B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (2024)

B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (2)


History and Development of the B-32 Dominator

B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (3)
Consolidated XB-32 Dominator 41-141 with twin-tail

The U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) envisioned, even before the start of World War II, a replacement bomber for the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Consolidated B-24 Liberator with higher speed, longer range, more bomb load and more defensive armament.

Thus, in 1939, the USAAF issued specifications for a super heavy bomber, and in 1940, issued contracts for preliminary design to four major aircraft companies. These aircraft were designated as Boeing XB-29, Lockheed XB-30, Douglas XB-31 and Consolidated XB-32. The XB-29 was chosen as the winner.

B-32 Dominator Design

The Consolidated B-32 Dominator was a four-engined heavy bomber ordered by the Army Air Force at the same time as the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. In reality, the B-32 was a fall-back aircraft in the event that the complex, technology-laden B-29 did not meet its expectations as the nation's premier heavy bomber of World War II.

The Dominator's original design was similar to Consolidated's existing bomber, the B-24 Liberator, in that it used twin fins and a large Davis-type wing; but it featured with a longer, rounder fuselage and a rounded nose.

B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (4)
Consolidated B-32-1-CF Dominator (S/N 42-108471)

The first B-32 mockups were built in December of 1940, a year before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The first XB-32 airplane was completed on September 1, 1942, six months behind schedule. Mechanical problems such as engine fires and collapsed landing gears plagued the testing of the aircraft. Although a contract was awarded to Consolidated for the production of 300 B-32s, some in the USAAF were in favor of cancellation of the entire program.

Although the B-32 was designed to the same specifications as the Boeing B-29, considerably more development was necessary by Consolidated to meet the USAAF's specifications. Pressurization and remote control of the gun turrets were abandoned and the twin-ruddered B-24-type tail was replaced in 1944 by a very large B-29-type single fin and rudder.

The B-32 was powered by four Wright R-3350-23 Duplex Cyclone 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines with two turbochargers. The aircraft included space for up to 10 crew members, similar to Consolidated's B-24 Liberator.

By 1944 testing of the three B-32 prototypes had progressed to the point that the USAAF placed orders for over 1,500 Dominators. The first B-32 aircraft were completed in September of 1944, but production delays at Consolidated persisted.

During the design, development and production of the Dominator, its creator, the Consolidated Aircraft Company, merged in 1943 with the Vultee Aircraft Company. The resulting company became to be "Convair" (first unofficially, and then officially).

B-32 Dominator Specifications

Armament: 10 .50-cal. machine guns plus 20,000 lbs. of bombs (maximum)
Engines: Four Wright R-3350-23 Cyclone radials of 2,200 hp each (takeoff power)
Maximum speed: 357 mph at 30,000 ft.
Cruising speed: 290 mph
Range: 3,000 miles with 10,000 lbs. bomb load
Service ceiling: 30,700 ft.
Span: 135 ft. 0 in.
Length: 82 ft. 1 in.
Height: 32 ft. 2 in.
Weight: 100,000 lbs. (design gross weight)
Crew: 10

The B-32 Dominator Bomber in World War II

In the end, the B-32's testing and production problems resulted in limited availability, and consequently the bomber saw little action during WWII. An airplane conceived in 1939 was not ready for war action until mid-1945. The success of the B-29 Superfortress also gave lesser importance to the B-32 program.

B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (5)
Consolidated TB-32 Dominator at Hickam Field, Hawaii

The Dominator was built in small numbers and used in only a very few combat actions during the last few weeks of World War II. The 386th Bomb Squadron completed B-32 transition in July of 1945 and flew six operational combat missions before the end of the war. Following the August 9, 1945, bombing of Nagasaki, the 386th conducted photo reconnaissance missions and were attacked by flak and Japanese fighters. Two Dominators were damaged.

The last B-32 combat mission was also for photo reconnaissance and was completed on August 28, 1945. The 386th Bomb Squadron was ordered to cease combat operations two days later. Cancellation of the B-32 program came on September 8, 1945, and production of Dominators was halted on October 12.

