The Buffalo was a rubbish fighter, the RAF must have been nuts to think anywhere could be defended by them when they had oodles of Spitfires and Hurricanes in OTU’s back home. Too many men lost their lives in Buffalos needlessly.
Even in the hands of very experienced pilots, many being ex-Battle of Britain, the Buffalo was next-to-useless. Though a few pilots including the Kiwis of 488 and 243 Sqns had limited success with them, the replacement Hurricanes came far too late and only after all the Buffaloes had been destroyed, mostly on the ground. The thing I find most odd is with all the pre-war importance the British put in Singapore, they did little to back up the few trying to defend it. Compare this ‘inpenetrable island’ to the efforts in Malta, why was more not done? I don’t think the British cared much about the Pacific campaign.
They should have rushed in more squadrons and men, with decent fighters and bombers, but instead nothing much was done and when they knew it was all lost they withdrew the RAF, and then sent the ‘colonials’ back just as they were leaving to defend Singapore on their own.
There is a classic RNZAF photo of 488 Sqn RNZAF members with a mock noticeboard that reads:(without the *)
[B]RAF = RARE AS F*CK
NOTICE BOARD
NF. MAINTENANCE
232 + 243 = 488
WORK THAT ONE OUT
(Italic Bit Crossed Out)
Boat Ticket
To
New Zealand
Single Men Only
TEMPORARILY CANCELLED
THE NZ SQ WILL TAKE OVER 232 SQD’s A/C & RESUME
OPS AGAINST THE WICKED WOGS (232 SQ. & 243 SQ.
HAVING GIVEN UP THE UNEQUAL STRUGGLE& F*CKED OFF
SQD. WING COMM WHATSIT, RAF[/B]
I have to say I’m amused to see one in Japanese colours – I didn’t think any would have survived intact for them to fly, and I don’t know why they’d want to fly it.
The one in the odd pattern camo is unusual too. It looks like someone’s stepped on it with a huge trainer shoe, leaving the footprint.
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