Brewster Buffalo on Crete

[Buffnut453]

There's some confusion here. I'll try to correct some of the incorrect comments.

The UK used 2 types of Buffalo, the B339B which were the ex-Belgian airframes and the B339E which were RAF-ordered. Both the B339B and B339E were based on the Brewster F2A-2 (it wasn't called a Buffalo - that was the RAF's name) as used by the US Navy but with the maritime equipment removed and some customer-specific modifications.

Three of the B339Es were used in the UK for testing, the remainder being sent to Singapore. The B339Bs were originally intended for 71 Sqn but were refused by the unit's CO and ended up being used primarily by the FAA. The Buffalos used on Crete were all ex-Belgian airframes. They were delivered to the RAF in the Belgian scheme which was dark brown and dark green on top with aluminium lacquer underneath. During the assembly process in the UK, the undersides were repainted with Sky. It's unclear whether the upper surfaces were repainted in MAP Dark Earth and Dark Green but photos of B339Bs assigned to test and evaluation duties show a low contrast scheme which may indicate that the Belgian upper-surface colours were retained.

The main front-line operator of the B339B was 805 Sqn which also flew Gladiators and Fulmars in North Africa and Crete. The wrecks on Crete show "codes" 'ZZ' and 'ZY' but they have an odd appearance, looking poorly applied. It's unknown when or where they were applied but similar codes are not seen on other pics of B339Bs in use with 805 Sqn.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Mark

[kaki3152]

Here's a picture of a wrecked Buffalo, with British markings that I downloaded from a German album on E-Bay. The markings on the fuselage look like 7Y

[Buffnut453]

You're right - my memory isn't what it used to be.

[kaki3152]

Don't mention it, my memory at 56 is slowwwwllly dwindling. I just remembered I had this picture somewhere on my computer.
Mark, do you think there's any way to get a listing of the FAA Buffaloes at Crete and possibly identify this example? The resolution on the picture is too indistinct to be able to read the serial number

[Buffnut453]

I have it identified as AX814. The two other airframes recorded as being on Crete were AS419 and AS420.

Regarding our inability to read the serial number, I don't think it's the image quality that's the problem - it's damage to the airframe.

[kaki3152]

Thanks Mark!

[Stig Jarlevik]

Mark

Just out of curiosity, how do you ID this one as AX814? 805 Sq surely used more than those three you list have identified?

Digit 7 in the code stood for fighter aircraft and the letter Y stood for landbased airplane. They were probably applied in NA sometime in early 1941 when the sailors waded ashore....

Cheers
Stig

[Buffnut453]

Only 3 Buffalos were used/abandoned on Crete - it was a detachment from 805 Sqn's main operating area in North Africa. The serials are called out in "Air War Over Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete" and, IIRC, in Sturtivant's FAA serials book.

If Y stood for land-based aircraft, why did one of the Buffalos have a Z?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Mark

Sturtivant in the FAA aircraft serial book is not that certain and makes no commitment as to which aircraft were left on Crete. Didn't check the Shores et all volume, but wish I could be that certain....

Regarding the Z, well FAA were clever or perhaps thought all their flat tops would be sunk, but Z ALSO indicated land airplanes (or shore based aircraft which was how they were listed)

Now all this changed from mid 1941

Cheers
Stig

[Graham Boak]

There's confusion here between the first character (of three) and the last. The first character was often omitted, seeing how rarely carriers operated together, so 7Y is individual aircraft Y of the second fighter squadron on the carrier - presumably Eagle in this context. Or just on the airbase, if carriers were not involved. The full code COULD have been E7Y, if carried.