Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA7008 Brewster Buffalo Model 339-23, A51-13, 25 Squadron RAAF Dunreath, West Australia, 1942, Sgt John Bailey Limited Edition comes with COA

Accurate 1/48 scale Professionally painted Pad applied markings Opening canopy Pilot figure Movable rudder Retractable Landing Gear Specifications RAAF Brewster Buffalo Model 339-23 Specifications : Power plant: 1 X Wright R-1820-40 Cyclone nine-cylinder single row air-cooled radial, rated at 1200 hp Performance: Maximum speed - 285 mph at sea level 323 mph at 16,500 ft. 344 mph at 26,500 ft. cruising speed 157mph landing speed 73 mph initial climb rate 2500 ft/min. Service ceiling 34,000 ft. Weight: 4576 lbs. Empty 5942 lbs. Gross 6890 lbs. Maximum take-off Dimensions: Wingspan - 35 ft. Length - 26 ft. Height - 11 ft. 8 ins. Wing area - 209 sq. ft Armament Four Browning 0.50 in. machine guns, two in the upper engine cowling, one in each wing. Under each wing bomb racks that could carry one 100-lb. bomb just outboard of the main landing gear.

THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES, NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT

A link to the ADF Serials - RAAF A51 Brewster Buffalo 339-23 and 339E This shows the history of the plane service dates, units that flew it, accidents and repairs.

Motto Per Ardua ad Astra (‘Through Struggle to the Stars’)

The Brewster Buffalo model 339-23 was basically the export version of the F2A-3. However the engines were re-manufactured Wright R-1820-G5 that had been used in KLM DC-3 airliners. These planes were shipped in early 1942 but during transit Java surrendered so the Netherlands no longer needed the planes and they were diverted to Australia. None of the seventeen aircraft given to the RAAF ever saw air-to- air combat. The survivors were all returned to the USAAF 5th Air Force in early 1944, where they were scrapped.

On May 3, 1937 the No. 23 Squadron was formed and two years later was renamed No. 25 Squadron (City of Perth). Their original task was convoy close-support and anti-submarine patrols and later the defense of Perth. In August 1942 nine Brewster Buffalo arrived and one of the pilots was Sgt. John Charles Bailey. He survived the war and became a farmer and father of three. In early 1943 the Buffalo were moved to Dunreath and became part of No. 85 Squadron. The Buffalo was replaced by the CAC Boomerang.

THIS IS A LINK TO AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY BY John Bailey