U.S. Navy Carrier Fighters of WWII: F2A Buffalo; F4F Wildcat; F6F Hellcat; F4U Corsair; F8F Bearcat

The one and only time that Brewster Buffaloes in US markings entered combat with enemy aircraft, they suf­fered appalling casualties. Nineteen F2A-3s of VMF-221 led by Major Floyd Parks, along with six F4F-3 Wildcats, intercepted a strike force of 108 Japanese air­craft as they approached Midway Island on the morning of 3 June 1942. Unfortunately for the young Marines, the Japanese force included 36 A6M2s which tore into the Buffaloes. The result was a disaster. Thirteen Buf­faloes, including that flown by Maj Parks, were down­ed, and only two of the six that landed back on Sand Island were in fit condition to fly again. These results did not differ much from the outcome of other air com­bats between the Buffalo and the Japanese. The British, Australians and Dutch had each flown Brewsters against Zeros (and Claudes, as well as Army Oscars and Nates), in the defence of Malaya and the East Indies, and each had suffered similar losses.