Consolidated B-32 Dominator (2024)

Comprehensive History of the B-32 Dominator

United Aircraft maintains an existing relationship with the U.S. military in supplying large multi-engine bomber types - their most classic WWII design became the PBY "Caterina" flying boat, which was a huge success throughout the conflict. With the development of the wartime Boeing B-29 "Superfortress" heavy bomber, it seems that all the eggs of the US Army Air Force (formerly the US Army Air Forces) are in this basket, and there is no way to develop another heavy bomber. one step. , if the Boeing product is not delivered within the expected time frame.

USAAC approached Consolidated to fill the void, and this work resulted in Consolidated's "Type 33" aircraft.

Joint engineers return with a very modern heavy bomber design that utilizes everything previously learned in the development and operation of the heavy B-24 Liberator and its airship. A tubular, streamlined fuselage was chosen with a glass nose and a stepped co*ckpit for good interior visibility. The wings were mounted high on the sides of the fuselage, each carrying twin radial piston engines in bottom-mounted nacelles. The empennage tapers the fuselage in the normal way, placing a biplane rudder assembly along a single horizontal support plane at the tail - similar to the fins seen on the B-24 before.

The engineslarge Wright R-3350 models, each producing 2,200 horsepowerare the same ones designed for the future B-29. Because the new Joint Heavy is to perform bombing missions at high altitudes, the aircraft must be fully pressurized, requiring specialized airborne systems.

No less than fourteen defensive machine guns were envisaged to protect the aircraft and crew - these were mounted on remote-controlled, retractable turret units controlled by periscopes.

The United States Army Air Force (USAAF), satisfied with the offer, signed a pair of XB-32 prototypes. When completed, these prototypes lacked many of the features that would have appeared in a standardized production form, including the pressurization system and all machine gun armament. Engine cooling issues and leaks proved common, which only delayed the plane during development, and progress on a competing B-29 product proved to be an equally daunting proposition.

The XB-32 first flew on September 7, 1942, but crashed the following year.

A second prototype followed, this time with a large circular single vertical stabilizer - a shape similar to the one in the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" and the upcoming B-29 product line shape. The pressurization issue meant that the aircraft was now relegated to a low-to-mid-altitude bombardment role, allowing engineers to forgo the destructive function entirely. Problems remained with the proposed remote-controlled weapons, which were also phased out - replaced by traditional manned electric turrets.

A second XB-32 followed, airborne on November 3, 1943.

The completed B-32 carried a 10 x .50 caliber Browning heavy machine gun defense array. The aircraft was fitted with a Sperry twin-gun electro-hydraulic spherical turret (this arrangement was retractable) and two Martin twin-gun electric rear turrets in the nose and belly.

A third Sperry Ball turret with two guns was mounted aft to protect the aircraft from trailing interceptors. Its bomb load reaches 20,000 pounds of conventional throwing weapons. It has a crew of ten. With its streamlined shape and 18-cylinder Wright series radial engine, the aircraft reaches speeds of 360 mph, flies at 290 mph, has a range of 3,800 miles, and has a top speed of 30,700 feet per minute to 1,050 feet per minute rate of climb.

A competing B-29 will show similar numbers during its more historic service.

As 1944 approached, the USAF ordered 1,500 bombers, designated the B-32 "Dominator". The first of these was not delivered until September of the same year, for which the B-29 has been in service for nearly half a year. By December, additional B-32 deliveries were limited, while B-29s grew in numbers and proved to be a successful design for Japan.

The official introduction of the B-32 did not occur until late January 1945, and the line was eventually operated by the 312th Bomb Group and the 386th Bomb Squadron (Heavy).

Mechanical problems plagued the Dominator's short career - unresolved problems with her engines, which caused fires in flight, and a landing gear weakness that caused it to collapse. Despite these shortcomings, the aircraft entered service and was first encountered on May 29, 1945, during an attack on a Japanese supply battalion in Luzon. The airframe proved to be a suitable bombing platform, and the crew enjoyed modern onboard accommodation - despite complaints about engine noise in the co*ckpit and criticism of the dashboard layout.

Defensive weapons were praised as very good, and the aircraft's major systems were easily field repairable by ground crews.

In any case, with the apparent no longer needed for heavy backup bombers, only 118 B-32s were procured in total, well below the 1,500 originally planned. Production was discontinued in 1945, the Japanese surrender was imminent in mid-August, and the B-32 production line was officially retired as early as August 30 of that yeara footnote in the history of U.S. military aviation.

It was never exported or moved into a second-tier role like other large aircraft of the period, and some notable variants were developed, including the "TB-32" crew trainer, which over time produced several child variant. Active duty B-32 crews were transferred to B-29s once Boeing production reached the number required by the USAF, and many B-32s under construction were simply scrapped at the end of the war - none are protected today Museum or private owner.

Comprehensive B-32 Dominator Specification

Basic

Year:

1945

Status:

Retired, out of service

Staff:

10

Production

[118 units]:

United Aircraft Corporation - United States

Roles

Dimensions

Length:

83.01 ft (25.3 m)

Width:

135.17 ft (41.2 m)

Height:

10.1m

Weight

Curb Weight:

27,000 kg

MTOW:

45,000 kg

(Difference: +39.683lb)

Performance

4 x Wright R-3350-23 Duplex Cyclone 18-cylinder air-cooled turbocharged radial piston engines, 2,200 hp each, driving a four-blade propeller unit.

Performance

Maximum Speed:

357 mph (575 km/h; 310 knots)

Service Limit:

36,089 ft (11,000 m; 6.84 mi)

Maximum range:

2,992 miles (4,815 km; 2,600 nautical miles)

Rate of climb:

658 ft/min (201 m/min)

Armor

Changes

XB-32 - Prototype model designation; 3 copies made; 8 x 12.7mm machine guns in dorsal and ventral turrets, 2 x 12.7mm machine guns/20mm rear gun assemblies per outboard nacelle and external Additional 12.7-mm machine gun.