The B-32 was the last US heavy bomber to go into action during World War II, aircraft of this type flying a score or so of sorties before Japan surrendered. It was designed to the same specification as the Boeing B-29, considerably more development being necessary for the B-32. Pressurisation and remote control of the gun turrets were abandoned and the twin-ruddered B-24-type tail was replaced by a very large single fin and rudder on the B-32. The first of three prototypes flew on 7 September 1942. A total of 114 were built, powered by 1,639kW Wright R-3350-23 engines driving Curtiss Electric reversible-pitch four-blade propellers. Armament comprised ten 12.7mm machine-guns and up to 9,000kg of bombs.
FACTS AND FIGURES
� Despite having the same
powerplants as the B-29,
the B-32 had even more
trouble with engine fires
during development than
did the Superfortress.
� The B-32 had a similar Davis
high-speed wing to the B-24. In
many ways the Dominator was a
'Super Liberator', but failed to
approach that aircraft's success.
� The first prototypes had a
huge tailplane with twin fins.
Production examples had a
large single fin and rudder like
that on the PB4Y Privateer.
Consolidated B-32 Dominator on YOUTUBE
Specification
CREW
8
ENGINE
4 x Wright R-3350-23 Cyclon, 1641kW
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight
50576 kg
111502 lb
Empty weight
27339 kg
60272 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan
41.15 m
135 ft 0 in
Length
25.32 m
83 ft 1 in
Height
10.06 m
33 ft 0 in
Wing area
132.1 m2
1421.91 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed
575 km/h
357 mph
Ceiling
10670 m
35000 ft
Range w/max.fuel
6115 km
3800 miles
Range w/max payload
1287 km
800 miles
ARMAMENT
2 x 20mm cannons, 4 x 12.7mm machine-guns, 9072kg of bombs
Two of the pilots who flew first flight were still around last year and showed up during a B-24 reunion in Ft. Worth where they were built. The B-32 arrived in the Pacific only two weeks before the end of the war. Their footnote is that they conducted the last bombing mission of WWII and fought off some enemy aircraft, thus also taking part in the last air to air combat of the war.
I read somewhere that the last of these to come off the production line were flown immediately to the "bone yard" as surplus /scrap.
I've read elsewhere that "Dominator" was considered non-PC before that term was even invented. "Liberator" was a positive name; "Dominator" was seen as a negative, too-aggressive name. Go figure.
Despite comments that I have heard through the years, the B-32 was not that bad a machine. Lots of shortcomings but these could have been corrected early in its production. I was not a pilot on this airplane but did fly on it, not in combat. Have flown 13,000 hours as pilot since then.
