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805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Photo # NH 96146: Brewster F2A-1 wearing McClelland Barclay camouflage design # 2, September 1940

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY AIRCRAFT -- 1922-1962 DESIGNATION SYSTEM --

Brewster F2A Fighters --
1940 Experimental Camouflage

Some of Fighting Squadron Three's F2A-1s were experimentally painted in disruptive camouflage in mid-1940. These designs prepared by McClelland Barclay, a Naval Reserve officer and noted artist, were evaluated under operational conditions. The tests showed that pattern camouflage was of little if any use for Navy combat aircraft.

This page features views of Brewster F2A fighters wearing experimental camouflage schemes tested in 1940.

For other photographs of Navy planes painted in 1940 experimental camouflage, see:

  • Douglas TBD-1 Torpedo Planes -- 1940 Experimental Camouflage.

    For more views of F2A aircraft, see:

  • Brewster F2A "Buffalo" Fighters.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 96143

    Brewster F2A-1 fighter
    ,
    of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3)

    At Naval Air Station, North Island, California, 9 September 1940. It is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 1.
    Note gun camera mounted on the starboard fuselage, forward.
    Another F2A-1 of the same squadron is at left, in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 2. Others are in the right background, uncamouflaged.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 96144

    Brewster F2A-1 fighter
    ,
    of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3)

    At Naval Air Station, North Island, California, 9 September 1940. It is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 1.
    A Vought O3U observation plane is partially visible at the right.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 580 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 96145

    Brewster F2A-1 fighter
    ,
    of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3)

    Head-on view, taken at Naval Air Station, North Island, California, 9 September 1940. The plane is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 1.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 96146

    Brewster F2A-1 fighter
    ,
    of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3)

    At Naval Air Station, North Island, California, 9 September 1940. The plane is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 2.
    Note gun camera mounted on the starboard side of the fuselage, forward.
    Grumman F2F-1 fighters of Fighting Squadron Two (VF-2) are in the background.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 96148

    Brewster F2A-1 fighter
    ,
    of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3)

    At Naval Air Station, North Island, California, 9 September 1940. The plane is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 2.
    A Curtiss SOC "flag plane" is in the in the left center background.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 96147

    Brewster F2A-1 fighter
    ,
    of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3)

    Head-on view, taken at Naval Air Station, North Island, California, 9 September 1940. The plane is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 2.
    Note gun camera mounted on the right side of the fuselage.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     

    For other photographs of Navy planes painted in 1940 experimental camouflage, see:

  • Douglas TBD-1 Torpedo Planes -- 1940 Experimental Camouflage.

    For more views of F2A aircraft, see:

  • Brewster F2A "Buffalo" Fighters.


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 24 March 2001
    Coding updated 6 May 2009