The British Purchasing Commission was a United Kingdom organisation of the Second World War. Also known at some time as the "Anglo-French Purchasing Board", it was based in New York City, where it arranged the production and purchase of armaments from North American manufacturers. After the 1940 French Surrender it became the 'British Purchasing Commission'. The Commission was also responsible for taking over orders that had originally been placed by France, Belgium, and later by Norway, after the capitulation of those countries.
The Board had been established before the war buying aircraft such as the Lockheed Super Electra.
Facing an aeroplane shortage during the early stages of World War II, in January 1940, the British government established the British Direct Purchase Commission to purchase US planes that would help supplement domestic plane production. By December 1940 British cash orders for aircraft had exceeded $1,200,000,000 with deliveries of 300-350 per month and were expected to reach 500 per month by "early in 1941".[1] The aircraft were supplied unarmed.
The requests by the Board to US manufacturers stimulated production and design including the development and production of what would become the North American Mustang, which was designed for the Commission. Upon entry into Royal Air Force (RAF) or other Commonwealth service an Air Ministryservice name was applied, thus the Consolidated 28-5 became the 'Consolidated Catalina'.
Aircraft purchased by the Commission first had to be moved across the border into Canada, due to the US' neutrality laws, it being illegal to transport 'war materials' direct from US ports. Sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, smaller aircraft with insufficient range to make the journey across the Atlantic were delivered to the UK by ship as cargo, with the aircraft 'knocked down' into component sections and crated. Upon arrival in the UK crated aircraft were transported to RAF Speke where they were assembled and test flown. Larger aircraft were ferried directly across the Atlantic from RCAF Gander to RAF Prestwick, first by the Atlantic Ferry Organization ("Atfero"), and subsequently by RAF Ferry Command.
After the establishment of Lend-Lease, aircraft and other weapons could be supplied direct to the UK.
Curtiss SBC-4 - French order of 50 aircraft for Aeronavale, last five delivered to UK and given service name "Curtiss Cleveland"
Curtiss Model 75 - French order, 316 delivered to France. Entered RAF service as "Curtiss Mohawk"
Curtiss Model 81A & 87 - entered RAF service as "Curtiss Tomahawk" (early aircraft) or "Curtiss Kittyhawk" (later aircraft). Packard Merlin engined aircraft originally allocated RAF name "Warhawk" but on service entry 'Kittyhawk' name was applied as-per later Allison-engined variants
Curtiss P-46 - ordered by UK and allocated name "Curtiss Kittyhawk"[2] but aircraft and order later cancelled and name applied to later P-40/Tomahawks incorporating more powerful Allison V-1710 engine intended for P-46.
Lockheed Ventura - designed for RAF - improved Hudson, used as medium bomber and patrol bomber
Lockheed Model 322A/Model 322B - Franco-British order - tested by RAF and given service name "Lockheed Lightning" but order later cancelled due to poor performance
Glenn Martin Model 167 - French order for bombers- Approximately 215 of order delivered to France, remainder to UK. Entered RAF service as "Martin Maryland"
Glenn Martin Model 187 - Franco-British order for improved Model 167. Entered RAF service as "Martin Baltimore"
North American NA-64-P2 - French order for 230 trainer aircraft, 111 delivered before Fall of France. Remainder taken over by Britain and entered service with RCAF as "North American Yale"
North American NA-57/NA-66 - Franco-British order for improved NA-64/Harvard - RAF service name "North American Harvard"
North American NA-73 - designed for RAF - entered service as "North American Mustang"
Northrop A-17 - French order of 93, no recorded deliveries. Transferred to UK - declared obsolete, transferred to South African Air Force (SAAF) for training - allocated RAF service name "Northrop Nomad"
Vought-Sikorsky 156 - French order. 40 delivered. Another French order for 50 was later taken over by UK and the type entered limited Royal Navy (RN) service as "Vought-Sikorsky Chesapeake" [5]
Vultee P-66 - Swedish order, cancelled by US State Department after Invasion of Norway - order taken over by Britain and given service name "Vultee Vanguard", but immediately after Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour all 144 aircraft built requisitioned by USAAC
Vultee Model 72 - designed for France - order taken over and entered RAF service as "Vultee Vengeance"
Bailey, Gavin J. (2013). The Arsenal of Democracy: Aircraft Supply and the Evolution of the Anglo-American Alliance, 1938-1942. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ISBN9780748649730.
