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Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Brewster F2A Buffalo
Moore's Aircraft - WW2 Carrier and land based Bomber

World War Two Aircraft
My name is Craig Moore. My interest in aircraft came from my uncle who was in RAF WW2 Bomber Command as a rear gunner in Wellington Bombers. He survived two tours of duty the first over Germany and the second flying from North Africa over Italy. I enjoy airshows and watching the displays of modern jet fighters from different air forces as well as cold war interceptors and bombers. The World War One bi-planes and tri-planes are a particular favourite. To see them flying again is inspiring. Each year more war birds are restored to flying condition for us to admire.

WW2 Brewster F2A Buffalo Carrier and land based bomber
The United States Navy USN’s first monoplane carrier fighter was the F2A Buffalo or Brewster Buffalo. It was designed in 1935 as a replacement for the Grumman F3F biplane. The F2A Buffalo flew on 2nd December 1937. The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm operated 27 Brewster Buffalos. Only one is known to have been shot down. It happened north west of Sidi Barrani on 17 June 1941. The Royal Airforce RAF purchased several hundred of the land-based version F2A Buffalos.

It soon became clear that the F2A was already inadequate compared to the latest German fighters. It was not going to survive against Messerschmitts, so they were sent to the Far East squadrons in Singapore, Malaya and Burma where they officially claimed a 2:1 kill ratio against Japanese bombers and fighters but it is believed the opposite ratio is more correct. .

Brewster F2A Buffalos served in many air forces around the world but had an undeserved poor reputation as a fighter but was in reality relatively successful in air combat. At the Battle of Midway the USMC United States Marine Corps flew F2. These pilots were young and inexperienced fighting experienced veteran pilots of the Japanese air force in Mitsubishi Zero fighters. The Marine pilots still used World War One dogfight tactics and paid dearly with their lives. It did not help that the Buffalos were outnumbered and at a tactical disadvantage. In total 750 Brewster Buffalos were produced.