Shop DJ Furby!
$2.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Daniel Ford
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Sorry Saga of the Brewster Buffalo: A Flying Coffin to the U.S. Marines, but a Pearl to the Finns Kindle Edition

by Daniel Ford (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 out of 5 stars 48 ratings
A group of Internet aviation fans once debated the subject of the worst fighter of World War II. Their hands-down favorite: the Brewster Buffalo.

Two books are titled 'The World’s Worst Aircraft'. The Buffalo is the only fighter from any era to have a chapter in both of them.

The Royal Air Force fobbed the Brewster fighter onto the Fleet Air Arm and colonial squadrons; the U.S. Navy gave it to the Marines. Pilots thought it was a sweet plane to fly, but noticed that the wheel struts sometimes broke, the engine leaked oil, and the guns sometimes didn’t fire. And when they flew it against the nimble fighters of Japan, too often they didn’t come back.

Yet all the while, the Finns tore great holes through the Russian air force with essentially the same plane.

In this short book, Daniel Ford tells the story of the bumbling Brewster Aeronautical company of Queens, New York, which struggled to produce a few hundred copies of its roly-poly warplane before it was finally seized by the government and used to build a competing fighter. About 8000 words. Photographs.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    32 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    July 28, 2013
  5. File size
    2.7 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Daniel Ford has spent a lifetime studying the wars of the past hundred years, from the Irish rebellion of 1916 to the counter-guerrilla operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is best known for his history of the American Volunteer Group--the 'Flying Tigers' of the Second World War--and his Vietnam novel that was filmed as Go Tell the Spartans, starring Burt Lancaster. Most recently, he has turned to the invasion of Poland in 1939 by Germany and Soviet Russia. Most of his books and many shorter pieces are available for Amazon's Kindle ebook reader. He lives and works in New Hampshire.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0017KT5L2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Warbird Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 28, 2013
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Revised 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.7 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 48 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Daniel Ford

Daniel Ford

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Daniel Ford has spent a lifetime studying and writing about the wars of the past hundred years, from Ireland's war of liberation to America's invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. A U.S. Army veteran and a reporter in Vietnam, he wrote the novel that was filmed as 'Go Tell the Spartans', starring Burt Lancaster. As a historian, he is best known for his prize-winning study of the American Volunteer Group--the gallant 'Flying Tigers' of the Second World War. Most recently, he has written a memoir of his life so far: "Looking Back From Ninety: The Depression, the War, and the Good Life that Followed." Visit www.DanFordBooks.com and sign up for a monthly newsletter about war, flying, and less important subjects.

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
48 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book readable, with one noting it's very well researched. The story quality receives positive feedback, with customers describing it as superb. However, several customers mention that the book is short.

Select to learn more

ReadabilityStory qualityShortness
7 customers mention "Readability"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a nice read, with one customer noting it is well researched and another mentioning it provides good information about the F2A Brewster Buffalo.

"...He also maintains a superb website for those interested in learning more about the plane and its history with the RAF, the USN, USMC, Dutch, RAAF,..." Read more

"Nice read , this aircraft's contribution history needs to be told, good information ,great stories, and a few pictures, nice work Daniel" Read more

"...Mr. Ford did a super job detailing all the ins and outs of getting the plane to fly, and into combat...." Read more

"This was an interesting book, which fills in historical gaps in aeronautical history. Because it is short, it is an overview." Read more

4 customers mention "Story quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, with one describing it as a superb narrative.

"...'s contribution history needs to be told, good information ,great stories, and a few pictures, nice work Daniel" Read more

"...It's an interesting recounting of the development of the airplane, which unfortunately involved not just aeronautics and aerodynamics but also..." Read more

"This was the beginning of a good story that needed to be told. However, it seemed too short to be a conclusive documentary on the subject." Read more

"Superb story and update..." Read more

4 customers mention "Shortness"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the book too short, with one mentioning it's not particularly interesting.

"This is monography about the Brewster Buffalo. It is quite brief so it can be a little expensive but nevertheless it makes a good reading for an..." Read more

"Yes indeed this is a short, not particularly interesting book. Okay, I remember the Brewster Buffalo from my youth...." Read more

"...However, it seemed too short to be a conclusive documentary on the subject." Read more

