Brewster Buffalo

[hubsonfire]

I'd just like to offer this up as a salute . . .

(Image removed from quote.)

  I was wondering when that would show up. I have to wonder though, what will the Finns do with the time freed by no longer needing to campaign for the Buffalo? More risque hot tub photos? More mooning the camera at FinnCon? I shudder to think.

Glad it's made it into the game, even if there are truly horrific consequences.

[Masherbrum]

I am entirely mystified as to why the Brewster Buffalo is getting so much hate from people. Of all the early-war US fighters, the Buffalo is arguably the best. It's got good manuverability (in fact, it was praised for this by Pappy Boyington,) equally on-par with, say, the P-40 or the like, but has one thing that neither the P-40, F4F, or P-39 had- a  power/weight ratio and climb rate worth a hoot. Heck, I'd say it's fairly unique in that regard; an early-war American fighter that doesn't climb and accelerate like a lead brick? You don't say.

I wasn't paying attention to the forums when they introduced the P-39 (busy with school at that time, IIRC,) but I'd be equally as mystified if it received similarly harsh words. Considering that the P-40 has been favored by some good sticks who have shown what it can do, the P-39, which is arguably a hotter ship, should have been welcomed with at least some warmth. P-39 has similar manuverability and acceleration to the P-40, but is rather faster and has a cannon- why hate on that?

All in all, though, the addition of more varied and capable early-war fighters is going to make the Early and Mid-war arenas much more fun to fly in, because there will be more unique aircraft available in them. A relief of congestion in the Late War arena could be great fun- less furballs, more 1v1 or 2v2 opportunities. I look forward to it.

Jealousy and sour grapes of not "Getting what they'd rather have."

[Demetrious]

Jealousy and sour grapes of notting "Getting what they'd rather have."

I suppose so. I bet that most of it is people complaining about "yet ANOTHER U.S. fighter," which is kind of funny, because much like the P-39 before it, the Buffalo is another plane that earned fame and fortune with a European air force because all of it's U.S. pilots were too busy trying to give the manufacturers AIDS via psychic rage.

Sometimes I am ashamed of my country when I read accounts of pilots who whined and squeaked about their P-39, Buffalo, or P-40 while the Russians and Finns were kicking enemy tail all over the sky with them.

[RATTFINK]

Durned.. that is a "Runebergin torttu" 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runeberg%27s_tart

Named after this man:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Ludvig_Runeberg

Where on earth did you dig that up?

He's a fellow Johann... well he has one less "n" then I.

[DrDea]

 Im just glad to see another plane. I fly mainly LW and dont give a fiddlers frack if ALL the planes from here on out are allied. Jebus guys,get over it. Its a new plane.

[Masherbrum]

Im just glad to see another plane. I fly mainly LW and dont give a fiddlers frack if ALL the planes from here on out are allied. Jebus guys,get over it. Its a new plane.

PM me your email address, I'll send you that Screenshot I was talking to Corrs about.   

[Karnak]

A8TOOL,

Keep in mind they also destroyed 477 Soviet aircraft for very few losses.  That kill total, and wartime service duration, certainly puts it past the C.205, Re.2005 and G.55 combined.  I'd be a bit surprised if the N1K2-J had half that number of kills.  Sure, it was only 44 aircraft, but they served a long time and fought many, many engagements.  The 44 Brewsters made a difference whereas I can't say things like the 957 Spitfire XIVs, 700ish Tempest Vs, 200 F4U-1Cs or (unknown#) F4U-4s really changed things significantly.

[trax1]

Great to see a new plane added, although I would have rather seen something like the He-111 or the Me-410 added to the game, especially the He-111, I think that's probably been the most requested plane to be added to the game.

[Sakai]

Great to see a new plane added, although I would have rather seen something like the He-111 or the Me-410 added to the game, especially the He-111, I think that's probably been the most requested plane to be added to the game.

He-111 is a must have as is the Do-217.  That gives the German Iron fans so much capability and use through the war. 

But it's hard to begrudge those Finns their ride. 

[Boozeman]

the He-111 is inferior to the Ju-88 we already have. It's purely a scenario plane, BoB to be precise. The 217 otoh is a very capable bomber for any arena.

[MORAY37]

Explain that to Moray and Rich, they missed the boat.   

