Brewster B.339 Buffalo

History

In 1935, the US Navy released a new requirement for a carrier-based fighrter to replace the Grumman F-3F, a biplane.
The new aircraft manufacturer Brewster came with the XF-2A-1 a metal monoplane and Grumman came with the XF4-1, a biplane. The Seversky XFN-1, a naval version of the P-35 was dropped because the performance did not meet the requirements. Grumman also failed, but the XF4-1 was further developed by Grumman into the Grumman Wildcat.
The XF-2A was to some extent a further development of the first Brewster, the Brewster SBN, which was later developed into the SB2A-Buccaneer (or Bermuda as the RAF marked this aircraft.)
The somewhat older, but very reliable Wright Cyclone R-1820 was chosen as power source for the aircraft; Grumman had opted for the more modern Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp.
The Cyclone was fitted with a single-stage compressor, thus perfomrnace at 15000 feet was less than at ground level. The Twin Wasp was equipped with a two-stage compressor, and provided, at the same cylinder capacity better performance.
During the flight tests of the prototype, operformed in 1938, the Buffalo turned out to outperform the XF4-1. Also, the US Navy thought the Twin Wasp too complicated in comparison with the Wright Cyclone.
The XF2A-1 was modern for its time with an all-metal body and linen-covered control surfaces. Further, it had a hydraulically retractable landing gear, flaps and shared a streamlined canopy. The fuel capacity was relatively small, just 606 l, the Wright Cyclone R-1820-22 of 950 horsepower at start was equipped with a single-stage compressor, causing its power to decrease at higher altitudes. The climb rate of over 2500 ft/min was quite good and the maximum  speed was reasonable with 447 km/hr at an altitude of 4879 m.
By improvement of the airintake an de the aerodynimcs os the engien cowling the top speed was increased to 489 km/hr.
The armament consisted of a fixed .50 inch machine gun plus  one fixed .30 inch machine gun in the nose.

The first test flights of the prototype started in January 1938.
Brewster finally got the contract for 54 aircraft under the designation F2A-1 and the first delivery took place in May 1939. However, the delivery rate was very low, mainly due to the building, a former car factory. The factory was actually unsuitable for mass production of aircraft, not least because of the location, away from an airfield.
The first production aircraft was equipped with a Wright Cyclone R-1820-34 rated 940 hp at teke-off, a larger tail fin and the armament was expanded with two .50 inch machine guns in the wings. Also all kinds of additional equipment increased the overall weight, so the climb rate decreased to 2600 ft/min.
Due to problems in production just eleven examples were delivered, the rest being delivered to the Finnish Air Force under the designation Model 239.
The US Navy issued a follow-up order of 43 examples of an improved version, called F2A-2. This version had a more powerful Wright R-1820-40 engine rated 1200 hp, an improved propeller, but still lacked armor for the pilot and self-sealing fuel tanks.
The weight increased to 2700 kg, but despite the speed increased to a maximum of 520 km/hr at 5000 m, however the climb rate was further reduced to 2500 ft/min.
The US Navy bought 100 examples of another improved version, designated F2A-3Of the F2A-3, ordered in January 1941, though the US Navy had become more and more unsatisfied with the Brewster F2A and its manufacturer.
The F2A-3 had self-sealing tanks in the wings, an elongated body, whereby the weight is further increased and also armor for the pilot was added. This reduced performance still further and the maneuverability was more and more decreased.
One of the problems of the BRewster F2A had to do with the main landing gear. The support had a tendency to bend and thereby scrape against the edge of the wheel space, so that the landing gear could not be fully retracted. In practice, this was solved by removing some of the support. However, a hard landing could break them.
In this version, this problem became even more frequently, so the type was soon referred back to the second line or used as a trainer.

Versions.

The Dutch East Indies Brewster B-339C, a land version of the Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo, was fitted with a Wright Cyclone G-105A engine rated 1100 hp. Of this engine still 31 examples were available from stocks, originally destined for the Dutch Dornier Do-24K . Twentyfour aircraft, designated B-339C were equipped with these engines.

Furthermore 54 (second hand) Wright Cyclone G-205A engines rated 1200 hp were obtained. These ex TWA engines were overhauled by the Wright factory. These engines were used for the remainder of the Brewster B-339s, which were designated as B-339D.

In February 1941 an additional series of twenty examples, referred to as B 339-23, was ordered. These were largely equivalent tothe F2A-3 version of the US Navy and were slightly longer and slightly heavier. For this order twentytwo Ex KLM Wright Cyclone R-1820-G2 engines were purchased. These were overhauled by the factory and put tp  standard G5B and produced 1000 hp each.

