Founded in the mid-1930s, the first product of this company
was a two-seat scout/bomber for the U.S. Navy designated
SBA. When this aircraft entered production in
1937-1938 the
F2A "Buffalo"
company had inadequate productive
capacity and 30 were built by the Naval Aircraft Factory
as SBNs. The F2A Buffalo which followed was the first
monoplane fighter to serve with the USN, and was also
used by the armed forces of Belgium, Britain, Finland,
and Netherlands East Indies. The later SB2A Buccaneer,
though built in quantity, proved totally unsuitable for frontline
service.
