Pitcairn PA-39 autogyros - Fleet Air Arm

[Stig Jarlevik]

Our friend Geoffrey Sinclair offers the following

According to Air Arsenal North America, Pitcairn Autogiro PA-34A, the
PA-39 was a proposed larger 2 seater version. BW828 to 834 with BW828,
831 and 832 lost at sea in the Scottish Trader on 6 December 1941,
spares had been lost with the Silver Cedar weeks earlier. Meant for the
RN, BW829 and 830 used as such in USA for things like deck landing
trials on escort carriers and merchant ships, then sold to G&A Aircraft
(formerly Pitcairn) 5 November 1943. BW833 and 834 arrived in Britain.

Britain reports importing 2 Autogiro in November 1941.

The RAF Serial Registers have BW828 to 830 lost at sea 19 January 1942,
blank entries for BW831 and 832, BW833 on charge 18 January 1942,
Category E 19 November 1942, BW834 on charge 31 December 1941, Category
E 8 June 1942.

The USAAF reports 7 G&A R-390 accepted in October 1941 with 2 delivered
and exported, 3 more delivered and exported in November, all under
contract BR-5012.

B Rgds
Geoffrey