Brewster F2A Buffalo
Brewster Aeronautical Corporation · United States · first flew 1937 · fighter
The Brewster F2A Buffalo was the US Navy's first monoplane fighter, famously outclassed by the Japanese Zero in Pacific combat but achieving considerable success in Finnish hands against Soviet opponents. Its rotund fuselage earned it the 'beer barrel' nickname.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Rotund barrel fuselage with a large Wright Cyclone radial engine |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Rotund barrel fuselage with a large Wright Cyclone radial engine
- US Navy's first monoplane fighter — lost badly to Zero at Midway
- Finland's most celebrated fighter — 'the flying beer barrel' in Finnish service
The very round, almost circular fuselage cross-section and prominent radial cowling on a mid-wing monoplane are distinctive; the Buffalo is noticeably pudgier than contemporary fighters.
Specifications
- The Brewster F2A Buffalo has a length of 8.03 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.67 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 517 km/h (321 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering US Navy service in 1939, the Buffalo was already being overtaken by the F4F Wildcat at the time of Pearl Harbor. Its combat record in US, British, and Dutch service was poor, but Finland's Brewster Buffalos destroyed a disproportionate number of Soviet aircraft, with Finnish pilots exploiting its strengths in their conditions.
Variants
The F2A-1 was the initial US Navy version; the F2A-2 and F2A-3 were heavier progressively; the export B-239 for Finland and B-339 for Britain and the Netherlands East Indies differed in equipment.
Where you'll see it
US Navy, Finnish Air Force (where it was extremely effective), Royal Air Force (Malaya — where it was not), and the Netherlands East Indies KNIL; all retired by 1944.
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