Main Menu
United States' Brewster F2A Buffalo fighter1,2
Brewster F2A Buffalo:
Brewster F2A Buffalo:
Brewster F2A Buffalo:
Design
The Brewster F2A Buffalo was the first monoplane fighter to be used by the United States Navy.1
Prototype
The XF2A-1 prototype first flew in December 1937.1,2
Production
- XF2A-1: 12
- F2A-1: 111,2
- F2A-2: 431,2
- F2A-3: 1081,2
- B-239: 442
- B-339: 2822
- B-439: 202
- Total: 5092
Variants
- XF2A-1: Prototype.1
- F2A-1: Production.1 Powered by Wright R-1820-34 radials (940 HP).1 First entered service in June 1939.2
- F2A-2: Had new vertical tail surfaces.1,2
- F2A-3: Longer nose and additional armor protection.1,2
- B-239: Land based export version to Finland.1
- B-339: Had Wright GR-1820 Cyclone engines (1,100 HP).2 There were larger fuel tanks and increased armor.2
- B-339B: Land based export version of the F2A-1 to Belgium.1,2
- B-339D: Land based export version to F2A-1 Netherlands.1,2
- B-339E / Buffalo Mk I: Land based export version to the United Kingdom.1,2
- B-439: Export version of the F2A-3.1,2
Usage
The countries that used the F2A were Australia, Britain, Finland, Netherlands East Indies, New Zealand, and United States.2
The VF-3 received the first eleven F2A Buffalos in June 1940 on the USS Saratoga.1
Midway
The United States Marine Corps used F2As in the VMF-221 at Midway in 1942.1 13 of the 19 available were shot down.2
Finland
Finland ordered 44 B-239s.1
They were used with success against the Soviets from 1941 to 1944.2
Belgium
Belgium ordered 40 B-339Bs.1,2 38 of these were diverted to the United Kingdom.1,2
Netherlands
The Dutch ordered 72 B-339Ds.1,2
The Dutch East Indies was to receive 20 B-439s but these were delivered to the United States Air Corp.1,2 17 of these were sent to Australia.1,2
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom received 38 of the B-339Bs that were intended for the Belgians.1 They also received 170 B-339Es that were designated the Buffalo Mk I.1,2 Most of the Buffalos served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and only a few served with the Royal Navy.2
| Brewster F2A Buffalo2 | Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo2 | Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Naval fighter2 Land fighter2 |
Naval fighter2 Land fighter2 |
Carrier fighter1 |
| Crew | 12 | 12 | 11 |
| Engine (Type) | Wright R-1820-401,2 | Wright R-1820-40 piston1,2 | |
| Cylinders | Radial 92 | Radial1,2 92 | |
| Cooling | |||
| HP | 1,2002 | 1,2001,2 | |
| Propeller blades | 32 | 32 | |
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 35'2 10.67 m2 |
35'1 10.67m1 |
|
| Length | 26' 4"2 8.03 m2 |
26' 4"1 8.02 m1 |
|
| Height | 12' 1"2 3.68 m2 |
12' 1"1 3.68 m1 |
|
| Wing area | 208.9 ft2 1 19.41 m2 1 |
||
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 4,732 lb1,2 2,146 kg1,2 |
||
| Normal load | 6,321 lb2 2,867 kg2 |
||
| Maximum load | 7,159 lb1,2 3,247 kg1,2 |
||
| Performance | |||
| Speed @ 16,500' 5,030 m |
321 mph1,2 516 kph1,2 |
||
| Climb | 2,290'/minute1,2 698 m/minute1,2 |
||
| Service ceiling | 32,300'1, 33,200'2 10,119 m2, 10,120 m1 |
||
| Range | 965 miles,21 1,553 km2, 1,650 km1 |
||
| Armament | |||
| Wings | 2: 0.5" MG2 | 2: 12.7 mm Browning MG1 | |
| Nose | 2: 0.5" MG2 | 2: 12.7 mm Browning MG1 |
Sources:
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
