ToughOmbre
Senior Master Sergeant
Yea, I got no problem spending other people's money
(At least it would be for a good cause!)
TO
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Ah, ok, the "if I won the lotto" scenario.
Displayed "as is"? Do you have a source for that info? I can't believe they wouldn't do any restoration at all, even for static display. They would certainly at least want to stop corrosion from continuing.
The Naval museum in Pensacola currently has it in storage. What ends up happening by the time it hits the display area is anyone's guess.
Displayed "as is"? Do you have a source for that info?
The plan is to display the aircraft in its Finnish Air Force warpaint with minimal restoration.
What's it doing in the US? Isn't that a bit far away from Finland where it saw combat and should be displayed? Just curious fellas, is it because it's an Brewster and US built?
I see, thanks mate! I guess that the Finns were a bit p*ssed off with that...
Hmm, the page was posted in 2004. I wonder if the plan is still the same. Like I said, it seems so wrong to display the only example in that condition.
I'd do complete restoration, and paint her in the colors that they found her in....
Yeah, I agree. The site that Mangrove posted says "The long-term restoration plans are still very much up in the air.". So it still remains to be seen what they will do with it.
Since the recovery of the only known surviving Brewster F2A Buffalo and its acquisition by the National Museum of Naval Aviation, much as been written and discussed regarding its disposition. Most of this has been supposition and conjecture and, as a result, inaccurate and results from the fact that almost none of the information presented has come from the organization responsible for the disposition of the aircraft. The following can be considered the official position of the National Museum of Naval Aviation regarding the disposition of this historic aircraft.
The Buffalo possesses a unique historical significance that calls for some unique handling. Most of the aircraft that the Museum acquires arrive in a configuration that does not demand or even lend itself to preservation in that configuration. Thus, after appropriate assessment, the decision is usually made to restore the aircraft to a configuration that displays it as an operational machine appropriate to its most historically significant period of use. This usually means complete restoration or repair of all damage, and reconfiguration to the period chosen, including replacement of components and equipment either with original type components or material or that which is authentic to the highest possible degree. However, the Buffalo both demands and lends itself to preservation of its configuration without restoration.
This unique aircraft was built to serve naval aviation and assigned a bureau number, but before it was delivered to the fleet, it was one of 43 sold to the Finnish Air Force. Unlike the Navy and Marine Corps experience with the Buffalo, which was marginal at best, the Finns had great success with it, achieving better than a 30:1 against the Soviet Air Force during World War II. The aircraft now at the Museum was flown by one of Finland's top aces, Lieutenant Lauri Pekuri, who had over 18.5 kills, 8 of them in this machine. Thus, the intrinsic historic value of the aircraft lies mostly with its service in the Finnish Air Force. And that is well worth preserving. In addition, another strong influence in this decision is the condition of the aircraft, which is excellent despite the fact that the aircraft spent more than a half century underwater. This fact allows preservation as is, or almost so.
Therefore, the Museum will not restore it in the markings of Marine Corps aircraft that flew during the Battle of Midway or even as Finnish Air Force aircraft. Our objective is to preserve and display the aircraft as close as possible to its original configuration and condition when it was crash landed after being shot up in a combat mission on 25 June 1942. Only components, coatings and aircraft equipment that cannot be preserved because of problems with structural integrity, major distortion of appearance, and corrosion deterioration will be repaired or replaced. Damage caused by enemy fire and subsequent crash landing will not be disturbed. Only damage done during recovery, storage and movement operations will be repaired. All of the coatings on the aircraft surfaces will be preserved and only accumulations of preservatives, petroleum products, dirt, marine and corrosion deposits, and other foreign material will be removed. Disassembly will be limited to that required for corrosion control, structural integrity and repair of handling damage. All reassembly and repair will use authentic material as close as possible to the original.
The end result will be the display of an aviation treasure in a configuration appropriate to its most historic period of service with the Finnish Air Force affected only by the stabilization of deterioration from its years in cold water and the obvious repairs necessary to make it complete and structurally sound. As near as possible, it will be fully authentic and original and instantly recognizable as a Finnish Air Force Model 239 Buffalo at a point in time when it made its last flight in hostile skies and settled to the bottom of the lake.
I knew the Finns had them, but the Germans?
The Russians had already made it to Finland's southern border and were trying to gain a nice chunk of prime land (which they had occupied earlier and eventually got back).The Finns purchased the remainder of the Brewster F2A-1's contracted for the USN so that the USN could proceed to procure F2A-2's while keeping costs down to a reasonable level.
These F2A-1's were modified with Wright R-1820-G5 engines of 950hp under the company designation: B-239. They were crated and shipped to Sweden where they were assembled and flown to Finland (reportedly by Norwegian volunteers!)
The Russians had already made it to Finland's southern border and were trying to gain a nice chunk of prime land (which they had occupied earlier and eventually got back).
The US, who had a good experience with the Brits, decided to extend their "Lend/Lease" policy to the Finn's and thus they ended up with the B-239 varient of the Brewster Buffalo, which (by that time) was already taking a back seat to the F4F in the USN.
Any boats coming directly into Finland would have had their cargo confiscated by the Russkies.