I'm quite okay with starting a new thread, where you, Mr. Exalted One, can explain where Rich was wrong.  I don't normally agree with the guy, and he has a harsh way of stating things, but he was mostly right.  The question diverged through the thread as to whether Finland was Axis or Allied.  You stated we were wrong to say Finland was both.

You've neither refuted any of his points, nor even discussed them once.  Simply said he was an idiot. 

 Please feel free to explain why, other than putting your fingers in your ears and screaming "No it's not...No it's not...no it's not!!!" over and over, which is all you seem apparently capable of, other than personal insults.

Finland WAS both, although it was never signed by treatise into either.  Its' behavior during the war was one of self preservation. 

[MORAY37]

A8TOOL,

Keep in mind they also destroyed 477 Soviet aircraft for very few losses.  That kill total, and wartime service duration, certainly puts it past the C.205, Re.2005 and G.55 combined.  I'd be a bit surprised if the N1K2-J had half that number of kills.  Sure, it was only 44 aircraft, but they served a long time and fought many, many engagements.  The 44 Brewsters made a difference whereas I can't say things like the 957 Spitfire XIVs, 700ish Tempest Vs, 200 F4U-1Cs or (unknown#) F4U-4s really changed things significantly.

Keep in mind what planes it was fighting against.  Soviets in early war weren't even close, especially on this front.  Most of their monoplanes were busy ramping up to squadron service.

[Masherbrum]

I'm quite okay with starting a new thread, where you, Mr. Exalted One, can explain where Rich was wrong.  I don't normally agree with the guy, and he has a harsh way of stating things, but he was mostly right.  The question diverged through the thread as to whether Finland was Axis or Allied.  You stated we were wrong to say Finland was both.

You've neither refuted any of his points, nor even discussed them once.  Simply said he was an idiot. 

 Please feel free to explain why, other than putting your fingers in your ears and screaming "No it's not...No it's not...no it's not!!!" over and over, which is all you seem apparently capable of, other than personal insults.

Finland WAS both, although it was never signed by treatise into either.  Its' behavior during the war was one of self preservation. 

1.)  This thread was about the Brewster.   
2.)  You two chose to go off on tangents that were headed off to begin with by a Finn, who PREDICTED people like you would.
3.)  You still missed the boat.   You have no clue about Finland, so stop pretending to be "an expert" like Rich. 
4.)  The only ones "insulted" in this thread are the Finns who play this game and rightfully so deserve a plane that served them well and beat the hell out of two countries.   Considering it to be "an obsolete" craft.   

Again, this thread was about the PLANE, not about "intangibles" that were explained in a "grey light" by Rich and then taken by some, as gospel.   

Now, stop posting your childish rhetoric and move on if you cannot post about the PLANE, which again, is what this THREAD is about.   

[Furball]

700ish Tempest Vs, 200 F4U-1Cs or (unknown#) F4U-4s really changed things significantly.

Sorry, O/T but i cannot resist a response to this seeing as my family is from London and were there during the war...  The Tempest killed 600+ V1 flying bombs (something like 1/4 of all destroyed) and saved a heck of a lot of lives in London, so had a major contribution to the defence of that city. 

[MORAY37]

1.)  This thread was about the Brewster.   
2.)  You two chose to go off on tangents that were headed off to begin with by a Finn, who PREDICTED people like you would.
3.)  You still missed the boat.   You have no clue about Finland, so stop pretending to be "an expert" like Rich. 
4.)  The only ones "insulted" in this thread are the Finns who play this game and rightfully so deserve a plane that served them well and beat the hell out of two countries.   Considering it to be "an obsolete" craft.   

Again, this thread was about the PLANE, not about "intangibles" that were explained in a "grey light" by Rich and then taken by some, as gospel.   

Now, stop posting your childish rhetoric and move on if you cannot post about the PLANE, which again, is what this THREAD is about.   

Ok.  Other than being used against a Russian air force predominated by EVEN more inferior aircraft( mostly biplanes or early 1930's era monoplanes) and flown by better Finnish pilots who knew the fate of their country rested on every man in uniform, and weren't relegated to inferior russian tactics...

The BREWSTER SUCKED.  

