Brewster SB2A Buccaneer Color Photographs

The Brewster SB2A Buccaneer has the dubious distinction of being regarded as one of the worst aircraft designs of the Second World War. Its performance was unspectacular, its structure weak, it lacked maneuverability, and it was overweight.

Desperate for aircraft to combat the German invasion, several countries placed orders for the design before the prototype had made its first flight. France ordered 250, the Dutch 162, Britain 500, the US Navy 140, and Australia 243. The British named the type the “Bermuda”, shown here are FF841 and FF840 in British colors. (NASM, Rudy Arnold collection)

Australia cancelled their order in favor of the Vultee Vengeance when the Bermuda’s problems became obvious. Britain took over the French order, the USAAF took over part of the British order as the A-34. Shown are a flight of Buccaneers in the U.S. Navy camo of Blue Gray over Light Gray and 1942-43 markings. (NASM, Hans Groenhoff collection)

Brewster suffered from poor management, unskilled labor, and worker strikes. The problems interfered with production and became so bad that the Navy seized Brewster in April 1942, but even this did not completely rectify the deficiencies. Brewster-produced aircraft gained a reputation for poor construction and workmanship among pilots and ground crew throughout the war. (NASM, Rudy Arnold collection)

Buccaneers were deemed unsuitable for combat. Most were used in second-line duties as trainers, target tugs, or hacks. Several were scrapped right off the assembly line or left derelict instead of being repaired. (NASM, Rudy Arnold collection)

Wartime propaganda efforts tried to give the impression of serviceability, but no Buccaneers or Bermudas ever saw combat.

Despite its dismal record and obscurity, kits are available of the SB2A. 1/48 scale modelers have a vacuform kit from Vac Wings, and Special Hobby offers a 1/72 scale kit.