F2A-1/B-239 in Pensacola

Obviously we here in Finland would like to see our WW2 fighter back home in
our aviation museum. But if (and when) the aircraft is to stay at Pensacola,
then it would be fair to display the aircraft in its original Finnish
markings.
The Finnish magazine Suomen Kuvalehti did an extensive story about BW-372
when the aircraft was found from Russia. I contacted the editor and asked
for permission to translate the story into english. It is posted at the
Fighter Tactics Academy web site at:
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~fta/BW-372.htm

Jarmo Lindberg
Webmaster, FTA

"Old hoodoo" kirjoitti
...
After much knashing of apphrehensive teeth by Brewster F2A fans,
BW-372, a Brewster B-239 (US Navy F2A-1 equivalent) has found a home in
the
US at the National Naval Museum in Pensacola. The only "issue" for the
museum, which sat in a freshwater lake for over 50 years, is that due to
its
amazingly intact condition with most of the original Finnish applied paint
still in relatively good shape, is whether to display it as is in its
current relic condition, fully restore it either to its original Finnish
markings, or perhaps display it in Navy F2A-1 configuration with that
gorgeous pre-war paint job the type carried. As the first US monoplane
carrier fighter the temptation to restore it to F2A-1 condition has got to
be
tempting to the staff, although the fact that the aircraft is a true WWII
combat veteran with the markings it had when ditched in the lake after
being shot up weighs heavily for maintaining the aircraft in as is
condition.
With only a cousin, a Finnish built prototype of a B-239 copy with a
Russian engine in existance in Finland, the type is definitely in the rara
avis class.

Al Sumrall