"...Because it is short, it is an overview." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • G. Bruce Greer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb story and update
    Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2010
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I first read Dan Ford's article when it was printed in Air and Space, and enjoyed his strong compare and constrast history of the Buffalo. Much maligned in aviation histories, often cited as the worst aircraft of WW2 and yet a superb success in the hands of the Finns, compiling several records, including a kill rate of 135-0 in its first six months of operations in their hands, and an overall kill rate of 30.6 to one in action against increasingly improved planes in the hands of the Russians, all the while cut of from their sources of parts and supplies for the plane. In this e-book edition, Mr Ford has updated and enhanced his original work. He also maintains a superb website for those interested in learning more about the plane and its history with the RAF, the USN, USMC, Dutch, RAAF, RNZAF and of course, the Finns.
    Like Mr. Ford, I have found this mixed result interesting, especially when you consider the Navy picked the Buffalo (F2A) over its replacement, the F4F.
    For those interested in other related fields, he has written, and updated a magnificent history of the Flying Tigers, which is well worth reading!
    17 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars I like it,
    Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2013
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    it was about some aircraft that where in the starting of WWII it was interesting to see and hear what the pilots had to say about them, how they handled shot etc.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Rick Cook
    3.0 out of 5 stars The plane that came too early.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2012
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The Brewster Buffalo became one of the most maligned aircraft of World War II. The stubby little airplane flew for everyone from the US Navy and Marines to the Finns and everyone -- except the Finns -- hated it. It was cranky, slow, unmaneuverable and vulnerable. Brewsters that went up against Japanese aircraft in the Pacific were slaughtered wholesale. Only the Finns, flying against the Soviets in the Winter War had good things to say about it, and they racked up an impressive record in the craft.

    The big problem with the Buffalo is that it was obsolescent by the time the war broke out and it wasn't susceptible to upgrading. It was the first monoplane carrier fighter adopted by the US Navy and it was much less advanced than the Grumman Wildcat. The Wildcat was no great shakes, but with competent pilots it was at least able to hold its own against the Japanese.

    The secondary problem was that Brewster Aircraft itself was a mess. It was so bad that the Navy finally took the firm over later in the war. The combination of a not-very-good design, obsolescence and a deeply troubled manufacturer added up to a failure.

    The exception, of course, was Finland. The Finnish pilots employed skilful tactics against the almost-as-obsolescent Soviet air force racked up an impressive score. The Finnish pilots loved it, mostly because it was what they had.

    This is essentially a magazine article rather than an in-depth study, but it throws light on one of the lesser-known fighters for WWII>
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Brian Wormsbacher
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks Daniel
    Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Nice read , this aircraft's contribution history needs to be told, good information ,great stories, and a few pictures, nice work Daniel
    Helpful
     Report
  • Macahuna
    5.0 out of 5 stars I was really glad to learn so much more about the plane
    Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    There aren't too many of us Buffalo lovers out here. I was really glad to learn so much more about the plane. Mr. Ford did a super job detailing all the ins and outs of getting the plane to fly, and into combat. Really a super book about the F2A Brewster Buffalo!
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Alberto R.C.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Brief and well written
    Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2012
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is monography about the Brewster Buffalo. It is quite brief so it can be a little expensive but nevertheless it makes a good reading for an afternoon.
    Helpful
     Report
  • creedmore1000
    2.0 out of 5 stars A short not particularly interesting book
    Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2013
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Yes indeed this is a short, not particularly interesting book. Okay, I remember the Brewster Buffalo from my youth. While not nearly old enough to participate in WWII, living on the Southern Flyway we boys were able to see nearly every type of military aircraft in use by our forces. Buffalos no doubt flew over our family home though well before my interest had been aroused in aircraft spotting. Thus it was already considered obsolete by Pearl Harbor. Many had been turned over to GB for the defense of Singapore and . Thus little in this book was news to me though I did enjoy it as a review.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • brian vaccher
    3.0 out of 5 stars A interesting quick read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2013
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A poor title the poor buffalo did better than the author would let you know. it's biggest failure was it's manufacter and the poor support it recieved from them. A deeper look will tell you that the Brits and Aussies did much better than what is told over Burma
    and Malayasia. As for the Marine use at Midway it was inexpierenced pilots and poor tactics that led to the poor outcome.
    In many ways the Buffalo performed as well as the F4F Wildcat. At this time Marine pilots were expected to be able to fly all type of aircraft and were rotated thru bombing and scouting squadrons The real cadre of fighter pilots were very small. Compared to the Finns use with highly expeienced pilots and the astounding kill ratio they achieved with a not very differnt airframe. It's really about pilot skill and tactics that can carry the day.
    6 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • John Bennett
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very extensive monograph on this little know WWII ship bourne fighter
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 1, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    There is plenty of detailed information on the conception, production and service life of this aircraft. It includes detailed service history for the US Navy, Finnish Air Force and the Netherlands East Indies Air Force, including some detailed pilots stories when in battle.
    Report
  • Tobias
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nice little story about a looser-airplane that seemed to be less worse than is said.
    Reviewed in Germany on December 10, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Ford gives some nice information about the Brewster Buffalo one of the less known WWII-Aircraft although it must have been quite notorious amongst the own pilots - except the Fins. He gibes some reason that it was more the circumstances than the plane itself that brought him the doubtful title "worst fighter of wwii". Although a scientific subject, Ford gibes some funny anecdotes. I really enjoyed reading it.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report