Although the B-18 was considered to be obsolete as a front-line bomber by the time that the U.S. entered World War II, a large number of these aircraft still made a valuable contribution as bomber crew trainers.
Klaatu83, e-mail, 24.04.2013 02:03
Air Corps bought this airplane in preference to the North American B-21 mainly because the B-18 was less a great deal expensive. The reason for that is not difficult to find: the B-21 was designed from scratch, while the B-18 was essentially adapted from Douglas' existing DC-3 commercial transport. The fuselages may be different, but a comparison of the sings and tail surfaces reveals that they are almost identical.
James Gallo, e-mail, 20.04.2013 22:33
Why did Douglas call it Bolo? Does anyone know which B-18B sunk a German U-Boat, the U-654 on 22 August 1942 in the Caribbean?
Ed Roache, e-mail, 22.11.2012 13:10
With the release of the Special Hobbies 1:72 scale kit of the B-18, I'm keen to build one that has some significance to Australia. I've found two photos so far of the 3 that escaped from the Philippines to Australia, but cannot see any serials. I'm assuming they were OD over NG and the stars had meatballs (from one photo), but any other info anyone can supply would be gratefully received. Thanks.
EJ
Bud Frazier, e-mail, 01.05.2012 02:07
The B 18 was the first bomber I worked on at Sarasoda, Fla contract maintanince school during the korean war.Had many catnaps in the bomb bay.Don't have the tail numbers . Would like to know where it went later.
deaftom, e-mail, 03.04.2011 05:58
Diana, there's a nicely restored B-18A in the Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, at Denver, Colorado. I'm not sure whether it's flyable or whether it has been permanently retired from flight; it certainly looks flight-ready.
Bob Rose, e-mail, 06.03.2011 17:26
I appreciate the clear illustrations. Was Radio Operator on these prior to the start of WWII. Pilots could land and takeoff from the scant SE US cow pastures of NC. The 13th Bomb Group was stationed at Orlando AB FL. No Basic Trainuing in those days. Went from enlistment point to the assigned unit.
Diana Streevey King, e-mail, 01.01.2011 20:24
Does anyone know if there are any restored B-18s that are flyable?
Dale Berkihiser, e-mail, 01.01.2011 10:26
I helped rivet them together in the fall of 1937 & into the spring of 1938. By buddy, Ted Lawson of the Book "30 seconds Over Tokyo", worked with hydraulics in the engine nacelles. I have lasted 93 years.
Don Safer, e-mail, 17.10.2010 21:08
There was a B-18 kept at the Hayward Airport (California) in 1959 when, as a 15 year old, I was taking photos. One photo of this B-18, aparently used as a sprayer, can be found on my donsafer dot com site.
Richard Rogers, e-mail, 08.02.2010 05:33
The B18 Jack Buckley is refering to was 4143B. It was damaged landing on the beach Chirikof island in 58 or early 59 and the high tide finished it. I flew it some but I worked for Sig Staveland at Arctic Air Cargo out of Anchorage. We had two others with a fiberglass pointed nose that we flew most of the time. 62477 and 1692M. 62477 is at the airforce museum in Ohio.
Joe Kline, e-mail, 07.01.2010 09:46
My dad was an aerial photographer with the 21st Reconnaissance Squadron in 1940-41 at Miami, Fl. They flew B-18's and he took some fantastic air to air shots of B-18's that I would be happy to share with this site.
chris, e-mail, 13.11.2009 01:11
I wount to build an rc plane of this aircraft. Can anyone sent me images.
Johnny Signor, e-mail, 04.08.2009 07:25
A question about an early B-10, I have a photocopy of a B-10 with an emblem on its nose I'm trying to get an ID of, the emblem is of an aircraft that appears to be a Douglas OA-4 type with Bird like wings raised above it,a boomb falling below it and on a disc divided by a land shape in lower half and a sky area above and there are stars in the "Alaskan" flag design shape/constellation, this emblem was on the nose and in front of the aircraft are pilots/crewman wearing a patch of the 30th Bomb sqd which was with the 19th Bomb group and another B-10 in background with same emblem on it's nose, anyone who knows this emblem Please contact me at my e mail WeBeEmblems@aol.com thank you very much !!!! it would have been in the late 30's very early 40's ?
Jack F. Buckley, e-mail, 19.08.2008 00:26
When I lived in Homer, Alaska in the early 1950s there was a B18 that flew from Anchorage to Chirikof Island (near Kodiak) and flew loads of dressed beef back. He would stop and Homer now and then for fuel. The pilot was named Sig Staveland and was later killed while making a GCA approach to Kodiak in an AeroCommander. He once told me that he had landed the B18 in Seldovia but I had a hard time landing there in a PA18 so I really never believed that story.
Kenneth L. Ross, e-mail, 26.05.2008 22:41
My first bomb droped as a cadet on 11-11-42 was from a B18 at 4000'. Was at advanced bombardier school in San Angelo, TX. A great training plane. Slow and steady, if I recall it took about 30 minutes to get to bombing altitude of 400' above target. A Capt. Adams was the pilot. I later graduated and became an instructor.
Arthur E. Sevigny, e-mail, 13.03.2008 19:45
That bomber would have been from the 7th Bomb Group. Tail markings at the time were: first letter type of unit IE: B for bomber. Second letter coresponded to the units number so G is the 7th letter thus 7th Bomb Group and two was the individual number assigned to the aircraft. Must have happened in 1937 or 38. Unit only had the B-18 1937-1940. They were based at Hamilton Fld, CA at that time
Chris Rathbun, e-mail, 15.09.2007 02:29
We have a B18 Bolo, serial #36-446, of the 11th Bombardment Group which crashed due to engine failure February 25, 1941, sitting in a gulch on our property in Hawai'i. We are trying to decide what to do with this plane. I would be happy to hear any input or comments, and better, any information anyone has on this particular plane. Even more valuable would be information on the location of parts taken off the plane, as restoration is a probability.
Thanks, Chris
Rick Helmboldt, e-mail, 24.04.2007 04:51
I am trying to find info on a B-18 that crash landed in a field at Umpqua, Oregon in the 1930's Tail markings were BG2 They lost one engine and belly landed. They had a engine or maybe both shipped to our area and were able to take off from the field and continue on to Seattle I think. I think my dad told me this was in 1935 or 1936. Any info on this plane or where I could find some on this specific plane would be greatly apprecited.
Thank you, Rick Helmboldt
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