B-32 Bomber Production Numbers

At the time of cancellation of the contract by the USAAF, Consolidated Fort Worth had produced 74 B-32s and 40 TB-32s, and San Diego had built one aircraft.

A total of 300 B-32s were ordered, but only 118 were delivered to the USAAF. A total of 130 were flyable, and 170 more cancelled.

Orders for an additional 1,099 B-32-CFs and 499 B-32-COs were cancelled after VJ-Day.

The table shown below represents a recap of B-32 Dominator production by model, and by manufacturing plant. Numbers represent our best research on the subject; there are minor variations in numbers reported by other sources and outlets.

B-32 Model

Consolidated
San Diego (CO)

Consolidated
Fort Worth (CF)

Total
Number Built

XB-32

3

3

B-32

1

74

75

TB-32

40

40

TOTAL

4

114

118

Disposal and Scrapping of the B-32 Dominator after World War II

After VJ-Day, the surviving B-32 aircraft were ordered to return to the United States for storage. Flyable aircraft at Consolidated factories were flown directly to scrap yards at Kingman Army Airfield in Arizona, Walnut Ridge in Arkansas and Davis-Monthan in Tucson. All partially built B-32s were scrapped at the Consolidated assembly plant in Fort Worth.

By 1947, most of B-32 airplanes that had been sent to the disposal centers had been scrapped. The last remaining B-32 was scrapped in the summer of 1949.

B-32 Surviving Aircraft

B-32-1-CFS/N 42-108474was designated for display at the Air Force Museum, but was unaccountably declared excess and scrapped at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson in August of 1949.

Thus, no surviving B-32 airframes exist today. Only a small inventory of B-32 parts such as gun turrets remain in existence.

USAF B-32 Dominator Photos

Consolidated TB-32 Dominator assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas

B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (6)

Consolidated B-32-1-CF (S/N 42-108471)

B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (7)

Consolidated B-32 Dominator in flight

B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (8)

Consolidated TB-32 Dominator in flight

B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (9)

Consolidated TB-32 Dominators parked on apron

B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (10)

Convair B-32 Dominator bombers stored at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, after World War II
(Photo by the Walnut Ridge Army Flying School Museum)

B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (11)

Convair B-32 Dominator bombers stored at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, after World War II
(Photo by the Walnut Ridge Army Flying School Museum)

B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (12)

Convair B-32 Dominator bombers stored at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, after World War II
(Photo by the Walnut Ridge Army Flying School Museum)

B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (13)

Convair B-32 Dominator bombers stored at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, after World War II
(Photo by the Walnut Ridge Army Flying School Museum)

B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (14)


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B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII (2024)

FAQs

B-32 Dominator Bomber of WWII? ›

The Consolidated B-32 Dominator (Consolidated Model 34) was an American heavy strategic bomber built for United States Army Air Forces

United States Army Air Forces
The Army Air Forces was created in June 1941 to provide the air arm greater autonomy in which to expand more efficiently, to provide a structure for the additional command echelons required by a vastly increased force, and to end an increasingly divisive administrative battle within the Army over control of aviation ...
https://en.wikipedia.org › United_States_Army_Air_Forces
during World War II, which had the distinction of being the last Allied aircraft to be engaged in combat during World War II; that engagement also resulted in the last American to die ...

Was the B-32 better than the B-29? ›

It was more technologically advanced than either the B-17 or B-24 and not prone to engine fires like the B-29, wrongly called “the most advanced bomber of World War II.” That title rightly belongs to the B-32 with its four, 2,200-hp engines, pressurized crew cabin, seven remote-controlled guns, and the ability to carry ...

What was the most feared bomber in ww2? ›

Junkers Ju87 Widely known as the “Stuka”, the Ju87 was one of the most feared aircraft during World War Two. It had a fearsome siren which terrified those who heard it.

How many B-32s were built? ›

B-32 Bomber Production Numbers

A total of 300 B-32s were ordered, but only 118 were delivered to the USAAF. A total of 130 were flyable, and 170 more cancelled. Orders for an additional 1,099 B-32-CFs and 499 B-32-COs were cancelled after VJ-Day.

