US bombers and attack aircraft ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name categories : A (USAAF, USAF, USN) B (USAAF, USAF, USN) P (USAAF, USAF, USN) T (USN) TB (USN) SB (USN) OA (USAAF) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments only try to indicate relative importance of the aircraft. The given data are the maximum speed, ceiling, range and load. Of course these could not be combined; range and speed are often much reduced when heavy loads are carried. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-1 Douglas A-1 Skyraider Large single-engined attack aircraft. Too late for WWII, but much used in Korea and later in Vietnam. Type: A-1J Year: Crew: 1 Engines: 1 * 2220kW Wright R-3350-26W Speed: 590km/h Ceiling: 9700m Range: 4830km Armament: 4*g20mm, 4360kg AD Douglas AD Skyraider Renamed A-1. AF Grumman AF Guardian Successor to the TBF Avenger. The AF was first designed with a jet engine in the tail. This was removed in the AF-2 because it caused to much trouble. Type: AF-2S Year: 1950 Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 1765kW P&W R-2800-48W Speed: 510km/h Ceiling: 9900m Range: 2410km Armament: 1814kg AH Douglas AH Attack aircraft; nothing more than a stage in the development of THE F-4 Phantom II. Never built. AJ North American AJ Savage Twin-engined carrier bomber. AM Martin AM Mauler One 2576kW engine. AU Vought AU Attack bomber developed form the F4U Corsair. The additional weight of the AU exarbecated the handling problems of the F4U. Type: AU-1 Year: Crew: 1 Engines: 1 * 2100kW R-2800-83WA Speed: Ceiling: Range: 1325km Armament: 6*g20mm B-1 Rockwell B-1 The B-1 has been the successor for the B-52 for a long time. The B-1A was cancelled; the B-1B is now built in small numbers. Type: B-1B Year: 1986 Crew: 4 Engines: 4 * 13600kg G.E. F101-GE-11 Speed: 1275km/h Ceiling: 14600m Range: 12000km Armament: 29030kgs B-1 Keystone B-1 Twin-engined biplane bomber. One built. Type: B-1 Year: 1927 Crew: Engines: 2 * Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: BD Douglas BD Navy version of the A-20. BFC Curtiss BFC Goshawk Prottypes and initial production of the BF2C with a fixed undercarriage. BG Great Lakes BG Dive bomber. Approx. 60 built. Developed from the TG. Type: BG-1 Year: 1934 Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 550kW P&W R-1535 Speed: 302km/h Ceiling: 6125m Range: 885km Armament: 2*mg7.62mm, 1*b450kg BLR-1 Boeing XBLR-1 Also known as the XB-15. (???) BM Martin BM Dive-bomber. Originally known as the XT5M-1. 33 built. Type: BM-1 Year: 1932 Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 385kW P&W R-1690-22 Speed: 233km/h Ceiling: 5000m Range: 645km Armament: 2*mg7.7mm, 450kg BT Northrop BT-1 and Douglas XBT-2. The BT-1 was a dive bomber built by Northrop. It had rather vicious handling characteristics. When Northrop was dissolved, Douglas developed the XBT-2 into the SBD. Type: BT-1 Year: 1938 Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 825hp P&W R-1535-94 Speed: 357km/h Ceiling: 7710m Range: 1850km Armament: 1*mg12.7mm, 1*mg7.62mm, 454kg BTD Douglas BTD Destroyer Torpedo-bomber, developed from the SB2D and no more succesfull. Only 29 built. Type: BTD Year: 1944 Crew: Engines: 1 * 1690kW Wright R-3350-14 Speed: 553km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: DT-1 Douglas DT-1 Torpedo bomber. Type: DT-1 Year: 1921 Crew: 1 Engines: 1 * 400hp Liberty Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: GA-1 Boeing GA-1 A large, heavily armoured triplane, intended to attack the infantry