Brewster F2A-3 "Buffalo" fighter, of Marine Fighting Squadron 211 (VMF-211) rests in the flight deck gallery netting after suffering landing gear failure while landing on board USS Long Island (AVG-1) off Palmyra Island, 25 July 1942. Note marking "MF-5" on the plane's fuselage and very weathered paint. The carrier's SC radar antenna is visible atop her stub mast at right 25th July 1942

A U.S. Marine Corps Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo from Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-211 is loaded aboard the aviation transport USS Kitty Hawk (APV-1) at Pearl Harbor for shipment to Midway Islands, in May 1942. The F2As had previously been operated by VF-2. After shakedown Kitty Hawk departed New York on 16 December 1941, for Hawaii via the Panama Canal with aircraft to replace the losses in the Japanese attack and arrived Pearl Harbor 8 February 1942. She unloaded her planes at Hickani Field and returned to the U.S. mainland 25 February. Kitty Hawk returned to Pearl Harbor 17 May. Intelligence reports arrived indicating that a Japanese fleet was approaching the Hawaiian Islands. Immediately Kitty Hawk loaded the men, armament, and equipment of the 3d Marine Defense Battalion and planes of Marine Air Groups 21 and 45 and sailed at top speed to reinforce Midway, escorted by Owyn. Kitty Hawk delivered men and aircraft to Midway on 26 May 1942. Escorted by destroyers USS Gwin (DD-433) and USS Sicard (DD-346), Kitty Hawk departed Midway 29 May and arrived at Honolulu on 1 June 1942.