It will never even be as popular as the F4F in any arena, other than by the Finns.  I'm happy they got their ride, and I think this is a bone to them from HT, but the aircraft will be relegated to Special Events and the early war arenas (for the 20 people that go there)  and be used in large numbers only for the first three weeks after the update.

The F2A-1s diverted to Finland were given the company designation B-239. The naval equipment (tail hook, life raft, catapult harness) was removed, and the telescopic sight was replaced by a simple bead and sight arrangement. Armament consisted of one 0.30-in and one 0.50-in machine gun in the cowling, plus two 0.50-in machine guns in the wings. The engine was replaced by an export-approved 950 hp Wright R-1820-G5 radial. Maximum speed was 297 mph at 15,580 feet and service ceiling was 32,500 feet. Empty weight was 3900 pounds, and maximum weight was 5820 pounds.

The B-239s were transferred to Finland via Trollhattan, Sweden, where they were assembled by Norwegian Air Force mechanics. They were then ferried to Finland by both American and Finnish pilots. Only six examples had reached Finland by the time that the Russo-Finnish "Winter War" ended on March 3, 1940. During the uneasy peace that followed, Finnish personnel made a number of modifications to their Brewsters, including the installation of an armored headrest and seat back, plus a reflector gunsight in place of the original bead and ring.

A total of 44 B-239s reached Finland, and they were assigned the Finnish serial numbers BW-351 through BW-394. The B-239s were assigned to Lentolaivue 24 (LeLv 24), 32 being used on active duty and the rest held in reserve.

Finland went to war against Russia again on June 25, 1941, this time allied with Germany. During the first few months, the Brewsters were able to maintain air superiority over the northern front. The Finns found the Brewster to be very maneuverable at low level. B-239s encountered LaGG-3s, Yak-1s and Yak-7s, as well as Lend-Lease Hurricanes, P-40s and P-39s. The highest-scoring B-239 ace was Hans Wind, who got 39 of his 75 kills flying the B-239. The leading Finnish ace, Eino Juutilainen, scored 34 of his 94 kills while attached to LeLv 24 flying Brewsters.

As the war with Russia wore on, maintenance of the Finnish B-239s became an increasingly serious problem, since Finland was now allied with Germany and no longer had access to American spare parts. In an attempt to overcome these problems, at least six B-239s were fitted with captured Russian M-63 radials (these were license-built versions of the Wright Cyclone). The Finnish State Aircraft Factory also began the development of a homebuilt version of the B-239, this with a captured M-63 engine and plywood wings. This aircraft was known locally as the Humu. However, only one prototype was built.

Experiments were made with ski landing gear for operations from snow-covered fields. However, the landing gear could not be retracted when the skis were fitted, and this severely degraded performance. Consequently, skis were rarely used operationally.

In 1944, LeLv 24 traded in its surviving B-239s for Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2s. These B-239s were transferred to HLeLv 26. Kills continued to be scored, but by this time the Soviets had deployed large numbers of high-performance fighters and losses of B-239s began to mount. HLeLv 26 continued to operate its B-239s until the end, when an armistice was signed with the Soviets on September 4, 1944. Finland then switched sides and began to drive German forces out of Finnish territory. The Brewsters were flown against retreating German forces in Lapland, scoring several kills against Ju-87 Stukas.

After five years of combat and attrition, only eight Brewsters remained in the Finnish inventory. These surviving Finnish Brewsters were used in the training role until late 1948. During its combat career, the B-239 is credited with 496 kills, against 19 losses, for a victory ratio of 26 to 1. Finnish air force records credit 41 kills to a single B-239 before it was shot down. Is there any other fighter aircraft in history which has a record as good as this? After the war, the Humu prototype was restored and is on display in a museum in Finland. It is believed to be the sole surviving Buffalo in the world today.

Sources

   1. Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, The American Fighter, Orion, 1985.

   2. Jim Maas, F2A Buffalo in Action, Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1987.

   3. Jim Mass, Fall From Grace: The Brewster Aeronautical Corporation, 1932-42, J. Amer. Av. Hist. Soc, p.118, Summer 1985.

   4. William Green, Famous Fighters of the Second World War, Second Series, Doubleday, 1967.

   5. Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911, Naval Institute Press, 1990.

   6. Ray Wagner, American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition, Doubleday, 1982.