Brewster F2A Buffalo Aces of World War 2: : Aircraft of the Aces Kari Stenman Osprey Publishing

Brewster F2A Buffalo Aces of World War 2

Description

A complete survey of all of the pilots who achieved Aces status using the Brewster F2A Buffalo.

Although designed and built for the US Navy, the F2A fought in only one major US engagement, the battle of Midway, in which F2A pilots managed to shoot down a number of Japanese fighters. Soon replaced by the navy, the F2A was exported to Britain, where it was nicknamed the 'Buffalo' thanks to its stubby appearance. The British sent most of these fighters to the Far East where they were used in the defence of Singapore and Malaya. It was in the Winter War, however, that the F2A truly found a home. Calling the plane simply the Brewster, the Finnish flew it against the invading Russians.

As this volume shows, overall 37 Finns achieved ace status flying the Brewster, and it was the Finnish fighter of choice until succeeded by the Bf 109 in 1943.

Chapter 1 - The Peanut Special
Brief technical description of the development of the F-2A and its selection/fielding by US Navy.
Initial carrier-borne service with US Navy and use pre war by a number of future leading US aces.
Selection by some European nations & subsequent adoption by Britain.
Sale of Brewster 239s to Finland and delivery

Chapter 2 - An Unloved Fighter
Service with the first Eagle squadron in England. Deployment and operational use with the Royal Navy in Egypt and Crete.
Fielding by the RAF for the air defence in the Far East and Burma

Chapter 3 - Finnish Triumph
Service with the Finnish Air Force against the Soviets

Chapter 4 - The Rising Sun
RAF service in Malaya against the Japanese.
Neth EIAF service use against Japanese.
RAF service in Burma against the Japanese & use in India after retreat.
Wartime USMC service – only action during Battle of Midway (last action by Buffalo/F2A against Japanese)

Chapter 5 - Epilogue
Brewster 239's final victory and valediction to include use in US as fighter trainer flown by many future aces, or by aces as instructors

Appendices
A) USN/USMC Aces, including those who flew, but did not claim on the F-2A
B) Commonwealth Buffalo Aces, and Aces who made some claims on them
C) Finnish Brewster 239 Aces, and Aces who made some claims on them
D) Commonwealth Aces who flew, but did not claim, (including non-ace pilots with 5+ Buffalo claims)

Product details

Published	Jun 20 2013
Format	Ebook (PDF)
Edition	1st
Extent	96
ISBN	9781849082495
Imprint	Osprey Publishing
Illustrations	47 b/w; 32 col
Series	Aircraft of the Aces
Short code	ACE 91
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

Author

Kari Stenman

Born in 1945, Kari Stenman studied economics and w…

Author

Andrew Thomas

Andrew Thomas is one of Britain's leading RAF rese…

Illustrator

Chris Davey

Chris Davey has illustrated more than 70 titles fo…

This book is a must-have for the aviation historian and military analyst to understand how this much-overlooked aircraft impacted aerial combat during World War 2. Modelers will also enjoy the history, photography and color profiles to replicate the mounts of these aces. This title is recommended!

Michael Benolkin, Cyber Modeler, cybermodeler.com (February 2010)
This book covers it all, starting with its use by Finland during WW2, then moving on to Malaya, Burma and its final US use at Midway. Included in this are super period photos of the men and planes as well as the expected center section of full color profiles by Chris Davey and a couple of color photographs. There is also the usual table of pilots of various nations that achieved ace or near ace status flying the aircraft. In all, it makes for a great read and a super reference book. It is one that I have no trouble highly recommending to you.

Scott Van Aken, Modeling Madness, modelingmadness.com (February 2010)
Kari Stenman and Andrew Thomas' BREWSTER F2A BUFFALO ACES OF WORLD WAR 2 joins others in Osprey's 'Aircraft of the Aces' series I offering a comprehensive survey of the pilots and missions of the F2A aircraft ... Military libraries strong in equipment history will find this a welcome addition.

The Midwest Book Review (April 2010)
I found this book to be very interesting, and very comprehensive. As an example, in the Far East chapters, the authors were able to correlate Allied kills with Japanese pilots shot down. In addition, the pilot recounts of their actions were highly regarded, as we are close to having lost most those people to age related demise, so to work those into the 'story' of the Brewster was greatly appreciated.

Kevin Iutzeler, IPMS (March 2010)