Douglas XB-42
Although best known for its role as a nuclear delivery
vehicle over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Boeing's
B-29
Superfortress was a technological marvel in its own right when
first flown, incorporating such advanced features as pressurization and
remotely-controlled gun turrets. However, even with a world war raging,
it was recognized that the Superfortress was a very expensive design to
build and maintain, and some thought was given to procuring a less
costly aircraft as a supplement. At the time, Douglas was designing a
radical new attack type, the XA-42, that was potentially adaptable for
use as a heavy bomber, and this was redesignated as the XB-42.
A very clean design with shoulder-mounted wings and
side-by-side seating for the pilot and copilot, the XA-42 had a pusher
configuration, using a pair of internally-mounted Allison V-1710
engines to turn contra-rotating propellers on the tail. A sizeable
warload of 8,000lbs could be carried in the bomb bay; this was less
than half the maximum capacity of the B-29, but the Mixmaster was also
to be capable of flying at over 400 mph, and with lighter bombloads a
range of 5,000 miles was projected.
The first prototype XB-42, as
rebuilt with underwing Westinghouse turbojets (USAF photo)
The Mixmaster's fairly compact size and unusual
configuration did not lend itself to the fitting of heavy defensive
armament. but a few guns were worked into the design. Since no tail
turret was possible, rearward protection took the form of two pairs of
backward-facing .50-calibers fitted on the wings between the flaps and
the ailerons. Initially, the XB-42 had separate "bug eve" canopies for
the pilot and copilot, similar to those of the C-74 Globemaster and
never-built XB-31 heavy bomber. The bombardier/navigator was given
a clear plastic nose for bomb-aiming.
The first XB-42 flight took place on May 6, 1944. Despite
problems with vibration, the Mixmaster's performance lived up to
expectations, and indeed the design proved to be the fastest American
bomber of the wear. One additional aircraft was built, flying in August
1944. This had a more conventional single canopy and more powerful -129
engines, but was lost in a crash several months later. Just prior to
being lost, the second prototype completed a record-setting
cross-country flight, averaging 433.6 mph between Long Beach,
California and Boiling Field near Washington, D.C.
despite its potential, the Mixmaster arrived as the end of the war was
almost in sight, and since great numbers of more conventional aircrfat
were either on hand or on order, no operational B-42s were to be
bought. Although deprived of the chance to see action, the Mixmaster
did not immediately fade away postwar. The remaining prototype was put
through a modification that saw it emerge in 1947 with V-1710-13
engines and a pair of Westinghouse 19-XB turbojets in underwing pods.
It flew in this configuration for several more years, and was later
donated to the National Air and Space Museum. The XB-42 design also
lead directly to the XB-43
Jetmaster.
copyright
2009 Dataview Publishing