New book on the recovery fo Brewster Buffalo BW-372

Owen Miller · **Joined:** Fri Aug 27, 2004 9:28 pm **Posts:** 614

As a Naval Aviation enthuiast and an aviation buff I have always had a
great interest in the Battle of Midway. When I heard some years ago
that a Brewster Buffalo had been located I followed the story on the
internet as best I could. There was lots of vague and often times
contradictory information out there.

I have been fortunate to come to know a number of men who flew at
Midway. One of these was Bill Brooks, the last American to fly combat
in a Buffalo.

When the Buffalo was delivered to NNAM I was fortunate enough to
be there and was one of the first to see it as the crates were opened.
I also got to meet Gary Villard, the man who got the plane out of
Russia. One of my goals was one day to introduce former Marine
Brooks to former Marine Villard and let Brooks see the Buffalo. Sadly,
Mr Brooks passed while the Buffalo was on display in Finland, so we
will never have that chance.

I am fortunate enough to have been able to read the first chapter of
the book. It wet my appetite to learn the rest of the story and I
can't wait to get my hands on a copy. This book will answer a lot
of questions people have been wondering about. Likley, it will raise
some others. In any case, it promises to be a fascinating read.

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:09 pm

So is the BW-372 slated to eventually come back to The States? While I would love to see her, it seems to me she should stay in Finland as part of their national heritage.

SN

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:11 pm

Is this the book written by Marja, who was having it translated into English?

Dave

Owen Miller · **Joined:** Fri Aug 27, 2004 9:28 pm **Posts:** 614

This one is by Gary Villard, the guy who recovered the bird.

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:50 pm

Be interesting to compare the two since they will tell opposing sides of the story

Owen Miller · **Joined:** Fri Aug 27, 2004 9:28 pm **Posts:** 614

Yes, it will.....

Is the other one out in English yet??

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:12 pm

I hope that the NMNA does get their hands on one and puts it in Midway markings. A very interesting story of the brave men that flew them needs to be told.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Feb 25, 2010 3:20 pm

I wonder what will come first, the book or the lawsuit :shock:

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 25, 2010 3:56 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

I hope that the NMNA does get their hands on one and puts it in Midway markings. A very interesting story of the brave men that flew them needs to be told.

They already have their 'hands on it', and have rightly left it in the colours it flew combat and was eventually shot down in.
But hey, why not disfigure a unique hsitorical artefact and strip and paint the 60 year old original colours of a Finnish ace into an 'exciting' Navy scheme -after all the Finnish pilots weren't that brave I guess

shepsair · **Posted:** Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:28 pm

Hate ficticious schemes on airframes which have history - especially major significant history.

Still waiting for a Hurricane to be restored in Russian colours!

Have different pinions on whether to be restored/unrestored or flying/non flying but BW-372 should remain as it is - with maybe a little straightening/bending but nothing more. Personnally, it also belongs to Finland.

Mark

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:07 pm

I didn't say that they should repaint this one, just another one or at least a replica.

Owen Miller · **Joined:** Fri Aug 27, 2004 9:28 pm **Posts:** 614

New site....

http://www.bw-372.com/

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:48 am

Owen Miller wrote:

Yes, it will.....

Is the other one out in English yet??

Owen

Missed your question - I put Marja onto MMP books (UK) to get it translated an published into English. She was due to meet one of the directors there some time back, but I haven't followed up, so will do so.
By all accounts her team (including Marvin Kottman who financed some of the expedition) and a Russian researcher did the hard yards, and some of them even did jail time :shock:

in a Karelian prison because of the dodgy dealings by another party..
Certainly will be an interesting read.....

ChrisDNT · **Posted:** Thu Mar 11, 2010 1:15 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

I hope that the NMNA does get their hands on one and puts it in Midway markings. A very interesting story of the brave men that flew them needs to be told.

Yessssss and do not forget to add a glossy painting, lot of chrome, some kind of modern pin-up and a sharkmouth, because a sharkmouth is always cool on a aicraft (P-40 syndrome) :lol:

Happily, the guys at NMNA have a better taste when it matters such a rare and significant aerospace artefact.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu Mar 11, 2010 1:36 pm

Read the post, then respond. I stated that I hope that the NMNA gets their hands on a Buffalo. Not THIS Buffalo. :roll:

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New book on the recovery fo Brewster Buffalo BW-372

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