Product Description

The Brewster B-339 Buffalo received much criticism during its brief service with the RAF, some justified, som not. A few of the pilots who eventually flew it in combat were happy with their mounts, others hated it as an operational fighter. Rightly considered below par for service in the UK, the vast majority of the 170 aircraft acquired by the RAF Purchasing Commission from the United States were diverted for use in the Far East, where it was believed they would be superior to any Japanese aircraft encountered should hostilities break out there. This assessment was to prove tragically very incorret. When war did erupt, the Japanese Army Air Force - with its highly manoeuvreable Ki-27 and Ki-43 fighters - and the Japanese Navy Air Force equipped with the mighty A6M Zero, proved vastly superior in just about all aspects, and many of the Japanese fighter pilots were veterans of the war against China. By contrast, the majority of the young British, New Zealand and Australian pilots who flew the Buffalo on operations in Malaya and at Singapore were little more than trainees and many flew into battle with only the basic training of their trade. Nonetheless, these fledgling fighter pilots achieved much greater success than could have been anticipated, although many paid with their lives. This is their story, complete with appendices and previously unpublished source material and photographs.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #278325 in Books
• Published on: 2003-06-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

Customer Reviews

Buffaloes over Singapore
Once again Brian Cull has delivered the goods, as with his previous books "Hurricanes over Malta"
"Spitfires over Sicily" etc. He has managed to combine historical fact with the human story. In this book we see how the RAF and Commonwealth fighter pilots were literally thrown to the wolves, yet how flying this obsolecent aircraft, gallantly fought to the bitter end.
Mr. Cull is to be commended for both the quality of his research, and of his ability to tell the story in a very readable manner. Definitely a must buy for anyone interested in the far eastern airwar.
Bruce Lander

Buffaloes over Singapore - Another great read.
Once again Brian Cull has demonstrated his mastery as an aviation historian. While assembling the full factual details he still manages to give the human story. As with his previous works this most detailed record of a forgotten campaign is extremely readable and a must buy for any serious WWII aviation enthusiast.