Duncan Hall, H.; Wrigley, C. C. (1956). Studies of Overseas Supply (History of the Second World War, Civil Series). London: HMSO.
Johnman, Lewis; Murphy, Hugh (2002). ""The British Merchant Shipping Mission in the United States and British Merchant Shipbuilding in the Second World War"". The Northern Mariner. 12 (3): 1–15. doi:10.25071/2561-5467.576. S2CID 247556627.
External linksedit
Flight article on BPC orders and American supplies
December 20, 2023
british, purchasing, commission, united, kingdom, organisation, second, world, also, known, some, time, anglo, french, purchasing, board, based, york, city, where, arranged, production, purchase, armaments, from, north, american, manufacturers, after, 1940, fr. The British Purchasing Commission was a United Kingdom organisation of the Second World War Also known at some time as the Anglo French Purchasing Board it was based in New York City where it arranged the production and purchase of armaments from North American manufacturers After the 1940 French Surrender it became the British Purchasing Commission The Commission was also responsible for taking over orders that had originally been placed by France Belgium and later by Norway after the capitulation of those countries The Board was able to arrange purchases in spite of the Neutrality Acts via Cash and Carry paying for the materiel with Britain s gold reserves The Board had been established before the war buying aircraft such as the Lockheed Super Electra Facing an aeroplane shortage during the early stages of World War II in January 1940 the British government established the British Direct Purchase Commission to purchase US planes that would help supplement domestic plane production By December 1940 British cash orders for aircraft had exceeded 1 200 000 000 with deliveries of 300 350 per month and were expected to reach 500 per month by early in 1941 1 The aircraft were supplied unarmed The requests by the Board to US manufacturers stimulated production and design including the development and production of what would become the North American Mustang which was designed for the Commission Upon entry into Royal Air Force RAF or other Commonwealth service an Air Ministry service name was applied thus the Consolidated 28 5 became the Consolidated Catalina Aircraft purchased by the Commission first had to be moved across the border into Canada due to the US neutrality laws it being illegal to transport war materials direct from US ports Sailing from Halifax Nova Scotia smaller aircraft with insufficient range to make the journey across the Atlantic were delivered to the UK by ship as cargo with the aircraft knocked down into component sections and crated Upon arrival in the UK crated aircraft were transported to RAF Speke where they were assembled and test flown Larger aircraft were ferried directly across the Atlantic from RCAF Gander to RAF Prestwick first by the Atlantic Ferry Organization Atfero and subsequently by RAF Ferry Command After the establishment of Lend Lease aircraft and other weapons could be supplied direct to the UK Contents 1 Aircraft bought by the Commission 2 Directors General 3 Other staff of note 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksAircraft bought by the Commission editBell Model 14 P 400 originally allocated RAF service name Bell Caribou but entered RAF service as Bell Airacobra Boeing Model 299T B 17C entered RAF service as Boeing Fortress Brewster B 339 Belgian order for Aviation Militaire entered RAF service as Brewster Buffalo Brewster B 340 Netherlands order for 162 aircraft for Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger ML KNIL the Dutch aiforce in the East Indies but all repossessed by USN before delivery and 750 ordered for UK entered limited UK service as Brewster Bermuda Consolidated LB 30 French order for 120 for Armee de l air None delivered Later taken over by UK entered RAF service as Consolidated Liberator Consolidated 28 5 entered RAF service as Consolidated Catalina Curtiss SBC 4 French order of 50 aircraft for Aeronavale last five delivered to UK and given service name Curtiss Cleveland Curtiss Model 75 French order 316 delivered to France Entered RAF service as Curtiss Mohawk Curtiss Model 81A amp 87 entered RAF service as Curtiss Tomahawk early aircraft or Curtiss Kittyhawk later aircraft Packard Merlin