US Navy and USMC Between The Wars in 1/100

[Rata]

Thanks for all the encouraging support and comments folks. I know my enthusiasm for this facet of aviation history hasn't waned in the slightest and I'm positive Don feels the same.
As there's no lack of subject matter, there's no reason this thread won't continue for years to come.

[Rata]

Always like the markings of this VF-3 F2A-1. The 4th Section black with Saratoga white tail really appeals to my eye.

Will submit to Ecards if you would like to build your own.

And now over to Don Boose:

[Don Boose]

Garry’s model is of Brewster F2A-1, Bureau of Aeronautics Number (BuNo) 1396, 3-F-10, as it appeared when assigned as the lead aircraft of Section Four, Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3) aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3) in 1940.

In June 1936, the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation of Long Island, New York, received a contract for a single-engine, single-seat, all-metal, monoplane fighter with an 850-horsepower radial engine, sliding canopy, retractable landing gear, provision for up to four .50-inch machine guns, and a thousand-mile range. The production aircraft was designated F2A-1: the second fighter (“F2”) built by Brewster (Brewster was assigned the Navy manufacturer code letter “A” since “B” had previously been assigned to Boeing), first model (“-1”). The F2A’s capabilities and performance were a substantial improvement over those of existing carrier-based biplane fighters and comparable to contemporary land-based fighters.

VF-3 became the first U.S. Navy fighter squadron to fly monoplanes when it took delivery of nine F2A-1s in November and December 1939. The remainder of the 54 F2A-1s procured for the Navy were sold to Finland, so the nine VF-3 F2A-1s operated alongside Grumman F3F-1s until F2A-2s became available in October 1940. Thereafter, VF-3 flew a mixture of F2A-1s and F2A-2s from Saratoga until August 1941, when the squadron transitioned to Grumman F4F-3s.

F2A-1 BuNo 1396 was delivered to the U.S. Navy Battle Force in San Diego, California, on 11 December 1939, assigned to VF-3 on 18 December, and flew with the squadron until 30 October 1940. On 1 November 1940, BuNo 1396 was transferred to Naval Air Station Anacostia, DC, and returned to Brewster on 5 November to be upgraded to F2A-2 standards. Brewster replaced the original R-1820-22 engine with a 1,200 horsepower Wright R-1820-40 radial engine with a two-stage supercharger. The exhaust collector was redesigned, and the exhaust ports were moved upward on the fuselage forward of the wing root and angled slightly to the rear. The redesigned cowling reduced the aircraft’s length by 5 inches (12.7 cm). The F2A-2 had a larger spinner and blade cuffs and used a Curtiss Electric propeller in place of the F2A-1’s Hamilton Standard prop. The engine and propeller changes resulted in an increase in top speed to 344 miles-per-hour (554 kph), a 43 mph increase.

On 28 June 1941, BuNo 1396 was delivered back to the Navy as an F2A-2 and assigned to NAS Norfolk, where it was further assigned to Scouting Squadron 201 (VS-201) aboard auxiliary escort carrier USS Long Island, AVG-1. VS-201’s seven F2A-1s and 12 Curtiss SOC-3As were painted in overall light blue-gray camouflage. Long Island and VS-201 operated near Bermuda in July 1941. In August, they supported simulated amphibious landing operations and conducted an air power demonstration for President Franklin Roosevelt at Onslow Beach, North Carolina. From 27 August to 11 September, VS-201 participated in the Neutrality Patrol in the Central Atlantic. In late October, the squadron traded its F2A-2s and SOC-3As for F2A-3s, and BuNo 1396 was transferred to the Naval Air Operational Training (NAOT) unit at NAS Miami, Florida. The aircraft sustained a landing gear failure (not uncommon for F2As) in November 1941. The airplane was repaired and, beginning on 10 March 1943, was assigned to NAS Jacksonville, Florida. On 4 June 1943, BuNo1396 was transferred to the Naval Air Operational Training Command (NAOTC) at NAS Miami, where it served from until 11 April 1944. It was then used briefly as an instructional airframe at the Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC), NAS Memphis, Tennessee, until it was stricken on 29 April 1944 and scrapped.

Garry’s model shows BuNo 1396 as it appeared in 1940 while flying with VF-3 aboard Saratoga. It is in the pre-war scheme of overall light Aircraft Gray with the upper wing surfaces painted Chrome Yellow and White tail surfaces indicating the Saratoga Air Group. The Section 4 Black wing formation chevrons, the Black fuselage stripe, and the Black cowl indicate that it is the lead aircraft of Section 4. The individual aircraft number is repeated on the wing upper surfaces and the Felix-the-Cat-carrying-a-bomb emblem of VF-3 is emblazoned on the side of the fuselage. On 25 July 1943, VF-3 and VF-6 swapped designations, raising confusion over which unit owned Felix. In 1946, VF-3 was re-designated VF-3A. In 1948, the squadron became VFA-3, and the Chief of Naval Operations officially awarded the Felix emblem to the squadron, which, at the time of this writing, is Strike Fighter Squadron 31 (VFA-31) (Tomcatters) based at NAS Oceana, Virginia.