with gunfire. Severely underpowered. Ten built. Type: GA-1 Year: 1921 Crew: 4 Engines: 4 * 320kW Liberty 12A Speed: 85mph Ceiling: Range: Armament: 8*mg7.62mm 1*g37mm MB Martin MB First post-war twin-engined USAF bomber. The MB-2 was used in the demonstrative sinking of the Ostfriesland. Type: MB-1 Year: 1918 Crew: 3 Engines: 2 * 295kW Liberty 12A Speed: 170km/h Ceiling: 3140m Range: 630km Armament: 5*mg, 470kg NBL-1 Witteman Lewis XNBL-1 'Barling Bomber' At 42570lbs and with a span of 36.60m, the six-engined triplane XNBL-1 was a gaint for its time, but underpowered, slow, and short on range. Type: XNBL-1 Year: 1923 Crew: 6 Engines: 6 * 400hp Liberty Speed: 130km/h Ceiling: 7000ft Range: 275km Armament: 5000lbs PB Boeing PB Naval version of the B-17. PBB Boeing XPBB-1 Sea Ranger Flying boat. Type: XPBB-1 Year: 1942 Crew: 10 Engines: 2 * 1470kW Wright Duplex Cyclone Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: 20*b454kg PBJ North American PBJ Mitchell Naval B-25. PBM Martin PBM Mariner Patrol and ASW flying boat, 1235 built. Type: PBM-3D Year: 1942 Crew: 9 Engines: * 1400kW Wright R-2600-22 Speed: 320km/h Ceiling: 5200m Range: 4400km Armament: 6*mg12.7mm, 1800kg PBN Naval Aircraft Factory PBN Catalina. NAF developed a new version of the Catalina, also known as the PBY-6A. PBO Lockheed PBO Navy A-29 Hudson. PBS Sikorsky PBS Based on the VS-44 civil flying boat. Type: XPBS-1 Year: 1937 Crew: Engines: 4 * 770kW P&W Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: PBY Consolidated PBY Catalina The most famous flying boat of WWII, built in large numbers. Type: PBY-5A Year: Crew: 7 Engines: 2 * 880kW P&W R-1830-92 Speed: 315km/h Ceiling: 4300m Range: 6400km Armament: 4*mg12.7mm, 1800kg PH Hall PH Flying boat, 24 built. Last US biplane flying boat. Type: PH-3 Year: 1936 Crew: 6 Engines: 2 * 550kW R-1820-F51 Speed: 256km/h Ceiling: 6500m Range: 3120km Armament: 4*mg7.7mm, 454kg PJ General Aviation PJ Twin-engined rescue flying boat. The PJ-1 had pusher props, the PJ-2 tractor props. Type: PJ-1 Year: Crew: 4 Engines: 2 * 420hp P&W Wasp Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: PO Lockheed PO Radar AEW version of the Super Constellation. PT Naval Aircraft Factory PT PTBH Hall XPTBH-2 Torpedo-bomber flying boat. PV Lockheed PV The PV-2 Harpoon and PV-1,3,7 Ventura were sea patrol and ASW aircraft. Developed from the model 18 Lodestar. Type: PV-2 Year: 1944 Crew: 5 Engines: 2 * 1470kW P&W R-2800-31 Speed: 453km/h Ceiling: 7300m Range: 3550km Armament: 9*mg12.7mm, 2720kg SBA Naval aircraft factory SBA Prototype of the SBN, Brewster-built. Shoulder-wing monoplane with a tubular fuselage. Type: XSBA-1 Year: Crew: 3 Engines: 1 * Wright R-1820-4 Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: SBC Curtiss SBC Helldiver Biplane dive-bomber. Some were used by the RAF, called Cleveland. Last US built combat biplane. Type: SBC-4 Year: 1937 Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 700kW Wright R-1820-34 Speed: 381km/h Ceiling: 8320m Range: 950km Armament: 2*mg7.62mm, 454kg SBD Douglas SBD Dauntless The SBD was a small aircraft, slow and vulnerable, and already considered obsolete when it entered service. Nevertheless it sparheaded the early offensives in the Pacific and served throughout WWII. If anything, it was an accurate dive-bomber and got ample opportunity to show it. Type: SBD-5 Year: 1940 Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 880kW Wright R-1820-60 Speed: 407km/h Ceiling: 7400m Range: 2085km Armament: 2*mg12.7mm, 2*mg7.7mm, 1*b725kg, 