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Brewster F2A-3 'Buffalo'

Description
  Manufacturer:Brewster


Control Panel
  Base model:F2A
  Designation:F2A
  Version:-3
  Nickname:Buffalo
  Designation System:U.S. Navy / Marines
  Designation Period:1922-1962
  Basic role:Fighter
  Crew:Pilot
 
 

Specifications
  Length: 26' 4" 8.0 m
  Height:12' 0" 3.6 m
  Wingspan: 35' 0" 10.6 m
  Wingarea: 209.0 sq ft 19.4 sq m
  Empty Weight: 4,732 lb 2,146 kg
  Gross Weight: 7,159 lb 3,246 kg

Propulsion
  No. of Engines: 1
  Powerplant: Wright R-1820-40
  Horsepower (each): 1200

Performance
  Range: 965 miles 1,553 km
  Cruise Speed: 161 mph 259 km/h 140 kt
  Max Speed: 321 mph 516 km/h 278 kt
  Climb: 2,290 ft/min 697 m/min
  Ceiling: 33,200 ft 10,119 m

Known serial numbers
01516 / 01623


 

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 chat
 cairo, CA
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ترددات النايل سات 2012
Thank u so much
08/04/2012 @ 20:23 [ref: 64941]
 Aaron Robinson
 Wilmington, NC
For those who have read any books about the F2A, did you happen to see any photos of an F2A with late war US markings?
05/09/2011 @ 13:54 [ref: 37783]
 gene
 , IA
Have been reading 'Miracle at Midway' by Prange. ( may be
avaiable at Alibris books.)Anyway, this plane was a
'death trap', 38 were lanched, only 3 came back to
carrier, another flight of 14 just disappeared.
09/04/2010 @ 20:40 [ref: 29772]
 Jim Maas
 Clifton Park, NY
The wheel well area for the F2A-3 was non-specular light gray, which was the color originally specified for the F2A-3. The first part of the production order was delivered in the overall light gray scheme, and in September 1941 the non-specular blue-gray was added at the unit or Navy facility level (leading to some interesting variations in how the scheme was applied). It is likely, though I don't have positive documentation, that Brewster introduced the blue-gray uppersurface paint late in the production run.
09/11/2008 @ 19:03 [ref: 22668]
 howard walton
 Jacksonville, FL
To John Galante. Your post was some years ago, so I don't know if you'll read this, but I believe you are correct, at least with respect to the aircraft in the first photo. After the Navy ordered the F2A-2, eight F2A-1s were re-worked and brought up to F2A-2 standards. My research indicates that VS-201 got these aircraft, including the aircraft depicted in the first photo, and took them to sea onboard the USS Long Island (AVG-1) to conduct research and analysis on the escort carrier concept. A few months later VS-201 replaced them re-worked -2s with -3s. FYI, Hobby Master makes an outstanding replica of the aircraft depicted in the first photo in 1:48 scale (I own one). Though they market it as an F2-A Buffalo (an apparent misprint) the inside of the box it comes in makes it clear that the replica is of an F2A-2.
11/04/2007 @ 15:22 [ref: 18398]
 Alberto Accinelli
 , TN
I had a great-great uncle ordered into the air in his USMC F2A Buffalo during the Pearl Harbor attack to scare off and confuse the Japanese bombers.
09/28/2007 @ 21:01 [ref: 18047]
 Aaron F. Robinson
 Wilmington, NC
The F2A-3 (Brewster Model B-439) was the last version of the Buffalo to enter service. 108 examples were ordered in January of 1941. By this time, the Navy had become disenchanted with the Buffalo, and had become specially irrated at Brewster`s frequent production delays and its seeming never-ending management difficulties, and the F2A-3 was to prove to be the last version of the Buffalo to enter Navy service.

The F2A-3 featured a redesigned nose section with a ten-inch extension to the forward fuselage between the wing and the cowling. Fuel capacity was increased to 240 gallons with the installation of new fuel cells in the wing leading edge and fuselage. Additional armor was fitted and the ammunition capacity was increased. The canopy was modified to improve the visibility, with the heavy metal framing of the sliding cockpit framing being deleted. A small cylinder with emergency rations was installed on the port side of the rear canopy behind the pilot`s seat. Initially, the large propeller spinner of the F2A-2 was retained, but was soon eliminated in order to save weight. The same 1200-hp Wright R-1820-40 engine used by the F2A-2 was retained by the F2A-3.

