British Purchasing Commission
Encyclopedia
The British Purchasing Commission was a United Kingdom
organization 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.
The Board was able to arrange purchases in spite of the Neutrality Acts, paying for the materiel
with Britain's Gold Reserve
s.
The Board had been established before the war buying aircraft such as the Lockheed Super Electra
.
Facing an airplane 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.
The requests by the Board to US manufacturers stimulated production and design including the development of what would become the P-51 Mustang
.
After the establishment of Lend-Lease
, aircraft and other weapons could be supplied direct to the UK.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
organization of the Second World War.
Also known at some time as the "Anglo-French Purchasing Board", it was based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where it arranged the production and purchase of armaments from North American manufacturers.
The Board was able to arrange purchases in spite of the Neutrality Acts, paying for the materiel
Materiel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
with Britain's Gold Reserve
Gold Reserve
Gold Reserve Inc. is a gold mining company with operations and mining property in Bolivar State, Venezuela.Founded in 1956, Gold Reserve Inc. is now headquartered in Spokane, Washington. The company has about ten employees at its Washington office and about 55 in Venezuela. Of these 55,...
s.
The Board had been established before the war buying aircraft such as the Lockheed Super Electra
Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Francillon, René J. Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-835-6.-External links:*...
.
Facing an airplane shortage during the early stages of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in January 1940, the British government established the British Direct Purchase Commission to purchase US planes that would help supplement domestic plane production.
The requests by the Board to US manufacturers stimulated production and design including the development of what would become the P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
.
After the establishment of Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease was the program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, Free France, and other Allied nations with materiel between 1941 and 1945. It was signed into law on March 11, 1941, a year and a half after the outbreak of war in Europe in...
, aircraft and other weapons could be supplied direct to the UK.
Aircraft bought by the Commission
- P-39 Airacobra
- P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
- Brewster BuffaloBrewster BuffaloThe Brewster F2A Buffalo was an American fighter aircraft which saw limited service early in World War II. Though the Buffalo won a competition against the Grumman F4F Wildcat in 1939 to become the US Navy's first monoplane fighter aircraft, it turned out to be a big disappointment...
- Curtiss P-40Curtiss P-40The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
- Lockheed HudsonLockheed HudsonThe Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...