Warplanes of the USA: Brewster SB2A-4 Buccaneer

Brewster SB2A-4 Buccaneer

The aim of this website is to locate, identify and document Warplanes from the Second World War preserved in the USA. Many contributors have assisted in the hunt for these aircraft to provide and update the data on this website. Photos are as credited. Any errors found here are by the author, and any additions, corrections or amendments to this list of Warplane Survivors of the Second World War in the United States of America would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

(USN Photo)

Brewster SB2A-4 Buccaneer in near Vero Beach, Florida c1942-1943.

The Brewster SB2A Buccaneer is a single-engined mid-wing monoplane scout bomber aircraft built by the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation for the United States Navy between 1942 and 1944. It was also supplied to the Royal Air Force (RAF), United States Army Air Forces, and United States Marine Corps. The Buccaneer was overweight and lacked maneuverability. While designed as a scout bomber, none saw combat, although a number served use in noncombat roles.

The SB2A was developed for the US Navy, and also ordered in large quantities by the Dutch, French, and British Governments. The Dutch order was later taken over by the US Navy and the French order by Britain. An Australian order was cancelled before any of the types were delivered. The Buccaneer was underpowered and poorly constructed, and all of its operators considered it to be unsuitable for combat. SB2As were used as target tugs by the RAF and US Navy, trainers by the USMC, and "hacks" by the USAAF. (Wikipedia)

(USN Photo)

Brewster SB2A-3 Buccaneer (BuNo 00885) at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland (USA), on 22 December 1943. Note the open bomb bay.

(USN Photo)

Brewster SB2A-4 Buccaneer (BuNo 29336) at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland (USA), on 22 November 1943.

(USN Photo)

Brewster SB2A-3 Buccaneer (BuNo. 00885) at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland (USA), on 22 November 1943. Note the folded wings and the open bomb bay.

Variants:

XSB2A-1 Buccaneer Prototype, one built (Bu1632, 01005).

‍SB2A-2 Initial production, revised armament – non-folding wings. 80 built (Bu00803/00882).

‍SB2A-3 Fitted with folding wings and arrestor hook for carrier operations. 60 built (Bu00883/00942).

‍SB2A-4 Aircraft built for Netherlands and requisitioned for the US Navy. 162 built (Bu29214/29375).

‍A-34 Bermuda Designation for Lend Lease production for United Kingdom.

(USAF Photo)

Bermuda Mk. 1 Model 340-14 production for United Kingdom. Powered gun mounting replaced by flexible gun mounting. Only 468 of 750 ordered were delivered.