Brewster F2A Buffalo Aces New from Osprey

Fatman writes:

Sorry, while no-one is a bigger Buffalo fan than me, (well OK maybe Dom Skelton?) and the tubby wonder did have an excellent kill ratio it did not shoot down Spitfires. For the simple reason that the Soviets didn't fly Spits over Finland. The furthest North I have ever heard of Spits operating was Moscow. They were mostly flown against Luft Flotte 4 down south,.

Fatman

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Osprey Publishing announces the release of:

Brewster F2A Buffalo Aces of World War II

Book £12.99 GBP

Aircraft of the Aces 91

Authors:      Kari Stenman, Andrew Thomas
Illustrator:  Chris Davey

Although designed and built for the U.S. Navy, the F2A fought in only one major U.S. 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. 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 U.S. Navy. Initial carrier-borne service with U.S. Navy and use pre-war by a number of future leading U.S. 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 and use in India after retreat. Wartime U.S.M.C. 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 U.S. as fighter trainer flown by many future aces, or by aces as instructors
Appendices: A) U.S.N/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)

Paperback; January 2010; 96 pages; ISBN: 9781846034817

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