The Navy accepted the XF2A-1 during June of 1938 and ordered series production of the F2A-1 for its carriers.

Finland bought 44 Brewster B-239s in 16th, December 1939, but they were received too late to see any combat during the Winter War.

Unit price was 54 000 USD plus packing and delivery costs, also 10 spare engines, 20 propellers and other spare parts were purchased for a total sales price of 3.4 million dollars (168 million Finnish Marks).

The Finnish B-239 "export"-models were equipped with refurbished R-1820 G-5 engines taken from DC-3 airliners.

During the war the single 0.30" machine gun was replaced with a 0.50" (12.7mm) and in 1943 all except one Finnish B-239s had four 0.50" machine guns. The wing guns had 400 rounds and fuselage guns 200 rounds each (0.30" had 600 rounds).

Great Britain ordered 170 aircraft from Brewster. After evaluation of the fighter against German forces it was sent to South-east Asia because the brass thought the Japanese forces were insuperior.

There it got hammered and beaten with ease by the Japanese forces which were far superior.

Other countries that the U.S.A were interested in the plane, amongst which Belgium. They ordered an initial 40 planes, similar to the F2A-3.

Due to the outbreak of the war, and the following capitulation of Belgium, only 2 were delivered. 6 Were still in transit in France when France fell to the German troops, and were left unused on the Island of Martinique by the French. The remaining 32 went to Great Britain, where they were used in various theatres and roles.

Brewsters began arriving in Java during April of 1941. The last example was delivered by September of 1941.

Throughout their service in the Dutch East Indies, they underwent numerous field modifications and upgrades as some of the delayed equipment finally became available. However, many of the Model 339Cs and Ds never got reflector gunsights and had to rely on simpler fixed ring-and-bead sights.

BW-393 is credited with 41 kills in total making it possibly the single aircraft with most air victories in the history of air warfare.