Because the performance was considerably less, these series was initially intended for the training of fighter pilots.

Because of difficulties in the supply of components, these series was not delivered to the NEtherlands East Indies and taken over by the RAAF and USAAF.

These machines would receive registrations between B3-167 and B3-186.

Cockpit of a Dutch Brewster Buffalo.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

Three offiocers standing near a NEIAF Brewster Buffalo while the fighter pilot climbs into the aircraft.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

Brewster Buffalo fighter of NEIAF, serial  B-3119.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

Brewster Buffalo of NEIAF at the Brewster Factory. Cicvil serial NX3180 on the tail.
[Ingesloten foto van BeeldBank NIMH. Klik op de foto voor bestel-informatie]

BGrewster Buffalo B-3119 of NEIAF. [atp Beeldbank NIMH]

Brewster B-339-23, B3-186 at an US airfield, awaiting delivery.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

1/72nd Scale

Kits

• Airfix
  • Kit 02050: An older model, but it is quite accurate. It is equipped with the underside window under the cockpit area.

    • Building report of this kit on Youtube

• Revell and Aoshima
  • These models are of rather pore quality and hardly available at the moment.
• Matchbox
  • Kit PK-24:This model had decals for a example of the pre war NEIAF. This was a rather good model, but it didn't have the lower window.
• Hasegawa
  • Kit 24AP45: Buffalo F2A-2. A rather new model is the Buffalo of Hasegawa. I haven't had the opportunity to buy this one yet, but it is one of the best Buffalo models in 1/72nd scale.
  • Kit 24AP148: Brewster F2A-1 Buffalo.
  • Kit 2400915: Brewster B239 Buffalo "Finnish AF".
  • Kit 2400968 / 2401974: Brewster F2A-1/2 Buffalo "US Navy Combo" (2 kits included).
• HobbyBoss
  • Kit 80290: F2A-1 Buffalo (US Navy).
• Special Hobby: It is said that these are the best Buffalo models thus far.
  • Kit SH72126:Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo "Defender of Midway".
  • Kit SH72133: Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo "Yellow Wings".
  • Kit SH72218: Brewster Mod. 339D Buffalo Mk.I "Dutch and Japanese Service".
  • Kit SH72131: Brewster Model 339B/E Buffalo MK1 (also usable for KNIL version).

A model of a Brewster B339D, built by Adri Kleijn (Note: the brown colour of the camouflage has to be 'jong blad').

Modelling add-on

• Pavla
  • Set C72048: Brewster Buffalo MK1 interior set and decals
  • Set C7243: F2A-2 Buffalo Interior set & Canopy
  • Set U72-59: Brewster F2A Buffalo wing set, Control Surfaces and Armament:
• Eduard
  • Set E72-221: Detailset Brewster F2A Buffalo
  • Set E72-233: Detailset Brewster Buffalo Mod339 (Hasegawa)
• Marti Kuivalainen
  • Set KPE72020: Detailset Finnish Brewster 239 interior (Hasegawa) (DOUBLE sheet
• Falcon
  • Set VAX11: Canopies US Navy WW2 (PBY5 Catalina, F4U-1, Ventura, SB2C, F2A) .
• QuickBoost
  • Set 72032: Brewster B339 Buffalo engine (Hasegawa)
• Squadron Signal
  • Set 09132: Canopies Brewster Buffalo.

Decals

• Tally Ho
  • Set 7137: Set for several NEIAF aircraft such aas Brewster F2A; B-25 Mitchell and Curtiss P40N
• Dutch Decal
  • Set 72011: Set for several types of aircrat such as Brewster Buffalo B-3114 wiht Rhinoceros marking.
  • Set 72030: Set for several types of aircrat such as Brewster Buffalo B-3132
• Dutch Profile
  • Set DDS87248: Brewster B339 Buffalo (RNEIAF) (both 1/72nd and 1/48th scale).
• FlevoDecal
  • Set FD72-012: Set for five Brewsters, Curtiss Hawk 75, Curtiss CW-21 en CW-22; Messerschidt Me-18, Ryan STM, Lockheed 12 en Lodestar, Bücker Bu-131 and Martin WH-1 and WH-2

1/48th Scale

Kits

• Classic Airframe
  • Kit 4100: Brewster F2A-1 Buffalo
  • Kit 4101: Brewster Type 239 Buffalo (Finnish Type)
• Special Hobby
  • Kit SH48057: B339-23 Buffalo "In RAAF and USAAF Colours"
  • Kit SH48098: Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo "US Navy Trainer"
• Tamiya
  • Kit 61094: Brewster B339 Buffalo "Pacific Theatre" (RAF, US Navy Netherlands East Indies AF)
  • Kit 61019-1000: Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo

Modelling add-on

• Aires
  • Set 4166: Wright R1820 Cyclone (B17, F2A. P36).
• Airwaves
  • Set C4850: Detailset Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo.
• Brengun Model Accesoires
  • Set RL48026: F2A Buffalo Flaps and controls (Special Hobby, Classic Airframe.
• CMK
  • Set 4167: Buffalo F2A-1/2/3 Armament Set (Special Hobby/Classic Airframe).
  • Set 4168: F2A-1/2 Buffalo Control surfaces set (Special Hobby/Classic Airframe).
  • Set 4169: F2A-1/2/3 Buffalo Undercarriage set (Special Hobby/Classic Airframe).
  • Set 4170: Buffalo F2A-1/2/3 Interior Set (Special Hobby/Classic Airframe).
  • Set 4171: F2A-1/2/3 Buffalo R1830 Engine set complete with cowling (Special Hobby/Classic Airframe).
• Eduard
  • Set E49-292 / FE292: Detailset Brewster Buffalo Model 339 (Tamiya)
  • Set E49-279 / FE279: Detailset Brewster Buffalo (Tamiya)
  • Set E48-033: Detailset Brewster F2A Buffalo
• Falcon
  • Set VAX12: Canopies US Navy WW2 (F2A Buffalo, F8F Bearcat, F4U, Duck, T6).
• Pavla
  • Set V4806: F2A-2 Buffalo Canopy.
  • Set 48007: F2A-2 Buffalo upgrade set (Tamiya).
• Scale Aircraft Conversions
  • Set 48192: Brewster F2A Buffalo Landing Gear (Tamiya).
  • Set 48203:F2A Landing Gear (Tamiya).
• Squadron Signal
  • Set 09132: Canopies Brewster Buffalo.
• True Details
  • Set 48512: Brewster Buffalo MK1/B339 cockpit detail set (Tamiya)
  • Set 48073: Brewster F2A Buffalo Wheel Set
• Red Roo
  • Set M48114: Brewster F2A-3/Model339 Buffalo (ook KNIL)
  • Set M48117: Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo MK1 Conversion (ook KNIL)
• Vector Resin
  • Set 48005: Wright R1820G/Shvetsov M62, M63 .

Decals

• AMD
  • Set 48-619: Buffalo`s over South East Asia (RAAF, RAF, KNIL)
• Dutch Profile
  • Set DDS87248: Brewster B339 Buffalo (RNEIAF) (both 1/72nd and 1/48th scale).
• FlevoDecal
  • Set FD48-012: Set for vijf Brewsters, Curtiss Hawk 75, Curtiss CW-21 en CW-22; Messerschidt Me-108, Ryan STM, Lockheed 12 en Lodestar, Bücker Bu-131 and Martin WHh-1 and WH-2
• Tally Ho
  • Set 4104: Brewster F2A Buffalo (KNIL)

All aircraft were sprayed in the so called "jong blad" (dark green) and "oud blad" (olive drab) camouflage pattern on upper surfaces and aluminium sprayed undersides.

During the armistice several Buffaloes were received from RAF, these aircraft had the standard RAF camouflage applied.

For an extended conversion table with very many colour and paint systems check (doen not work with Firefox)  www.paint4models.com

Delivery scheme NEIAF Brewster B.339C/D.

Scheme NEIAF Brewster B.339C/D: Aircraft of blue patrol of  2 VlG V; with marking of 2 Vl G V on the fuselage.

Scheme NEIAF Brewster B.339C/D: Aircraft of red patrol of2 VlG V; with marking of 2 Vl G V on the fuselage.

Scheme NEIAF Brewster B.339C/D:

Scheme NEIAF Brewster B.339C/D: Aircraft of patrol commander of yellow patrol of 1 Vl G V

Scheme NEIAF Brewster B.339C/D.

Scheme Brewster B.339: ex RAF, hadned over to NEIAF

Literature.

Websites.

• Annals of the Brewster Buffalo
• Warbirdforum: Dutch Buffalos
• Warbirdforum: Brewster Buffalo
• Warbird Alley
• Go2War2
• Michael Reimer: Allies ML-KNIL
• F2A Buffalo
• Wikipedia UK: Brewster Buffalo

Specials thanks to Stephen de Waardt for his additional information regarding Brewster B-3159.