Who used the Buffalo successfully until 1944?

During the Continuation War of 1941-1944, the Brewster Model 239s operated by the Finnish Air Force, an export version of the F2A-1, proved capable of engaging and destroying most types of Soviet fighters then operating against Finland, and in the first phase of that conflict claimed 32 Soviet aircraft shot down for every Model 239 lost, with 36 Buffalo "aces". In service from 1941 to 1945, the Buffalos of Lentolaivue 24 claimed 477 Soviet war planes destroyed, with the combat loss of only 19 Buffalos, a ratio of 26 to 1.

The pilot with the most victories on the 239 was Hans Wind, with 39 kills, and with six other LeLv 24 Buffalos he intercepted about 60 Soviet aircraft near Kronstadt. The top-scoring Finnish ace, Ilmari Juutilainen, scored 34 of his 94 and a half kills aboard the 239, 28 of them in BW-364.

By late 1943, lack of spare parts, wear and tear, and better Soviet fighters and training had greatly reduced the effectiveness of the Finnish 239s. In December 1941, about 150 Buffalo 339Es formed the bulk of the British fighter defence of Burma, Malaya and Singapore. No. 67 Squadron claimed 27 Japanese aircraft destroyed; eight Buffalos were shot down and eight pilots killed.