Brewster SB2A Buccaneer Was Considered the Worst American Plane During WWII

During World War II, aircraft innovation and production soared as countries raced to develop and deploy the best combat planes. Yet, not every aircraft became a success. Among the least effective was the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer, a single-engine, mid-wing scout and bomber plane built for the United States Navy, Royal Air Force (RAF), and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Despite high hopes for this plane, the SB2A quickly gained a reputation as one of the worst aircraft of the war. From design flaws to manufacturing delays, the Buccaneer’s short history is a cautionary tale of how an aircraft intended to make an impact in battle ended up being unsuitable for combat.

Design and Development Woes

In 1939, the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics called for a new scout-bomber capable of performing versatile missions, including carrier-based operations. The Brewster Aeronautical Corporation responded with its Model 340, which the Navy designated as the XSB2A-1. This design was an expansion of Brewster’s earlier SBA model, keeping the single-engine layout but aiming to improve upon it with a more powerful engine.

At the heart of the XSB2A-1 was the Wright R-2600 engine, a solid choice for power, paired with a three-bladed propeller. The Buccaneer was also armed with two forward-firing .50-caliber machine guns in the fuselage and an additional pair of .30-caliber guns in the wings. A flexible rear mount was intended to hold two more .30-caliber guns. In theory, this would allow the plane to carry out both offensive and defensive missions, while an internal bomb bay held up to 1,000 pounds of bombs.

However, as the plane underwent testing in mid-1941, several critical issues surfaced. The aircraft’s airframe needed to be modified to meet updated Navy standards, resulting in structural changes that increased the overall weight. Armor plating, self-sealing fuel tanks, and design alterations to the tail and cockpit led to a massive weight gain of almost 3,000 pounds. As a result, the Buccaneer became slower, less maneuverable, and could not carry as many bombs as initially intended. By the time it was ready, the aircraft was not only underpowered but also hard to handle in flight, making it far less effective than envisioned.

Production Delays and Manufacturing Problems

The U.S. Navy, as well as Britain, France, and the Netherlands, initially placed significant orders for the SB2A Buccaneer. France had requested 250 units before its defeat in 1940, and the order was then passed to Britain, which expanded its request to 750 aircraft under the name “Bermuda.” The Netherlands and Australia also placed orders. Unfortunately, Brewster faced multiple delays, failing to meet delivery timelines and struggling to fulfill its production commitments.

One reason for the delays was Brewster’s internal problems. The company was poorly managed, and its workforce faced inadequate training and ongoing labor disputes, often resulting in strikes. These challenges affected both production quality and speed. By 1942, the U.S. Navy was forced to take control of the struggling Brewster company, hoping to speed up production. However, despite Navy intervention, the manufacturing issues persisted, and the SB2A planes were frequently flawed. Many units were even scrapped directly off the production line because they didn’t meet operational standards.

Operational History and Limited Use

When the RAF received the first Bermudas in 1942, the results were disappointing. The aircraft failed to meet combat requirements, and the RAF decided to repurpose most of them as target tugs rather than sending them into active service. Target tugging, which involved towing targets for other aircraft to practice firing, was one of the only suitable roles for the underperforming Buccaneers. The Fleet Air Arm, part of the British Navy, received five units for testing, but only one ended up as a target tug while the others were deemed unsuitable.

The USAAF, which had taken over a portion of the British order, designated these aircraft as the A-34. With poor handling and unreliability, they were deemed unfit even for basic training missions. Instead, the A-34s found a limited role as “hacks”—non-combat planes used for transportation and administrative support. As the planes deteriorated or broke down, many were simply abandoned or used as targets in artillery practice, underscoring their lack of utility.

The U.S. Navy also received about 140 SB2A units. By the time they arrived, however, Navy officials had already determined the aircraft’s limitations. The planes were occasionally used for ground maintenance training and target towing, but the Navy never considered them combat-worthy. Some were assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps, where a few units helped establish the first night fighter squadron. Even in this limited role, the SB2A fell short of the high standards expected from military aircraft during World War II.

Failed Potential and Legacy

The SB2A Buccaneer represents a costly failure in American wartime aviation. Out of the 771 units produced, only a small number were ever put to limited, non-combat uses. Many historians point to the Buccaneer as a lesson in what can go wrong when a promising design suffers from mismanagement and repeated modifications. Although the plane had potential on paper, its flawed execution in both design and production prevented it from contributing to the war effort. Aviation historian David Donald referred to it as “one of the worst aircraft of World War II,” and similar assessments are shared across major museums. The Pima Air & Space Museum, for example, lists the SB2A as “perhaps the least successful Allied aircraft of World War II,” emphasizing its lack of performance and adaptability.

Ultimately, the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer was a rare instance where an Allied aircraft went so wrong that it barely made it off the factory floor before being relegated to scrap. It serves as a reminder that not all World War II planes, despite their innovative intentions, could withstand the rigors of war. The Buccaneer, burdened by design flaws and production issues, stands as a prime example of how even the best military plans can misfire under the strain of real-world demands.