What was the most successful bomber of WWII? ›

One of the best known airplanes of World War II, the B-25 bomber was also one of the most flown, most versatile, and most successful of all the combat planes of the era.

Has a B-29 ever been shot down? ›

The USAAF lost about 360 B-29 Superfortresses during WW2 to all causes, ie. enemy action, operational accidents, et al. The Japanese shot down under half of that number, approximately 160 plus. Incredibly the rest were due to accidents, crashing upon take off or more rarely on landing.

How many B-29 bombers were shot down in the Korean War? ›

Contents. Officially, 34 B-29s were lost during the Korean War: 16 were destroyed by fighter aircraft, 14 by other causes, and four by anti-aircraft weapons. The B-29 bombers performed 21,000 missions, dropped 167,000 tons of bombs, and only took 26 days off from combat throughout the conflict.

What plane had the most kills in WWII? ›

Vought F4U Corsair

Complex Says: Claiming an 11-to-one kill ratio, the Corsair is widely considered to be the most successful fighter of WWII. The Japanese nicknamed it “Whistling Death,” due to its distinct engine noise.

What was the deadliest fighter plane in WW2? ›

The Bf 109 was produced in vast quantities, with a total of 34,248 being built until April 1945. With such a huge number being active in the skies over Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean, it is also the fighter plane with the most kills in history.

What was the easiest fighter to fly in WW2? ›

The Grumman F6F Hellcat is often recognized as one of the easiest US Navy fighter planes to fly and land during World War II.

How many B-24 were shot down in WWII? ›

During World War II, approximately 14,000 B-24 Liberators were produced. Over 6,000 of them were lost in combat or operational accidents. Many were shot down by enemy fire, while others were lost due to various reasons such as mechanical failures, accidents, or non-combat-related incidents.

How fast was the B-32 bomber? ›

Both the B-29 and B-32 used Wright's powerful but persnickety R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone 18-cylinder radial engines, driving four large four-bladed propellers. Both were fully-pressurized, could carry up to 20,000 pounds of bombs, and maxed out at around 357 miles per hour.

Were WWII bombers pressurized? ›

With remote-controlled guns, pressurized cabins, and powerful engines, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress became the most advanced bomber of its day.

What was the worst bomber of World War II? ›

88 Lince or “Lynx.” The Lynx was so bad it sometimes couldn't even fly. The Italians became frustrated in World War Two, and they simply kept it on the ground to fool the allies and make it look like they had overwhelming numbers of airplanes.

How many B-17s were lost in WWII? ›

In addition, air crews liked the B-17 for its ability to withstand heavy combat damage and still return its crew safely home. Between 1935 and May of 1945, 12,732 B-17s were produced. Of these aircraft, 4,735 were lost during combat missions. Today, fewer than 100 B-17 airframes exist.

What bomber crew flew the most missions in WWII? ›

All told, Flak-Bait flew 200 combat missions, plus six decoy operations, for a grand total of 206 flights. The only bomber to fly more missions was an RAF Mosquito known as F for Freddie, which made it 213 times over enemy territory.

What is the difference between the B-29 and the b36? ›

The XB-36 was 162 feet, ½ inch (49.390 meters) long with a wing span of 230 feet (70.104 meters), nearly 90 feet longer than that of the B-29 Superfortress that it would replace. Its height was 46 feet, 9-7/8 inches (14.272 meters) to the tip of the vertical fin.

Was the B-29 better than the b17? ›

The B-29, or Superfortress, as it was called, was designed to operate faster, at higher altitudes, and with heavier bomb loads than its predecessor, the B-17 Flying Fortress. B-29 Super Fortress, 1955. Library of Congress.

Was the B-29 a good bomber? ›

The B-29 Superfortress was the most capable bomber of World War II. It could carry more payload and fly faster and at higher altitudes than contemporary types such as the Boeing B-17, Consolidated B-24, or Avro Lancaster.

What was the successor of the Boeing B-29? ›

The B-50, the last propeller-driven bomber delivered to the U.S. Air Force, made its initial flight on June 25, 1947. Basically an improved version of the B-29, this aircraft's large number of modifications caused its redesignation as the B-50.

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