The PG-1 was intended to fulfill both ground strafing and aerial defense roles, the contract for construction was won by Aeromarine in May 1921.

The upper wing was mounted close to the top of the fuselage with a cut-away forward section to accommodate the cockpit, and attached to the lower plane via V-type struts.

[1] Power was to have been provided by the eight-cylinder, water-cooled 330 hp (250 kW) Wright K-2 engine but the first two prototypes were fitted with 346 hp (258 kW) Packard 1A-1116 units due to delays in clearing the K-2 for flight testing.

[1] A third prototype was also built and testing was eventually carried out using both the K-2 and Packard 1A-1237 at McCook Field.

[1] Prototype aircraft suffered disappointing performance, high levels of vibration and poor visibility.