the first) combat act of the American "Buffalo" was the defense of the Midway base. On June 4, 1942, 19 F2A-3 and 6 F4F-3 aircraft from the Marines VMF-221 unit commanded by Major Floyd B. Parks took off to intercept a strong Japanese air group. In a short-term fight, 13 Buffalo and 2 Wildcats were lost. Immediately after the battle, the remaining "Buffalo" lines were sent to the training squadrons.

The Brewster 339E “Buffalo” Mk.l was a mid-wing, retractable, single-seat fighter. All-metal double-spar batten with auxiliary girder. Metal shuttlecocks covered with linen. Cantilever tail with canvas cover for rudders. The main landing gear retracts hydraulically in flight. Fixed tail wheel. The drive was a 9-cylinder star engine Wright GR-1820 G105A with a take-off power of 950 KM.
The armament consisted of four 12.7 mm Colt-Browning М2 machine guns (two in the fuselage and two in the wings).

Basic technical data of the Brewster 339E "Buffalo" Mk.l:
Span -10.67 m
Length - 7.99 m
Height - 3.66 m
Bearing area -19.41 m²
Curb weight - 1936 kg
Gross weight - 2772 kg
Top speed - 528 km / h
Practical ceiling - 8321 m
The maximum range - 2066 km

"Buffalo" in Burma

In 1940, Great Britain concluded two contracts for the supply of 170 machines of the Brewster 339 E "Buffalo" Mk.I.
The planes were to strengthen the British Far Eastern forces stationed in Malaya, Singapore and Burma. In the spring of 1941, the first "Buffalo" reached Singapore and became part of two squadrons of RAF - 243 commanded by May. F.J. Howell and 67 (temporary commander Capt. D.J.
Pinckney). Three more squadrons were equipped with new planes - two Australian (453 and 21) and one New Zealand (488). In the fall of 1941, the 67th squadron of the RAF was transferred to the Mingaladon base (near Rangoon) in Burma. This unit had 30 Buffalo at its disposal, 16 of which were liners and 14 in reserve. The squadron consisted of 27 pilots, most of whom were New Zealanders. He held the position of commander from July May. R.A. Milward.

After the outbreak of the war with Japan, the 67th squadron of the RAF joined the fight on December 21, cooperating with the 3rd squadron of the American Volunteer Group flying P-40B machines. The first clash took place on December 23 during a Japanese air raid on Rangoon and Mingaladon airport. 15 "Buffalo" and 12 P-40s managed to take off to intercept the Japanese formation consisting of Ki-21 "Sally" bombers escorted by Ki-27 fighters. The first pilot of the 67th squadron to record the victory that day was Sgt. G.A. Williams. He reported one certain Ki-21 bomber had been shot down, one likely shot down, and four more machines had been damaged. Sergeant C.V. Bargh reported that one Ki-27 fighter and one Ki-21 were likely shot down. The list of winners also included, inter alia, Lieutenant J.F. Lambert (1 Ki-21), cf.
J.S. Wigglesworth (1 Ki-21 possibly) and Lieutenant P.M. Bingham-Wallis (3 damaged Ki-21s). In total, on that day, 6 certain kills and 3 probable ones were credited to the squadron's account. Own losses amounted to two machines lost on the ground as a result of the air raid and several other damaged ones.

Another heavy raid on Mingaladon and Rangoon took place on December 25 on Christmas Day. It involved a total of 71 Ki-21 and 27 Ki-30, covered by 25 Ki-43 and 32 Ki-27. The machines of both the 67th and 3rd AVG squadron were launched to fight the Japanese formation. In the air there were 12 "Buffalo" squadrons A and B squadrons and 2 machines that were the cover of squadron A. Serge. G.A Williams damaged one of the bombers, which was later "killed" by Lt. Bingham-Wallis. Fighters of the A squadron commanded by Cpt. Pinckney became involved in combat with Japanese cover planes (Ki-27 and Ki-43). Also squadron B commanded by Cpt.
While trying to "hunt down" the bombers, Jack Brandt herself was attacked by Japanese escort fighters. In view of the outnumbering of the enemy, "Buffalo" had to succumb in the end. On that day, 4 Buffalo were lost and two more sustained serious damage. In the fights with Japanese fighters the following were killed: Lt. John Lambert, Sgt. John Macpherson, Sgt. Ted Hewitt and Sgt. Ron McNabb. The account of the squadron's victories increased by 1 bomber, 3 fighters shot down for sure, 4 probably and 3 more damaged. As a result of the Japanese air raids, the infrastructure of the Mingaladon airport was severely damaged, and the number of operational machines drastically decreased.

Another clash took place on January 23, 1942. 11 machines (3 "Buffalo", 5 P-40 and 3 "Hurricane") launched from Mingaladon to intercept the Japanese formation. These forces clashed with 24 Ki-27 fighters. The squadron commander A, Cpt. Pinckney. 1 certain downing and damage to 1 Ki-27 were recorded on the squadron's account. The next day, 5 "Buffalo" commanded by Capt. Brandt. The group managed to intercept the Ki-21 bombers attacking Rangoon that day, shooting down 4 of them.
However, the situation of the 67th Squadron was already bad by this point.
Most of the machines have been destroyed or seriously damaged. The last 6 operational machines were withdrawn to India in March 1942, and the remaining ones that were not fit for flight were destroyed at the airport in Mingaladon.

The overall balance of the battles of the 67th Squadron was 27 wins while losing 8 "Buffalo" in the air. It was a good result, especially taking into account the numerical advantage of the opponent in this area. One should also remember that "Buffalo" from the 67th squadron entered the fight almost from the march. Some of the machines were assembled at the base in Mingaladon after the start of hostilities, and some of them were not fully equipped (for example, only a few planes had armor plates installed in the cabin).