The Story of How Finnish Pilots Turned the Brewster Buffalo Into a WWII Legend

A Fighter with a Troubled Reputation

The Brewster Buffalo is remembered by many as one of the least successful fighters of World War II. Over the Pacific, Japanese Zeros easily outmaneuvered and destroyed it, and it performed poorly in the hands of British Commonwealth forces in Malaya and Singapore, as well as Dutch pilots in the East Indies. The aircraft seemed outdated almost as soon as it entered combat. Yet, in one corner of Europe, the same fighter gained a completely different reputation. In the hands of Finnish pilots, it became a weapon that earned respect and remarkable results against the Soviet Union.

In the late 1930s, Finland, like many smaller nations, searched for modern aircraft wherever they could be found. Their requirements were simple: planes had to be available quickly and run on standard 87 octane fuel. Brewster offered 44 nearly finished Buffaloes, originally intended for the U.S. Navy. Delivered without naval equipment and fitted with a less powerful engine, these export models were designated the B-239. To the Finns, it was simply known as the “Brewster.”

Arrival in a Nation Under Threat

Timing was crucial. On November 30, 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Finland, beginning the Winter War. Only six Brewsters arrived before the conflict ended in March 1940, and they flew limited interception missions with Squadron 22. The aircraft had little chance to prove themselves, but Finnish leaders remained cautious about Soviet intentions. The period of uneasy peace that followed gave Finland time to prepare for another round of fighting.

The Brewsters were soon reassigned to Squadron 24, replacing older Dutch-built Fokker D.XXIs. For the next four years, these fighters formed the backbone of Finland’s air defense. Facing larger Soviet forces, Finnish pilots relied on discipline and clever tactics rather than raw speed or agility. They adopted two-plane formations instead of the traditional three-plane system, giving them greater flexibility. Their “boom and zoom” attacks—diving from above, firing, then climbing away—proved effective against faster and more numerous Soviet aircraft.

First Blood in the Continuation War

In June 1941, as Germany prepared its invasion of the Soviet Union, Finnish forces received advance warning. On June 25, Soviet bombers crossed into Finnish airspace, and Brewsters from Squadron 24 scrambled to meet them. Sergeant Eero Kinnunen and Corporal Heimo Lampi were among the first to intercept, facing a formation of 27 Tupolev SB bombers.

Flying close before firing, a Finnish trademark, Lampi set one bomber ablaze before crippling another. Kinnunen soon downed two himself and damaged several more, though he was wounded in the arm by defensive fire. By the end of the engagement, the Soviet formation had lost five aircraft. Both Finnish pilots were credited with two and a half victories each, making Kinnunen an ace after adding to his earlier Winter War record.

Successes and New Aces

The Soviets pressed on with more unescorted raids that same day. Finnish pilots claimed additional bombers, and Warrant Officer Yrjö Turkka also became an ace after adding to his earlier tally. In total, Soviet records confirm that 10 bombers were lost in the opening raids, a severe blow that included the deaths of several squadron commanders.

In the following days, Brewster pilots added more kills. On June 29, Lieutenant Pekka Kokko intercepted two Soviet Beriev MBR-2 flying boats. Despite initial trouble with his guns, Kokko managed to destroy both aircraft and earn ace status. On the same day, Finland’s leading Winter War ace, Jorma Sarvanto, scored another victory by downing a fast Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber, further strengthening the reputation of the Brewster in Finnish hands.

Holding the Line

While Soviet reports claimed more than 100 Finnish aircraft destroyed on the ground, records show only two planes lightly damaged. In contrast, Finnish and German records confirm that 24 Soviet bombers were shot down between June 25 and 29, with Squadron 24 responsible for half. During this period, only one Brewster was lost, and that in a takeoff accident.

With the opening of Operation Barbarossa, Finnish forces moved to retake lost territory. The Brewster now faced not only bombers but also Soviet fighters, putting it into harsher combat than ever before. Despite its reputation elsewhere, in Finland the Buffalo had become a symbol of resilience, showing what skill, tactics, and determination could accomplish with a flawed machine.