On 21 February 1940, artist McClelland Barclay received a patent for a disruptive aircraft color scheme in shades of blue and gray designed to prevent an observer from accurately estimating the aircraft speed, size, type, and distance from the observer. On 9 September 1940, two VF-3 F2A-1s were painted in the Barclay Scheme. The BuNos were painted over, and I have been unable to determine if BuNo 1396 was one of the Barclay-painted aircraft.

In operational service in East Asia, the Brewster fighter, flown by American, British, Australian, and Dutch pilots, most of whom were new to combat and outnumbered by experienced Japanese pilots, generally did not perform well. However, skilled and experienced Finnish pilots flew the aircraft with considerable success against the Soviets. A small number of the Brewster fighters were also flown by the British Fleet Air Arm in the Middle East.

Images:

1. I have been unable to find a photographic image Brewster F2A-1 BuNo 1396 and would be grateful if anyone in the Forum can provide such an image. This image is of the Classic Airframes model box artwork that inspired Garry’s model.

2. This image of Brewster F2A-1 BuNo 1388 in the markings of 3-F-18 at the Brewster Long Island factory shows what the F2A-1 in VF-3 markings looked like. The tail, like that of BuNo 1396, is in Saratoga White. The lower half of the cowl is painted Lemon Yellow, indicating the third aircraft of Section Six. The formation chevron on the upper wing would also have been Lemon Yellow. Section leaders’ aircraft would have had a fuselage stripe and the entire cowl painted in the section color. U.S. Navy photograph via the Axis and Allies Paintworks Forum, US Brewster F2A Buffalo. / USAAF / USN Library / Forums - Axis and Allies Paintworks (axis-and-allies-paintworks.com).

3. A Brewster F2A-1 in Barclay camouflage. The caption of this Navy History and Heritage Command photograph reads, “Brewster F2A-1 fighter of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3) At Naval Air Station, North Island, California, 9 September 1940. The plane is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 2. A Curtiss SOC flag plane is in the in the left center background.” U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph NH 96148.

4. A Brewster F2A-2 upgraded from an F2A-1 in light-blue-gray camouflage assigned to Scouting Squadron 120 (VS-120) aboard USS Long Island (AVG-1) in September 1941. BuNo 1396 would have looked like this at that time. U.S. Navy photo via the Axis and Allies Paintworks Forum, US Brewster F2A Buffalo. / USAAF / USN Library / Forums - Axis and Allies Paintworks (axis-and-allies-paintworks.com).

Sources:

Joe Baugher, “US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos, Second Series (0001 to 5029),” available at
US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos--First Series (A6000 to 9999)

Nico Braas, Brewster Buffalo, Emmen, Netherlands: Lanastra, 3013

“US Brewster F2A Buffalo,” Axis and Allies Paintwork Forum, available at http://axis-and-allies- paintworks.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?6952

Richard S. Dann and Steve Ginter, Brewster F2A Buffalo and Export Variants, Naval Fighters Number 104, Simi Valley, CA: Steve Ginter Publications, 2017.

Thomas E. Doll, Berkley R. Jackson, and William A. Riley, Navy Air Colors: United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Camouflage and Markings, Vol. 1 1911-1945, Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal, 1983.

John M. Elliott, The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol. 2, 1940-1949, Boylston, MA: Monogram Aviation Publications, 1989.

Peter Freeman, Wings of the Fleet: US Navy & Marine Corps Aviation 1919-1941, On Target Special, Ardington, Oxfordshire, UK: The Aviation Workshop Publications Ltd., 2010.

William Green and Gordon Swanborough, “Brewster’s Benighted Buffalo,” Air Enthusiast Quarterly, Number One, pp. 66-96.

Bas Kruger, “’Flying Coffin’ and ‘Pearl of the Sky’; The worst and at the same time best fighter of WWII,” Journal of the American Aviation Historical Society, Summer, 2004, pp. 124-128

Phil H. Listeman, USN Aircraft 1922-1962: Type designation letter 'BF', 'BT' & 'F' Part One, Middletown, DE: Philedition, 2017.

Jim Maas, “Fall From Grace: The Brewster Aeronautical Corporation, 1932-42,” Journal of the American Aviation Historical Society, Summer, 1985, pp. 118-135.

---, F2A Buffalo in Action, Aircraft Number 81, Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1987.

Paul R. Matt and Bruce Robertson, United States Navy and Marine Corps Fighters 1918-1962, Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, 1962, reprint of the Harleyford edition of 1962.

