Brewster F2A Buffalo - top US pilots
 

Good evening,

were William Humberd and Charles Kunz the American top scorers of the Brewster F2A Buffalo (with two kills each) ?

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Brewster F2A Buffalo - top US pilots
 

Osprey's Buffalo Aces book by Stenman and Thomas lists 8 US pilots who flew the Buffalo.
According to them, the only one who flew it in combat was Kunz, with 2 kills.
Boyington, O'Hare and Thach flew it pre-war and Feightner, Gordon, Haas and Hills in training.
Humberd is not mentioned. That might be because the others listed all became Aces, and he didn't - I don't know.
Cheers
Peter

Re: Brewster F2A Buffalo - top US pilots
 

Good morning Peter,

thanks for checking.
Yes, that might be the reason.
That website indicates that US Buffaloes scored 10 kills:
http://www.warbirdsandairshows.com/a...torieswwii.htm
I've identified 7 of them (all VMF-221): William Humberd (2), Charles Kunz (2), Frances McCarthy (1), Philip White (1), James Neefus (0,5) and Robert Dickey (0,5). These are considered the leading Marine Corps F2A pilots.
Does that mean the 3 missing kills are to be found within the US Navy ?

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Brewster F2A Buffalo - top US pilots
 

USMC Buffaloes claimed five destroyed at Midway. Kunz 2, Humberd 2, and White 1. They also claimed one probable, and two damaged. McCarthy was flying a Wildcat. Neefus' only claim was a Mavis on March 10, 1942 while flying a Buffalo. I have no entries for a Robert Dickey in my databases.

Enjoy!

Frank.

Re: Brewster F2A Buffalo - top US pilots
 

I don't know if you have the book I referred to earlier, but according to the full text, Neefus was credited with a full Mavis kill on 10/3/42, and that was the first US F2A kill. They say he was flying BuNo 01537/221-MF-1.
White got a Val and damaged another on 4 June.
In the same action Capt William HUBBERD shot down a B5N and a Zero, and Kunz got 2 Vals.
2 paragraphs later they refer to Capt Humberd. If I were you I'd check for Hubberd.
Peter

Re: Brewster F2A Buffalo - top US pilots
 

Hello Frank & Peter,

hmm...what odd discrepancies.
I don't have the OSPREY volume.
My info is from this one:
https://books.google.de/books?id=7JC...20kunz&f=false

Kind regards,

Michael

Re: Brewster F2A Buffalo - top US pilots
 

Capt. William Carter Humberd, service number 06025, claimed 2/0/1 at Midway. One bomber (type not noted; code names not in use at this time), one Zero, and one bomber damaged. Flying F2A-3 01553.

Enjoy!

Frank.

Re: Brewster F2A Buffalo - top US pilots
 

March 10, 1942 claim for "enemy patrol plane of the four-engine, twin rudder, monoplane type". Four aircraft intercepted it. Neefus and wingman McCarthy, Somers with MarGun Dickey. "Capt Neefus made the first pass; a few seconds, black and white smoke trailed from two of the engines as she dived for the clouds below, at 3,000 ft. the remaining three planes chased and converged on the target just before it entered the cloud bank. Lt. McCarthy And Lt. Somers made modified over head passes (1 each) while Gunner Dickey made a tail chase approach and was wounded in the left arm, but returned alone to the base. (Seven bullet holes were in his plane). Capt Neefus returned to the scene of action and made a second pass; he later dropped below the broken clouds and observed a fire and scattered debris on the water--remnants of the enemy aircraft." Only Dickey's aircraft is identified, as #5.

Dickey was evacuated on March 18. On March 16 "Capt. Neefus, Lt. Somers, and Lt. McCarthy were presented with a bottle of bourbon by Lt/Col Wallace and Staff for their part in shooting down the first Jap plane in the Group." I will have to ask Barrett where he found the half credit for Dickey, since as far as I know Neefus received full credit.

Quotations from the VMF-221 War Diary for March 1942; copied at NARA II.

Enjoy!

Frank.

Re: Brewster F2A Buffalo - top US pilots
 

Dear Frank,

interesting report.
Can you tell me if the Navy ever shot anything down with the Buffalo ?

Michael

Re: Brewster F2A Buffalo - top US pilots
 

Thanks for the additional info, Frank!