The Brewster SB2A Buccaneer may well be regarded as the most unsuccessful Allied aircraft of World War II, one that was deemed unsuitable for combat by every country that adopted it. It was originally developed for the USN as a large scout bomber and featured a mid-wing monoplane configuration along with large canopies for the pilot and observer and an internal bomb bay capable of carrying up to a 1,000-lb bomb. Its initial design also contemplated a rear turret but this was removed in line with pre-production changes which also included the addition of armor and self-sealing fuel tanks. Despite this, the aircraft was relatively fragile compared to other more rugged USN aircraft and it was also underpowered, which resulted in poor overall performance. Managerial problems in Brewster also contributed to poor quality construction and also resulted in the Navy taking over production. Initial orders for the French and Dutch were eventually transferred to the various US service branches as well as the RAF which quickly relegated it to secondary duties. Australian orders were also cancelled in place of the Vultee Vengeance. Despite a relatively large production run for a failed aircraft, it did not see combat.

The prototype XSB2A-1 first flew on 17 June 1941 and was significantly revised before it began to be produced as the SB2A-2. Despite being a naval aircraft, folding wings and an arrester hook were only added in the next main variant, the SB2A-3. A version for the Dutch was known as the SB2A-4 but ultimately taken over by the USN and USMC. A USAAF version was known as the A-34 while the UK received over half of the total production run (468 aircraft), renaming it Bermunda Mk. I.