Interesting aircraft. The Fairchild 91 amphibian was the result of a requirement by Pan American Airways for an aircraft to work the internal South American routes. Seven initial airframes were ordered by Pan American, however the order was cancelled after only 2 airframes had been delivered. These two aircraft operated in the Amazon basin with Panair do Brasil until 1945, when they were stripped of useful equipment and scrapped. Of the five remaining airframes two were sold to the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force, the other three aircraft being sold to private interests. One aircraft led a very clandestine existence in that it was purchased by Spanish Republican interests to be used in the war in Spain against the Nationalists. It was however intercepted by the Nationalists during delivery and pressed into service with their Air Force against the Republicans. One aircraft found its way into RAF service during WWII as serial HK832 but was lost in mid 1943 in Egypt after hitting a submerged object.