engined aircraft originally allocated RAF name Warhawk but on service entry Kittyhawk name was applied as per later Allison engined variants Curtiss P 46 ordered by UK and allocated name Curtiss Kittyhawk 2 but aircraft and order later cancelled and name applied to later P 40 Tomahawks incorporating more powerful Allison V 1710 engine intended for P 46 Douglas DB 7 DB 19 French order 64 delivered to France Entered RAF service as Douglas Boston bomber or Douglas Havoc Intruder Night fighter Douglas DB 1 entered Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF service as Douglas Digby Douglas DC 2 several aircraft purchased by UK including DC 2 prototype ex TWA NC13301 and used in India 3 Fairchild PT 19 ordered for RCAF as Fairchild Cornell Grumman F4F French order entered Fleet Air Arm FAA service as Grumman Martlet later renamed Grumman Wildcat to match US service name Lockheed Hudson patrol bomber designed for RAF based on Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra Lockheed Ventura designed for RAF improved Hudson used as medium bomber and patrol bomber Lockheed Model 322A Model 322B Franco British order tested by RAF and given service name Lockheed Lightning but order later cancelled due to poor performance Glenn Martin Model 167 French order for bombers Approximately 215 of order delivered to France remainder to UK Entered RAF service as Martin Maryland Glenn Martin Model 187 Franco British order for improved Model 167 Entered RAF service as Martin Baltimore North American NA 64 P2 French order for 230 trainer aircraft 111 delivered before Fall of France Remainder taken over by Britain and entered service with RCAF as North American Yale North American NA 57 NA 66 Franco British order for improved NA 64 Harvard RAF service name North American Harvard North American NA 73 designed for RAF entered service as North American Mustang Northrop A 17 French order of 93 no recorded deliveries Transferred to UK declared obsolete transferred to South African Air Force SAAF for training allocated RAF service name Northrop Nomad Northrop N 3PB Norwegian order transferred to UK and used by Royal Norwegian Air Force RNoAF in exile in Little Norway Canada and Iceland 4 Vought Sikorsky 156 French order 40 delivered Another French order for 50 was later taken over by UK and the type entered limited Royal Navy RN service as Vought Sikorsky Chesapeake 5 Vultee P 66 Swedish order cancelled by US State Department after Invasion of Norway order taken over by Britain and given service name Vultee Vanguard but immediately after Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour all 144 aircraft built requisitioned by USAAC Vultee Model 72 designed for France order taken over and entered RAF service as Vultee Vengeance Directors General editArthur Blaikie Purvis 1941 Sir Clive Baillieu 1942Other staff of note editMary Norton 6 Wilfred Hill WoodSee also editBritish Security Co ordinationReferences edit Engel Leonard 5 December 1940 Half of Everything Flight XXXVIII 1667 472 retrieved 17 January 2015 The American Fighter Flight 15 May 1941 Archived from the original on 2016 08 04 Brooks Peter W 23 December 1960 The DC 3 is Twenty five Flight Vol 78 no 2702 p 984 Archived from the original on 2016 03 06 Retrieved 17 January 2015 American Production Flight Vol XXXVIII no 1646 11 July 1940 p 24 Archived from the original on 2016 03 06 Retrieved 17 January 2015 Engel Leonard 11 April 1940 Allied Purchases in USA Flight Vol XXXVII no 1633 p 329 Archived from the original on 2014 11 28 Retrieved 17 January 2015 Mary NortonFurther reading editBailey Gavin J 2013 The Arsenal of Democracy Aircraft Supply and the Evolution of the Anglo American Alliance 1938 1942 Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press ISBN 9780748649730 Duncan Hall H Wrigley C C 1956 Studies of Overseas Supply History of the Second World War Civil Series London HMSO Johnman Lewis Murphy Hugh 2002 The British Merchant Shipping Mission in the United States and British Merchant Shipbuilding in the Second World War The Northern Mariner 12 3 1 15 doi 10 25071 2561 5467 576 S2CID 247556627 External links editFlight article on BPC orders and American supplies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title British Purchasing Commission amp oldid 1183893916, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
