Too Little, Too Late - The B-32 Dominator

[FLYBOYJ]

Good info KK - from the text....

No surplus B-32s were ever sold to foreign air forces, and the aircraft's complexity and reputation for mechanical unreliability made it unattractive on the postwar commercial market. There is only example in which a commercial customer showed any interest in a surplus B-32. In June 1947, Milton J. Reynolds, a pen manufacturer, announced that he was planning to buy a surplus B-32 for a round-the-world flight over both poles, but this plan was never carried out.

 

[evangilder]

Now there was a bright idea...

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Now there was a bright idea...

What do expect from a pen manufacturer?

 

[cheddar cheese]

Pen manufacturer eh? 2 letters short of a manhood, if you know what I mean

 

[evangilder]

He lost his pencil, but he knows where his pen is...

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Aviation Art by Stan Stokes....

He is selling prints at http://store.yahoo.com/airplanepictures/hqubdoavartp.html

Story and picture are from the Yahoo site publicly advertised

Situation: The B-32 Dominator was produced by Consolidated Aircraft in parallel with Boeing's development of the B-29 Superfortress. While both of these long-range heavy strategic bomber development programs encountered some difficulties, the B-29 was completed sooner, and was ordered in far larger quantities than the B-32. About one hundred Dominators were ultimately built and the aircraft saw some service very late in WW II. Powered by the same engines as the B-29, the B-32 had a distinctive very tall stabilizer. Four B-32s from the 386th BS of the 312th BG based at Yontan, Okinawa were given a three-day photoreconnaissance mission near the end of the War. On the third day of the mission, August 18, 1945, two aircraft were forced to turn back and only two aircraft, the Hobo Queen and the Hobo Queen II made it to Japan. The mission involved photographing an area north and east of Tokyo. The aircraft were unescorted, as the War was over for all practical purposes over. As the two aircraft prepared to head home they were jumped by a large group of Japanese fighters including Imperial Navy A6M2 Zeros and Army Ki44 Tojos. The first attacks occurred at 1:30 PM while the aircraft were at 20,000 feet. The enemy planes made ten passes on the Hobo Queen II with little or no damage. About twenty-five passes were made at the Hobo Queen, which was under the command of Lt. John R. Anderson. Seven passes were made at the tail of the B-32 and one of the attackers blew-up. One fighter pass was made at the ball turret from below with no success, and another six were made at the forward upper turret. About six more were made at the nose turret position, and several more at the upper rear turret. Another enemy fighter blew up, and a third was scene going down smoking. The pilots went to full mix and full throttle and power-dived the B-32 from 20,000 to 10,000 feet. The Hobo Queen absorbed a lot of damage during these attacks. The radioman got the Hobo Queen II to regroup with the badly damaged Hobo Queen to provide some cover. Three men were wounded including Sgt. Anthony J. Marchione, SSgt. Joseph M. Lacharite, and Sgt. John T. Houston. Marchione and Lacharite were at the camera hatch at the rear of the aircraft when that section of the plane was riddled. Both men were hit. Despite his own wounds, SSgt. Lacharite began administering first aid to Marchione, but a second fighter pass wounded Marchione again. Despite the valiant efforts of his crewmates to keep him alive, Marchione passed away at 2:00PM. Sgt. Marchione may have been the last USAAF combat casualty of the War. SSgt. Chevalier administered first aid to SSgt. Lacharite during the long ride home. Despite being unable to bank his aircraft due a feathered prop, Lt. Anderson got the Hobo Queen down successfully.

 

[DaveB.inVa]

I've got the book "Dominator: Story of the Consolidated B-32" by Harding and Long. It is an excellent book that goes into a fair amount of detail about the technical specs of the bomber as well as a great amount of rare pictures. From this book it shows 118 examples produced and 18 missions this book also states that the 290 mph figure is normal cruise while its most economical cruise is 200 mph. In comparison economical cruise for a B-29 was 220 mph with max cruise at 342 mph. (These are from the Baugher site). Most missions were completed by the aircraft called "Hobo Queen II" and "The Lady is Fresh". Some aircraft reviews are in the book as well. Some bad reviews are present but most are good. One stated that the B-32 was an excellent stable bombing platform and advised a go ahead with production.

To quote the pilot of 529 "The Lady is Fresh" Colonel Cook: "The bomb load which can be carried by the B-32 is roughly two and one half times that of the B-24. The number of ground and air personnel required per plane is the same for B-32 groups as for B-24 groups. This means that, based on effort and hazard to personnel and equipment, the airplane has a 250 percent efficiency advantage over the B-24. All personnel in the theater have recognized this fact. In addition, the airplane is about fifty miles per hour faster and has range capabilities greatly exceeding that of the B-24."



The B-32 was unique in that it was the first production aircraft with reversible pitch propellers and at the time had the largest propellers on a production aircraft. The propellers were 16' 8" Curtiss Electric units and on the B-32 the inner two propellers could be reversed for braking during landing. They had a broader blade than the 16' 7" Hamilton - Standard hydraulic units on the B-29.

The Curtiss Electric reversible pitch props used on Silverplate B-29's came directly from the B-32 program and were chosen because of their broader chord and primarily because they were able to be reversed. The Silverplate B-29's however were able to reverse all four propellers instead of only the inner two like the B-32.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Interesting stuff! 2.5x the efficiency over the B-24, the most widely used, most numerous produced US bomber! As many could throw up "what ifs" with advanced German and Japanese fighter aircraft that "could of" made a difference, I see the B-32 as a "what if" to the "what ifs!"

Found some more B-32 stuff. The top pic is actually Hobo Queen II. She was scrapped on Okinawa in 1946

 

[evangilder]

Wow, looking at the production line and the amount of airplanes in there, that building must have been HUGE!

 

[FLYBOYJ]

I think that's in either San Diego or Fort Worth.

 

[evangilder]

I remember the Sacramento ALC when I was in the air force was enormous as well. They had at least a dozen B-52s in there for retrofits years ago and there was still room for more! That place was cavernous!

 

[FLYBOYJ]

12 -52s under one roof! Amazing!

I think that B-32 production line is San Diego - I drove by there the other day, it looks like Lockheed-Martin has the sitre now. USAF Plant 19.

 

[DaveB.inVa]

San Diego is correct. Only the first 3 Dominators were produced at Ft. Worth.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Thanks Dave, I know you got the book. I'm going to try to get a copy.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I always liked the Dominator. It reminded me of a B-24 combined with a B-29 and a Privateer. All rolled into one!

 

[cheddar cheese]

I just think it looks like a B-26 with 4 engines and a longer fuelage.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Good point CC!

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

yeah it does i suppose.......

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yeah now that I think about it does.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

A very BIG B-26!