How the Worst Aircraft of WWII Achieved Its First Aerial Victory During the Malayan Campaign

The Beginning of the Malayan Air Battles

On December 8, 1941, British and Commonwealth forces in Malaya faced the first wave of a fast-moving invasion. Japanese forces captured the airfield at Kota Bharu, knocking out several British and Commonwealth bomber and fighter units. Brewster Buffalo pilots, already flying one of the most criticized aircraft of the war, found themselves in the middle of the action.

That same day, Buffalo pilots clashed with Japanese aircraft more than once. On two occasions, they tried to attack bombers, but their guns jammed. When they faced enemy fighters, they managed to escape, though badly outnumbered. On the ground, the damage was far worse. Many planes were destroyed before takeoff, leaving Australia’s No. 21 Squadron with just a few aircraft. The unit pulled back to Butterworth after leaving their base at Sungei Patani.

A Bold Reconnaissance Mission

At 10:40 a.m., Flying Officers Geoff Shepard and Daryl Sprout were sent across the Thai border on a reconnaissance flight. From their Buffaloes, they spotted 12 to 15 Japanese light tanks moving in a column. A soldier on the ground even waved a Japanese flag, likely mistaking the aircraft for friendly planes.

This brief moment of confusion allowed the Australians to strike without facing return fire. After attacking the tanks, they went after a convoy of trucks and claimed to have destroyed four. Though their aircraft were outdated and limited, the pilots made the most of their opportunity.

An Unescorted Bomber Raid

Despite suffering major losses, the Royal Air Force continued its operations. That day, No. 34 and 60 Squadrons sent six Bristol Blenheim bombers to attack the Japanese-held Singora air base in Thailand. They included both Mark I and Mark IV versions of the aircraft.

Flying without fighter cover, the bombers were met by heavy Japanese resistance. Fighters from the 1st and 11th Sentai intercepted the Blenheims and claimed five kills. In reality, three were lost. Among the Japanese pilots was ace Naoharu Shiromoto, credited with two of the kills during that engagement.

A Failed Escort and Surprise Attack

The British prepared a second attack on Singora. This time, four Buffaloes from No. 21 Squadron were assigned as escorts. Flight Lieutenants Richard McKenny, Fred Williams, Max White, and Flying Officer Harold Montefiore took off to cover the bombers. But after waiting at the rendezvous point for over 40 minutes, the Buffalo pilots saw no sign of them.

The mission was called off, and the fighters returned to base. Unknown to them, the Blenheims had already been destroyed on the ground in another Japanese air raid. As the Buffaloes flew back, they were attacked by enemy fighters. Williams later said they were surrounded by “Zeros,” though it’s likely they were Army Ki-43s or even older Ki-27s, which many Allied pilots confused for the Navy fighter.

Close Calls and Crashed Aircraft

A wild dogfight followed. Williams couldn’t see clearly because grease from his guns had fogged his windscreen. He nearly shot McKenny by mistake, but working radios allowed McKenny to warn him in time. The two decided to disengage and land at Butterworth.

Back on the ground, they spotted another wave of Japanese bombers and fighters coming in. The ground crew was in shelters, and the fuel hoses were locked away. Low on fuel but left with no choice, they took off again. They engaged bombers over the airstrip before being attacked by fighters. McKenny was shot down and bailed out over the sea with serious burns but survived.

The First Victory for the Buffalo

Williams faced three fighters alone until his guns jammed. He escaped by leading the enemy into anti-aircraft fire, then landed without fuel. Moments later, his plane was destroyed on the ground by strafing, but he had reached shelter just in time.

Meanwhile, Montefiore and White were still fighting. Montefiore managed to hit an enemy aircraft, likely flown by Sergeant Major Tokuyasu Ishizuka, a Japanese ace who force-landed his Ki-27. Montefiore’s claim marked the first confirmed Buffalo victory of the campaign. But he too was shot down shortly after. He bailed out and survived.

Heavy Losses for the Commonwealth Forces

White’s Buffalo, badly damaged, was the only one to return. He crash-landed at Penang Island’s airfield, and the plane was considered repairable. While Montefiore had scored a small success, the cost was high. Only two Buffaloes remained with the squadron after the battle.

By the second day of fighting, the air war over Malaya had grown even worse for British and Australian forces. Of the original 47 Blenheims in the region, only 10 remained, and just two were flyable. The campaign had just begun, and the losses were already mounting.