'' B-239 Buffalo - Finnish Air Force ''
The Brewster F2A (company Model 139) was an American fighter aircraft which saw limited service during World War II. In 1939, the F2A became the first monoplane fighter aircraft used by the US Navy. In December 1941, it suffered severe losses with both British Commonwealth and Dutch air forces in South East Asia while facing the much more maneuverable Zekes of the Japanese navy and the army's Oscars. It also saw action with US Marine Corps squadrons at the Battle of Midway, where it was equally outclassed. Hindsight being what it is, had these pilots not tried to dogfight with the much more experienced Japanese, and used 'hit and run' tactics, the aircraft may have fared better. The F2A was derided by some American servicemen as a "flying coffin", due to poor construction and perceptions of its general performance.
Despite this reputation, the F2A proved a potent weapon with the Finnish Air Force, against the Soviet Air Forces. These Finnish planes were identical to the F2As flown by the US Navy and Marines as they were pulled from the production line to be hurried to Finland for combat in the Winter War. One of the reasons the Brewster was so much more successful was due to using proper tactics for the aircraft and because they were flown by much more experienced pilots.
In the end, the Brewster gained a reputation as one of the most successful combat aircraft ever flown by the Finnish Air Force. In service during 1941-1945, Brewsters of Lentolaivue 24 (Fighter Squadron 24) were credited with 477 Soviet aircraft destroyed, against the loss of 19 Brewsters: a victory ratio of 26:1. However, the substantiation of this claim is so far incomplete, and all claims have not been connected on actual losses
