Douglas XB-42 (Prototype #1)

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Would you like to see the XB-42 (Prototype #1) in game?
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Douglas XB-42

Prototype #1

USAF

Background

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The Douglas XB-42 was a private project by the manufacturer, not in response to any official requirement. In 1943, Douglas designer Ed F. Burton led a study funded by the company to design a twin-engined bomber with a top speed over 400 mph, carrying a 2000-pound bombload within a 2000-mile radius. The concept involved placing engines within the fuselage and using a clean wing design. An unsolicited proposal was submitted to the USAAF in May 1943, leading to a contract for two flying prototypes and one static test airframe on June 25, 1943. Initially an attack aircraft, it was designated XA-42, later changed to XB-42 on November 26, 1943. Progress under Ed Burton and Carlos C. Wood advanced rapidly, with the mockup approved in September 1943.

The first XB-42 plane (43-50224) was finished in May 1944. It had a successful first flight on May 6, 1944, over Palm Springs Army Air Base. The XB-42 performed well, meeting or exceeding expectations in speed, range, and rate of climb. It was faster than the Mosquito B.XVI and could carry a heavier bombload. However, there were some issues with communication between pilots, yaw, propeller vibration, control forces, and cooling duct efficiency.

The testing program for the XB-42 was thorough, however, the loss of the second aircraft prematurely halted the completion of several special tests. Douglas conducted 129 hours of testing on the first XB-42, spread out over 154 flights.

In April 1945, works commenced to transform the XB-42 into the Turbojet-assisted XB-42A, signaling the conclusion of the propeller-only XB-42 era.

Technical Data

Specifications

Crew - 3

Length - 16.34 m

Wingspan - 21.52 m

Height - 5.74 m

Empty Weight - 9,475 kg

Max Takeoff Weight - 16,648 kg

Powerplant - 2 x Allison V-1710-125 Liquid Cooled V-12 Engines (1,300 kW each)

Max Speed - 621 km/h

Rate of Climb - 5.3 m/s

Range - 2,897 km

Service Ceiling - 8,961 m

Armament

Maximum Bombload - 10,000 lb (4,536 kg)

1 x 10,000 lb Bomb (Bomb Bay Doors open by 6 inches)

4 x 2,000 lb Bombs

Up to 8,000 lb in bombs in Bomb bay.

2 × Mk. 13 Torpedoes

Images

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Sources

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(Book) Encyclopedia of U.S. Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems, Volume II, Post-World War II Bombers 1945-1973

Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster Attack Bomber | Old Machine Press

Douglas XA-42 | This Day in Aviation

Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster

3 Likes
2

+1 I’ve liked the Mixmaster for a while so it would be great to see some variant of it ingame.

3

So basically a bomber with no turrets w

4

The “turrets” are in the wings.

1 Like
5

That’s only for the second prototype I believe.

6

An American Ar 234. +1

7

Heck yeah, major +1. Read about this thing a long time ago, it’s long overdue to be added!!

8

+1

9

Ideally I’d want to see the XB-42A (the 1st prototype after it was upgraded with underwing turbojets). But any of them would be nice to have.

10

Suggestion Edited - Wrong Engine designation.

Spoiler

Powerplant - 2 x Allison V-1710-129 Liquid Cooled V-12 Engines (1,300 kW each) → Powerplant - 2 x Allison V-1710-125 Liquid Cooled V-12 Engines (1,300 kW each)

11

Hmmm. Why not. +1

12

Wikipedia aka dumbopedia claims it had 6 .50’s however from other sources I;ll let em speak for an instance.
“The XB-42’s bomb bay was covered by two-piece, snap-action doors. The bay accommodated 8,000 lb (3,629 kg) of bombs, or a single 10,000 lb (4,536 kg) bomb could be carried if the doors were kept open six inches. The bay was long enough to carry two 13 ft 9 in (4.2 m) Mk 13 torpedoes. Two fixed .50-cal machine guns with 500 rpg were installed in the aircraft’s nose. Housed in the trailing edge of each wing, between the aileron and flap, were a pair of rearward-firing .50-cal machine guns, each with 350 rpg. The guns were concealed behind snap-action doors. Once exposed, the guns could be angled through a range of 30 degrees up, 15 degrees down, and 25 degrees to the left or right. Their minimum convergence was 75 ft behind the aircraft. The rear-firing guns were operated by the copilot, who rotated his seat 180 degrees to use the gun’s sighting system.”
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1 Like
13

Thank you for the information.

Regarding the .50 cals, these were only ever fitted on the 2nd prototype.

14

Suggestion Edited to include missing armament

Spoiler

Blank → 1 × 10,000 lb Bomb

Blank → 2 × Mk. 13 Torpedoes

15

That I was not aware of.

1 Like