Maciej Noszczak, Brewster Buffalo F2A-1, F2A-2, F2A-3, Lublin, Poland: Kagero, 2-18.

Christopher F. Shores, The Brewster Buffalo, Leatherhead, UK: Profile Publications, 1971.

U.S. Navy, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 31 official home page, available at VFA 31

[rifleman]

great model and great info all round well done gentlemen

[Michael Mash]

Thanks Garry and Don . . . from one who was uninformed about this period.
Your superb and thorough work is changing that.

About the aircraft: Interesting appearance; almost looks too stout to be a good flyer.
But since it was used as a fighter aircraft, it must have been quite capable.

Mike

[gomidefilho]

Amazing model and research as always my friends!

[Rata]

Thanks for looking in and positive comments.

Michael, the Buffalo's war record is generally regarded as a bit of a disaster, but from what I can ascertain, when not being flown in combat, it was pleasant to fly.
It's combat effectiveness was measured in who (and flying what) it was up against. Against the Japanese not good, but the Finns did quite well with it against Soviet opposition.

[Rata]

Next up is another S&P repaint: Curtiss SBC-3, BuNo 1512 of Scouting Squadron 3 (VS-3) aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3) in 1937.

Will be submitted to Ecards in due course and now as per SOP over to you Don!

[Don Boose]

Garry’s model is of Curtiss SBC-3 Helldiver, Bureau of Aeronautics Number (BuNo) 0512, in the markings of the third aircraft of the lead section of Scouting Squadron 3 (VS-3) aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3) in 1937, soon after the squadron took delivery of its new aircraft.

Background: In 1933, the Curtiss-Wright Corporation built its twelfth fighter for the U.S. Navy. Given the Curtiss designation Model 73 and the Navy designation XF12C, it was an all-metal (except for fabric-covered control surfaces and flaps) parasol-winged two-seat monoplane with a retractable landing gear, 625 horsepower twin-row radial engine, folding wings, and full-span leading-edge wing slats. The prototype was given the Bureau Number 9225. The Navy was moving away from two-seat fighters, so with a new 700 horsepower single row engine and larger cowling, the aircraft was re-designated as a scout-reconnaissance aircraft: XS4C-1. In 1934, the Navy established a new category of combat aircraft that combined the scouting and bombing functions as the “scout bomber” (SB), and the Model 73 was again re-designated as the XSBC-1. When the XSBC-1 crashed in September 1934, Curtiss-Wright built a new airplane – a biplane - with the same Bureau Number (9225) designated as the XSBC-2 (Curtiss Model 77). In March 1936, with a new 700 horsepower Pratt & Whitney 14-cylinder Twin-Wasp Junior engine, the aircraft (still BuNo 9225) was designated as the XSBC-3. Thus, Bureau Number 9225 was assigned to two airplanes and five different types: the first 9225 flew as the XF12C-1, XS4C-1, and XSBC-1; the second 9225 flew as the XSBC-2 and XSBC-3.

The Navy ordered 83 production SBC-3s, to which Curtiss transferred the name “Helldiver.” Deliveries began on 17 July 1937 to Scouting Squadron 3 (VS-3) aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3), Scouting Squadron 5 (VS-5) aboard USS Yorktown (CV-5), and Scouting Squadron 6 (VS-6) aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6). On 19 August 1939, BuNo 0512 was assigned to VS-3 aboard Saratoga, which was then assigned to the Battle Force of the U.S. Fleet and based at San Diego. On 3 October 1939, following a major overhaul, the aircraft was transferred to VF-6 aboard USS Enterprise. On 9 November, BuNo 0512 was involved in an accident (possibly a bad landing) that caused damage to the propeller, engine cowl, engine, forward fuselage, and horizontal stabilizer and elevators. After repairs, the aircraft continued to serve with VF-6 until June 1940, when it was transferred to Bombing Squadron 4 (VB-4) aboard USS Ranger (CV-4) based with the Battle Force at Norfolk, Virginia. In December 1940, BuNo 0512 was transferred to NAS Anacostia, where it probably served as a utility and training aircraft. In May 1941 it was transferred temporarily to NAS Norfolk, and then, in July 1941 to the Naval Aviation Operational Training unit at NAS Miami, where it was used for training and as an instructional air frame until it was stricken off charge on 23 July 1943 and scrapped.

