Canadian Warplanes 3: Brewster Buffalo

Brewster Buffalo

(RAF Photo)

Brewster Buffalo (Serial No. AS417), one of 38 originally intended for Belgium Later Operated by FAA No. 759 Squadron.

RAF.  None were on the RCAF establishment, but a few were flown by RCAF aircrews serving with the RAF in the Far East during the Second World War.

(Pinterest/Life Magazine Photo)

Brewster Buffalo (Serial No. W8142), coded WP-N, No. 243 Sqn RAF, being rolled by it's groundcrew into position on the airfield at Kallang, Singapore. April 1941.

(IWM Photo)

Brewster Buffalo Mk. I (Serial No. AS430), Boscombe Down, UK, Aug 1940.

(RAF Photo)

Brewster Buffalo, RAF.

(IWM Photo, CF 766)

Brewster Buffalo Mk. Is of No. 453 Squadron RAAF lined up at RAF Sembawang, Singapore, in Nov 1941. Buffalo (Serial No. AN185), coded TD-V, was flown by Flt Lt Doug Vanderfield, who shot down three Japanese bombers (two Ki-48s and one Ki-51) over Butterworth, Penang on 13 Dec 1941, while his undercarriage was still down. The Buffalos are on parade on the occasion of an inspection by Air Vice Marshal C W H Pulford, Air Officer Commanding Royal Air Force Far East.

(RAAF Photo)

Brewster Buffalo (Serial No. AN180), coded GA-B, No. 1 RAAF Squadron, Seletar Airbase, Singapore, 1941.

(RAF Photo)

Brewster Buffalo, RAF.

Facing a shortage of combat aircraft in January 1940, the British government established the British Purchasing Commission to acquire U.S. aircraft that would help supplement domestic production. Among the U.S. fighter aircraft that caught the Commission’s attention was the Brewster. The remaining 32 B-339 aircraft ordered by the Belgians, suspended at the fall of France, were passed on to the United Kingdom. Appraisal by Royal Air Force acceptance personnel criticized it on numerous points including inadequate armament and lack of pilot armour, poor high-altitude performance, engine overheating, maintenance issues, and cockpit controls, while it was praised for its handling, roomy cockpit, and visibility. With a top speed of about 323 mph (520 km/h) at 21,000 ft (6,400 m), but with fuel starvation issues over 15,000 ft (4,600 m), it was considered unfit for duty in western Europe. Still desperately in need of fighter aircraft in the Pacific and Asia for British and Commonwealth air forces, the UK ordered an additional 170 aircraft.

In December 1941, Buffalos operated by both British Commonwealth (B-339E) and Dutch (B-339C/D) air forces in South East Asia suffered severe losses in combat against the Japanese Navy’s Mitsubishi A6M Zero and the Japanese Army’s Nakajima Ki-43 “Oscar”. The British attempted to lighten their Buffalos by removing ammunition and fuel and installing lighter guns to improve performance, but it made little difference.

No. 67 Squadron RAF flew Brewster Buffalos in defence of Burma during the early stages of the Pacific War.

On 12 March 1941, No.243 reformed at Kallang as a fighter squadron for the defence of Singapore. The shortcomings of its Brewster Buffaloes were soon apparent and when Japanese fighters came within range, the squadron suffered heavy losses and by the end of January 1942 was operating its surviving aircraft as part of a mixed force, the other Buffalo squadrons being in a similar state. Its identity was gradually lost to the evacuation of redundant personnel and by the time all fighters were withdrawn from the Singapore airfields, it no longer existed as a unit, having been disbanded on 20 January 1942.

(IWM Photo E(MOS) 218)

Brewster Buffalo (Serial No. AS426), operated by FAA No. 711 Squadron.

(FAA Photo)

Brewster Buffalo (Serial No. AS417), operated by FAA No. 759 Squadron.

(FAA Photo)

Brewster Buffalo (Serial No. W8140).

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