1942 BSA Paratrooper Bicycle
edited by David Barth, 6 June 2011.
Courtesy The Forney Museum of Transportation at 4303 Brighton Blvd., Denver,
Colorado 80216. Photos were taken in June 2011.
This bicycle was made in England by B.S.A. (Birmingham Small Arms) during World War II. It appears to have been painted gold color.
It was designed to be folded and dropped out of a plane with a parachute
on it. Then a paratrooper jumped out with his own parachute and followed the bicycle down. Upon landing, the paratrooper would retrieve the bicycle, unfold it,
and ride away.
B.S.A. (Birmingham Small Arms) was an independent bicycle manufacturer until sold to Raleigh in 1957. Originally an armaments company, its logo represents three
military rifles stacked in a tripod. B.S.A. was also a notable motorcycle manufacturer.
This military bicycle was donated by Robert McDaniel of the LaPlata Colorado Historical Society (Animas Museum) on 24 May 2003.
The exhibit number is 475.
