The Great Lakes Aircraft Company, who had previously built 18 TG-1 and 32 TG-2 variants of the Martin T4M,[1] received an order from the U.S. Navy for a prototype two seat dive bomber capable of carrying a 1,000 lb (454 kg) bomb in 1933.

[2] (This compared with contemporary Scout Bombers such as the Vought SBU and the Curtiss SBC Helldiver, also capable of dive bombing, which had bombloads of 500 lb (227 kg)).

The aircraft was powered by a 750 hp (560 kW) Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp Junior radial engine.

[3][4] The BG-1 entered service in October 1934, equipping VB-3B (later re-designated VB-4) aboard the carriers Ranger and Lexington.

[8] Data from United States Navy Aircraft since 1914 [7]General characteristics Performance Armament