Rare Brewster Buffalo Found Near Midway Atoll

Bethany Whitfield

Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 09:59 PM ET

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** Brewster F2A-3**

Key Takeaways:

The wreckage of a Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo, known as a "flying coffin" due to its poor combat record, was recently discovered off Midway Atoll.
Believed to be the plane of Lt. Charles W. Somers Jr., who survived a 1942 incident, the Buffalo proved highly vulnerable against Japanese Zeros in the Battle of Midway, leading to significant losses.
The discovery is notable as only one complete Brewster Buffalo remains in the world, highlighting the historical significance of the find.

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The wreckage of a Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo was recently found submerged beneath a mere 10 feet of water off the island of Midway Atoll, bringing attention to the stubby-looking airplane known as a “flying coffin” during World War II due to its notoriously poor combat record.

Federal divers stumbled upon the find last summer while cleaning up trash in the area. Based on evidence from February 1942 Marine records, officials believe the Buffalo was flown by Lt. Charles W. Somers Jr., who escaped unharmed after landing short of the runway.