The increased fuel capacity dramatically increased the range -- the additional 80 gallons of fuel gave the F2A-3 a maximum range of 1680 miles. Five and six-hour patrols became routine. However, the increased weight of the F2A-3 with no corresponding increase in engine power imposed a severe performance penalty. Maximum speed decreased to 321 mph, and the rate of climb fell below 3000 feet per minute. Many pilots actually preferred the F2A-3 to the F4F Wildcat, but one experienced Buffalo pilot said that he would have never taken an overweight F2A-3 into combat.

Deliveries of the F2A-3 began in January of 1941, and the Navy began replacing the F2A-2s in active duty squadrons that summer. Beginning in August of 1941, VF-2, VF-3 and VS-201 re-equipped with the F2A-3. However, VF-3 converted to the F4F Wildcat shortly thereafter.

In the Atlantic, VS-201 was based on the USS Long Island (CVE-1), and flew its F2A-3s on Atlantic Neutrality Patrols, along with its Curtiss SOC Seagull observation aircraft. VS-201 retained its Buffalos until April of 1942.

VF-2 was the only Navy Pacific Fleet operating the F2A-3 at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. They flew several patrols, but the only action they saw was a strafing attack against a reported Japanese submarine. In late January of 1942, VF-2 was re-equipped with the F4F Wildcat.

After Navy squadrons traded in their F2A-3s for F4Fs, the Buffalos were passed on to the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps was in the process of increasing the number of its land-based fighter squadrons, and F2As were used as initial equipment for a number of training squadrons that were based in San Diego and Ewa on Hawaii. After the completion of their training, the pilots passed their F2As along to the next batch of trainees and transitioned to F4F Wildcats.

There were two operational Marine Corps squadrons equipped with the F2A-3 -- VMF-221 based on Palmyra Island a thousand miles south of Hawaii and VMF-211 based on Midway Island. VMF-221 scored the first US Buffalo kill on March 10, 1942, when a four-aircraft flight shot down an H8K `Emily` flying boat snooping near Midway. VMF-211 was in action during the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. They put 21 F2A-3s and five F4Fs in the air in the defense of Midway against a Japanese carrier-based air strike. The result was an unmitigated disaster. During the battle, 13 F2A-3s and two F4Fs were shot down by Japanese fighters, which was 60 percent of the force.

This disaster was destined to be the last instance of aerial combat by the F2A in American hands. The poor performance of the F2A-3 led to considerable criticism of the aircraft, both in official Navy circles and in the press. Captain P.R. White was quoted as saying that ``It is my belief that any commander that orders pilots out for combat in an F2A-3 should consider the pilot as lost before leaving the ground.`` The Marine Corps was especially bitter about having to continue flying the F2A in combat long after the Navy had relegated the aircraft to NAS Miami as an advanced trainer. After Midway, all F2As were withdrawn from front-line squadrons and passed along to training units.

At least one F2A-3 was modified with having the wing 0.50-inch machine guns replaced by 20-mm Hispano-Suiza cannon. Brewster manufactured nine sets of modified wings, but the program was cancelled when the Navy ended F2A production with the F2A-3.

When Buffalos were withdrawn from front-line units, they were sent to Navy training air stations such as NAS Miami. The last F2A-3s off the production lines were delivered directly to Miami. Buffalos in the training role were often fitted with pneumatic 12-inch tail wheel tires, a detachable gun camera mounted on the starboard forward fuselage and a rearview periscope was mounted on the canopy framing. Training accidents were common and by 1943, there were few Buffalos left. The few remaining in service were scrapped in late 1943 and early 1944.No Navy F2As survive today.

The first F2A-3 (01516) was fitted with an experimental pressurised cockpit and was redesignated XF2A-4. However, no production was undertaken, since by that time the decision was made to abandon any further F2A production by Brewster.
08/07/2007 @ 19:14 [ref: 17507]
 Austin Sullivan
 Stafford Springs, CT
I believe that the Brewster F2A-3 is a suicide plane. The fact that pilots flying the plane with VMF-221 at the battle of Midway shot down Japanese planes with them is credit to their skill and bravery.
09/16/2005 @ 07:54 [ref: 11246]
 Brian Kim Neville
 Severn, MD
Some F2A-1s and F2A-2s didn't have spinners, and some F2A-3s did. Besides which, the F2A-2 and F2A-3 weren't all that dissimilar.
03/04/2005 @ 18:24 [ref: 9614]
 John Galante
 , NY
These photos (VS-201 Buffalo) appear to be of an F2A-2. Notice the spinner on the prop, and the "shorter" fuselage.
What do you think?
09/06/2001 @ 04:36 [ref: 3119]

 

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