Consolidated B-32 Dominator
1942
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Consolidated B-32 Dominator

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.

Consolidated B-32 Dominator


Specification 
 CREW8
 ENGINE4 x Wright R-3350-23 Cyclon, 1641kW
 WEIGHTS
    Take-off weight50576 kg111502 lb
    Empty weight27339 kg60272 lb
 DIMENSIONS
    Wingspan41.15 m135 ft 0 in
    Length25.32 m83 ft 1 in
    Height10.06 m33 ft 0 in
    Wing area132.1 m21421.91 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
    Max. speed575 km/h357 mph
    Ceiling10670 m35000 ft
    Range w/max.fuel6115 km3800 miles
    Range w/max.payload1287 km800 miles
 ARMAMENT2 x 20mm cannons, 4 x 12.7mm machine-guns, 9072kg of bombs

3-View 
Consolidated B-32 DominatorA three-view drawing (700 x 898)

Comments 
R.Hunt, Greg(@)greghunt.freeserve.co.uk, 03.11.2008

also had the last american to be killed in the sky

Ray E. Cartier, atadir(@)sbcglobal.net, 07.05.2008

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.

Ross Rainwater, r-rainwater(@)juno.com, 26.04.2008

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.

david frank, stanleydsf(@)aol.com, 16.04.2008

1 are there any in historical collections?
2 was it inferior to B29Gs in range?

Eugene Roth, genorsuprema(@)sbcglobal.net, 18.03.2008

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.

Eugene Moser, EMoser731(@)aol.com, 22.10.2007

I know where a gun turrent is for this plane. Twin 50's I think.

erniecourier@aol.com, 14.11.2006

The B-32 my Older brother was on in WW2 had 10 .50 Cal mg no 20MM cannon.

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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.



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