Buffalo in Burma

[Phil L.]

Hello Everybody,

Does anyone know how many Brewster Buffaloes survived the campaign of Burma by May 1942, and which ones?

Thanks in advance

Phil

[JohnMacG6]

From memory - and only from memory (a careful reading of 'Bloosy Shambles, vol.2 will confirm this) - it was 4

[Andrei Demjanko]

There is no specific date in Bloody Shambles vol.2, but in section describing events between 10 and 16 March 1942 the authors mentioned, that six remaining Buffaloes (W8223, W8243, W8245, W8246, W8250 and AN214) led by S/Ldr Brandt moved to Akyab and then on to Dum Dum airfield. One of these aircraft became unserviceable on arrival at Akyab but later was made airworthy and flown to Dum Dum

[Graham Boak]

There may be more in Eyes of the Phoenix, for PR Buffalos, and a scan of the appropriate Air Britain serial book may help, if recorded.

[bearoutwest]

Here's a couple of links to a Brewster Buffalo forum that might provide somewhere to start looking for info:

http://warbirdsforum.yuku.com/topic/558/Brewster-Buffalos-in-the-Indian-Air-Force

http://warbirdsforum.yuku.com/topic/1197/looking-for-Indian-Buffaloes

Regards,

[Graham Boak]

Air Britain mentions three as serving with 151 OTU.
W8156
W8243
W8245
The last two went on to 22 AACU and were both struck off charge on 30.11.43 as instructional airframes.

[JaganP]

As mentioned in the WarbirdsForum Thread - both the aircraft with 22AACU were shipped out in early 44 - one to a private enginerring college, the other to a S of TT located in Secunderabad. One was flown, the other was sent by road. Perhaps the relevant School of Tech Trianing ORB may have info on the airframe and therafter.

Are there any photographs of these birds after their return from Burma? I would love to see them. I do think one particular picture of the Buffalo taken from below as it rests in a hangar , with a Harlow in the background was taken during its stint with the AACU in India. (The AACU operated the Harlow -cant think of where else the two ac could have crossed paths)

[pandeiro]

Hello. (long time reader here)
Is it true the Buffalo in Finnish service had the highest kill to loss ratio in WWII? If so, what was that ratio?
Many thanks.

[Buffnut453]

The 2 longest-lived RAF Buffalos were W8243 and W8245 which served in 151 OTU and 22 AACU. W8250 also served with 151 OTU where it was written off during a landing overshoot. W8156 never served in India - it was abandoned at Sembawang and can be seen in several photos with the individual code letter "L". Of the other ex-67 Sqn airframes that escaped Burma, there's one mistake in the list. W8223 did not serve with 67 Sqn in Burma; it stayed in Singapore with 488 Sqn. The sixth ex-67 Sqn escapee was actually W8233.

[Juha]

Originally Posted by pandeiro

Hello. (long time reader here)
Is it true the Buffalo in Finnish service had the highest kill to loss ratio in WWII? If so, what was that ratio?
Many thanks.

FAF Brewster Model 239s, victories/losses: Winter War: 0/0; Continuation War: 478/23

28 were lost to all causes up to 4 Sept 44 when the armistance between Finland and Soviet Union came into force, only 19 of which were related to combat and at most 18 were related to aerial combat. One is a bit unclear, was it shot down by heavy AA as Finns thought during the war or by a La-5 as there is a suitable Soviet claim. One clearly by AA and five were destroyed on ground during Soviet bombing raids.

But of course the 478 means only accepted claims, in reality there were fewer real kills.

Juha