Garry’s model is in the standard U.S. Navy color scheme of the time. It is in overall Aluminum varnish with the top of the upper wing painted Orange Yellow. The tail surfaces are painted White, the newly assigned tail color of the Saratoga air group. On 1 July 1937, the U.S. Fleet rationalized the numbering system, assigning air groups the same number as the hull number of the carrier to which it was assigned and numbering all four squadrons with the air group number. This Carrier Air Group 3 aboard Saratoga (CV-3) consisted of Fighting Squadron 3, Bombing Squadron 3, Scouting Squadron 3, and Torpedo Squadron 3, all with White tails. The lower half of 0512’s cowling and the formation chevron on the top wing are painted Insignia Red, the color of the first three-plane section of the 18-plane squadron. The lead aircraft of the section (and the squadron commander’s aircraft) had an Insignia Red fuselage stripe, and the entire cowling was red. The second aircraft of the section had the top half of its cowling in the section color while 0512, as the third airplane in the section had the bottom half of its cowling in the section color. The type number (SBC-3) and Bureau Number (0512) appear in three-inch high black characters on the rudder and vertical stabilizer. “U.S. Navy” appears in black on the rear fuselage . The VS-3 emblem of a “Pointer Dog” is emblazoned on each side of the fuselage forward of the aircraft number (the duties of a scout squadron were similar to those required of a pointer hunting dog). BuNo 0512 carried a Navy “E” for excellence award forward of the squadron insignia, along with a small white “M” in a red disk standing for excellence in machine gun marksmanship.

One SBC-3, BuNo 0582, was held back from delivery for conversion to XSBC-4 configuration with a single-row 950 horsepower Wright Cyclone engine and a larger cowling to accommodate the larger-radius engine. SBC-4s served with VS-2 aboard USS Lexington (CV-2) and Marine Observation Squadron 1 (VMO-1), but most were sent directly to the Naval Air Reserve, where they served as the principal Air Reserve combat aircraft prior to U.S. entry into World War II, and individual aircraft were assigned as command and utility aircraft. Garry’s model of and my write up on SBC-4 BuNo 1295 as the aircraft of the Commander Enterprise Air Group is at US Navy and USMC Between The Wars in 1/100.

Thanks to Ms. Pam Thomas of the National Naval Aviation Museum for providing the Aircraft History Card on this airplane.

Images

Image 1 shows the various manifestations of BuNo 9225: XF12C-1, XS4C-1, XSBC-1, XSBC-2, and XSBC-3. Larkins, pp. 144, 163, 181, and 195.

Image 2: Curtiss SBC-3 BuNo 0512 running up its engine prior to takeoff at the Naval Reserve Air Base Oakland in 1938. William T. Larkins photograph via Wikipedia Commons, available at File:Curtiss SBC-3 (0512) (6695790655).jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Image 3: Peter Freeman color painting of BuNo 0512 as 3-S-3. Freeman, p. 73.

Image 4: Curtiss SBC-3 BuNo 0535 4-B-17 assigned to VB-4 aboard USS Ranger (CV-4) 1940. BuNo 0512 would have had similar markings during its stint with VB-4 in 1940, although we do not know its aircraft number and section colors at that time. Courtesy Wings Aviation.

Sources:

Joe Baugher, “US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos, Second Series (0001 to 5029),” available at US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos--Second Series (0001 to 5029)

Peter Bowers, Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947, Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1979.

Thomas E. Doll, SBC Helldiver in Action, Aircraft No. 151, illustrated by Joe Sewell, color illustrations by Don Greer and Tom Tullis, Carrollton, TX: Squadron-Signal Publications, 1995.

John M. Elliott, The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol. 1, 1911-1939, Boylston, MA: Monogram Aviation Publications, 1987, pp. 67, 120, 123.

Michael E. Fader, “Attack Squadron 54” and “Strike Fighting Squadron 14” available at Squadrons of the US Navy (wings-aviation.ch).

Peter Freeman, Wings of the Fleet: US Navy and Marine Corps Aviation 1919-1941, On Target Special, Addington, UK: The Aviation Workshop Publications LTD, 2010, p. 72.

William Green and Gordon Swanborough, “Uncle Sam’s Last Combat Biplane: The Story of the SBC Scout Bomber, “ Air Enthusiast, No. 5, November 1977 – February 1978, pp. 1-3.

E.R. Johnson, United States Naval Aviation 1919-1941: Aircraft, Airships and Ships Between the Wars, Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 2011, pp. 81-83.

William T. Larkins, U.S. Navy Aircraft 1921-1941, Concord, CA: Aviation History Publications, 1961.

Ray Merriam, “Curtiss SBC Helldiver,” World War 2 in Review No. 8: Warplanes, Hoosick Falls, NY: Merriam Press, 2017, pp. 5-124.

National Naval Aviation Museum Library, Aircraft History Card, Curtiss SBC-3 BuNo 0512.

Gordon Swanborough and Peter M Bowers, “Curtiss SBC Helldiver,” United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911, New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1968, pp. 141-142.

[Michael Mash]

Nice rendition of the Curtiss SBC-3 Garry.
Splendid documentation and photos Don.
This has developed into a “must read”.
Please keep the great work going gentlemen.
Best Regards,
Mike