217 Brewster Buffalo

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Publisher: Profile Publications England
Cover: Soft
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Synopsis: This revealing study examines the Brewster F2A Buffalo, an aircraft whose reputation has been overshadowed by its poor performance in the hands of inexperienced pilots, yet which achieved notable success when properly employed by skilled aircrew. The book provides a balanced assessment of America's first monoplane carrier fighter, tracing its development from promising prototype to operational fighter that served with multiple air forces during World War II. The Buffalo emerged from U.S. Navy requirements for a modern carrier fighter to replace obsolescent biplanes, resulting in a design that incorporated advanced features including retractable landing gear, enclosed cockpit, and all-metal construction. The publication details the aircraft's development challenges and the modifications required for carrier operations, including strengthened landing gear and arresting hook installation. Technical analysis reveals both the aircraft's innovative features and the weight growth that compromised its performance, particularly when equipped with additional armor and equipment for combat operations. The book chronicles the aircraft's varied operational history, from successful service with Finnish pilots who achieved remarkable kill ratios against Soviet aircraft, to the disaster at Midway where inexperienced Marine pilots suffered heavy losses. Combat accounts provide contrasting perspectives on the aircraft's capabilities, highlighting how pilot training and tactical employment could dramatically affect combat outcomes. The publication examines the various models and export variants, including the differences between U.S. Navy and export configurations that affected performance and handling characteristics. Performance data illustrates how the aircraft's characteristics changed as modifications accumulated, transforming a nimble fighter into a less maneuverable but more survivable combat aircraft. The book also covers the aircraft's service with other nations including Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands East Indies, providing insights into its capabilities in different operational environments. Production history reveals the challenges faced by a small manufacturer attempting to meet large-scale military contracts. Personal accounts from pilots of various nationalities provide diverse perspectives on the aircraft's flying qualities and combat effectiveness. This Profile Publication offers a comprehensive reassessment of an aircraft whose true capabilities were often masked by circumstances beyond the design's control.

217 Brewster Buffalo, is one of the many primary source materials in the Army Air Corps Museum collection.