Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Brewster Aeronautical Corporation · United States · first flew 1941 · fighter
The Brewster SB2A Buccaneer was an American carrier-based dive bomber ordered in large numbers during World War II but found unsuitable for combat by every operator that evaluated it. Like the earlier Brewster Buffalo fighter, it became infamous as a failure of American aircraft procurement.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.19 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- American WWII carrier-based dive bomber rejected by US Navy as unsuitable for combat
- Delivered mainly to Britain and the Netherlands — not used in front-line combat by any operator
- Rotund mid-wing monoplane with perforated dive flaps
Rotund mid-wing monoplane with a large radial engine, perforated dive flaps under the wings, retractable undercarriage, and a two-seat tandem cockpit under a long greenhouse canopy.
Specifications
- The Brewster SB2A Buccaneer has a length of 12.19 m (40 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.23 m (47 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 436 km/h (271 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed to a 1939 US Navy specification, the SB2A first flew in 1941. The US Navy rejected it after evaluation as too slow and poorly handled; the Netherlands East Indies ordered it before the fall of Dutch territory, and Britain's Fleet Air Arm received examples as the Bermuda but never used them in combat. The RAF similarly found its performance inadequate. Most examples were relegated to training duties.
Variants
The SB2A-1 through SB2A-4 were US Navy versions; the Bermuda Mk I/II/III served with the RAF and Fleet Air Arm; Dutch orders were taken over by the US on the fall of the Netherlands.
Where you'll see it
Never used in front-line combat by any operator; relegated to training and second-line duties by the RAF, FAA, and USMC.
Related aircraft
- Brewster F3A-1 Corsair
- Brewster XA-32
- Brewster F2A Buffalo
- Brewster XSBA-1
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- Curtiss P-40 E Kittyhawk
- Curtiss P-40 F Warhawk
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