Convair B-32 Dominator
Technical Information
Background
 Designed by Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation
(Convair) as a very heavy bomber with the prototype designated the model 33. The B-32 Dominator had a large Davis wing and reversible-pitch inboard propellers for taxiing. Overall, the bomber was less sophisticated design as a alternative to the B-29 Superfortress that lacked cabin
pressurization or remote controlled gun turrets. The first prototype was armed with a 20mm cannon
plus .50 caliber machine guns that were omitted from the production variant.
By late 1944, U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) ordered a 1,5000 B-32s that were to be built at Consolidated-Vultee at Fort Worth, Texas. Without extensive flight testing, many experience mechanical problems. On September 8, 1945 the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) canceled the B-32 Dominator program with only 118 built and the remainder of the order was cancelled.
Wartime History
Fifteen B-32s were ferried overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) for tests and combat missions with the 386th Bombardment Squadron (386th BS) at Clark Field. They were the only squadron to operate the B-32 in combat combat during World War II.
Production
A total of 118 were built. Postwar, the majority of the B-32 Dominator bombers built were stored and scrapped at Kingman Field and Walnut Ridge Field, many directly from the Consolidated Vultee assembly line. On October 12, 1945 Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation ceased production. Afterwards, most B-32s were transfered to outdoor storage and scrapped at Kingman Field in Arizona and Walnut Ridge in Arkansas.
References
Consolidated B-32 Dominator by Joe Baugher
Dominator - The Story of the Consolidated B-32 Bomber by Stephen Harding and James Long
Rampage of the Roarin' 20's (2009) pages 303-307, 341
Technical Details
Crew Eight
Engine 4 x Wright
R-3350-23 Cyclone radial
Span 135'
Length 83' 1"
Height 3.86m
Maximum Speed 357 mph
Range 3,800 miles
Armament 10 x .50 caliber Browning M2 machine guns
Bomb Load 20,000 lbs.
|
