In mid-1942, Finnish squadron LeLv 24, using the Brewster 239 export variant of the Buffalo, was tasked with opposing Soviet naval aviation over the Gulf of Finland. Flying from Karelian bases, the Finnish pilots confronted Russian aircraft operating out of the naval base at Kronstadt and the surrounding area. Newer Soviet aircraft, including advanced fighters like the Yakovlev Yak series, were appearing to oppose the veteran pilots of LeLv and their Brewster fighters. In addition to the enemy opposition itself, the Finns contended with difficulties in maintaining their American-built fighters, cut off as they were from supplies of replacement parts.
Support the show:
/ markseven
Sources:
Brewster Buffalo by Christopher Shores
Brewster F2A Buffalo by Andre Zbiegniewski
Brewster Buffalo Aces of WWII by Kari Stenman and Andrew Thomas
Joe Baugher's Aviation Pages at joebaugher.com/navy_fighters/f2a3.htm
14 июл 2021
