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.
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.
