The Navy considered turning later Buffaloes into long-range reconnaissance fighters, a role associated with the F2A-3's greater endurance. The proposal included replacing the wing-mounted .50-caliber machine guns with 20 mm cannon, and at least one F2A-3 received the installation. Its potential combat effect remains counterfactual because the Navy withdrew the Buffalo before the modification could become a sustained operational development. The tested installation still shows that the airframe had an unrealized development path.
Notable Point · 28:44-29:35
The proposed reconnaissance Buffalo with 20 mm cannon
A long-range reconnaissance role and a trial replacing wing-mounted machine guns with 20 mm cannon reveal an unrealized development path.