[1250ships]

Thanks to Senior Hworth18 I am the new owner of the Hobby Master RNZAF Buffalo. I'm thinking of displaying with a Marushin Japanese fighter but am trying to figure out the correct aircraft. Were the Singapore based Buffalos meeting Japanese Army Oscars or Japanese Naval Zeros? The literature of the time tended to call everything a Zero even when the opponents were really Oscars. Anyone have an insights?

[roowalker]

I got the "Kato 64" Oscar for just such a purpose,I display it between the Buffalo and the C1 Flying Tiger P40. I don't know for sure if Kato fought over Singapore,but I know that Oscars were used,and Kato definitely fought the AVG and Buffalos over Rangoon,etc. HTH, Mike PS,Marushin is not up to C1 or HM standards,but they have the only Oscar TMK

[flyXwire]

Yup, Ki-43 Oscars' were the primary adversaries of the AVG and RNZAF Buffalos.

[Cruver Collecter]

Marushing Oscar does look pretty good sitting next the the RNZAF and Netherlands Buffalo. I picked one up just for that reason. The book Buffalos over Singapore has plane types that were claimed by the Commonwealth and Netherlands pilots during the defence of Singaport.

[1250ships]

Thanks guys- that is what I suspected. To extend the question a bit who provided the air cover for the operations against the Dutch East Indies, Army or Navy? That would be the foes of the Dutch Buffalo.

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by 1250ships

Thanks guys- that is what I suspected. To extend the question a bit who provided the air cover for the operations against the Dutch East Indies, Army or Navy? That would be the foes of the Dutch Buffalo.

It would in some cases be the same as the RNZAF Buffaloes. During the defense of Singapore, the Dutch sent up some of their Buffalos to aid the British.

[flyXwire]

There are some answers to your inquiry above at this site: The conquer of Borneo Island

[Cruver Collecter]

The following site has some really good information regarding the Brewster Buffalo's service.

Site address:Annals of the Brewster Buffalo

[1250ships]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

The following site has some really good information regarding the Brewster Buffalo's service.

Site address:Annals of the Brewster Buffalo

I'd seen that site before and forgotten it. Exactly what the doctor ordered!

Based on what's on that site Oscars are the correct opponent and you can easily park the Dutch Buffalo next to the RNZAF one because the pilot of the machine Hobby Master produced did his fighting in Singapore.