RAF-in-Combat's Squadrons #33: Brewster Buffalo

This book moves to an aircraft that many consider a total failure. Like many WWII aircraft, the story isn't exactly that cut and dried. The Buffalo or F2A was the US navy's first monoplane fighter and introduced naval aviators to modern, all metal fighter aircraft. Its combat career with the US was a disaster and it was quickly removed from service. However, that same initial aircraft, proved to be a superior performer in the hands of the Finnish Air Force against the Soviets in WWII.

Such was the need of the RAF, that many aircraft were ordered and when the first ones arrived, they were deemed to be unable to conduct proper air operations against the Germans in Europe. However, they were felt to be perfect against the Japanese, so prior to the war in the Pacific, several squadrons were equipped with the version with a more powerful engine than that provided the Finns. Unfortuately, the British severely underestimated the capabilities of Japanese fighters so when there was combat in Burma and India once the Pacific war began, the deficiencies of the Buffalo were quite apparent. In spite of this, several British pilots became aces in the Buffalo and most that were destroyed were destroyed on the ground rather than in air to air combat.

This book follows the usual format  with a brief history of the type then the more extensive history of the units themselves. These include 67, 243, 453, and 488 squadron. It use with 21, 24, 25, and 85 squadron RAAF is also provided as well as with some other units. There's the usual information on victory and tables of losses as well as some great period photos and more than the usual number of superb full color profiles of aircraft used by this squadron.

Thanks to all the well done research and choice of illustrations, it makes for a superb addition to the series and its reasonable price is one that should appeal to many. This one is especially good as the history of the Buffalo in the Far East is not all that well documented. These do make for great references for the fans of the RAF.

May 2019

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