2*b45kg SBF SBF Helldiver SB2C Helldiver produced by Fairchild. SBN Naval Aircraft Factory SBN Developed SBA. 31 built. Type: SBN-1 Year: 1940 Crew: 3 Engines: 1 * 700kW Wright R-1820-38 Speed: 410km/h Ceiling: 8700m Range: 1630km Armament: 1*mg12.7mm, 1*mg7.7mm, 227kg SBU Vought SBU Dive-bomber developed form the F3U two-seat fighter. Relegated to training and liaison in WWII. Type: SBU-1 Year: 1935 Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 515kW P&W R-1535-80 Speed: 330km/h Ceiling: 7200m Range: 880km Armament: 2*mg7.62mm, 227kg SBW SBW Helldiver SB2C Helldiver produced by Canadian Car & Foundry. TBD Douglas TBD Devastator Standard USN torpedo aircraft in 1941. Obsolete; suffered heavy losses. 130 built. Type: TBD-1 Year: 1936 Crew: 3 Engines: 1 * 660kW P&W R-1830-64 Speed: 332km/h Ceiling: 6000m Range: 1600km Armament: 2*mg7.62mm, 454kg TBF Grumman TBF Avenger Standard carrier torpedo and light bomber of WWII and the period after the war. A sturdy and reliable aircraft of advanced concept. 9839 built. Type: TBF-1 Year: 1942 Crew: 3 Engines: 1 * 1250kW Wright R-2800-8 Speed: 436km/h Ceiling: 6830m Range: 4075km Armament: 3*mg12.7mm, 907kg TBG Great Lakes XTBG-1 Dive bomber. Lost out to the TBD for orders. TBM General Motors TBM Avenger 4657 of the Avengers were built by GM and called TBM. TBU Vought TBU Renamed TBV TBV Consolidated Vultee TBV Seawolf Navy version of the A-41. (?) TBV-2 had crew of three, P&W R-2800 engine. TG Great Lakes TG Torpedo bomber developed form the T4M. A2D Douglas XA2D-1 Skyshark Cancelled. Its Allison T40 proved unusable. Type: XA2D-1 Year: 1950 Crew: 1 Engines: 1 * 5035hp Allison XT40 Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: A2F Grumman A2F Intruder Renamed A-6. A2J North American A2J Savage Cancelled. Two Allison T40 turboprops. B-2 Curtiss B-2 Condor Twin-engined biplane bomber. B-2 Northrop B-2 Flying wing Stealth bomber design. BF2C Curtiss BF2C Fighter-bomber from the long series of Curtiss Hawk fighter biplanes. Developed from the F11C fighter. Last Curtiss fighter in service with the USN; in service for less than a year. Some were exported. Type: BF2C-1 Year: 1934 Crew: 1 Engines: 1 * 550kW Wright R-1820-F53 Speed: 370km/h Ceiling: 8300m Range: 1280km Armament: 2*mg7.62mm, 4*b52kg, 1*b215kg BLR-2 Douglas XBLR-2 Also known as the XB-19. BT2D Douglas XBT2D-1 Prototype of the AD Skyraider. GA-2 Boeing GA-2 Intended for the same purpose as the GA-1, but a much smaller single-engined biplane. Two built. Type: GA-2 Year: 1921 Crew: 3 Engines: 1 * 550kW Engineering Division W-18 Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: 5*mg12.7mm 1*g37mm 2*mg7.62mm LB-2 Fokker XLB-2 Bomber development of the F7/3m transport aircraft. Type: XLB-2 Year: Crew: 2 Engines: 2 * 385kW P&W Hornet Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: P-2 Lockheed P-2 Neptune Most famous post-war sea recce and ASM aircraft. Type: P-2H Year: 1947 Crew: 10 Engines: 2 * 2575kW Wright R-3350-32W 2 * Westinghouse J34-WE-34 Speed: 555km/h Ceiling: 6700m Range: 3540km Armament: P2B Boeing P2B Boeing B-29 in Navy service. P2M Martin P2M Flying boat. P2V Lockheed P2V Renamed P-2. PB2B Boeing PB2B PBY built by Boeing. PB2M Martin XPB2M-1 Mars Patrol-bomber flying boat. Prodcution version was the JRM transport. Type: XPB2M-1 Year: Crew: Engines: Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: PB2Y Consolidated PB2Y Coronado Intended to replace the PBY, but never had the succes of its precursor. Type: PB2Y-3 Year: 1941 Crew: 10 Engines: 4 * 880kW P&W R-1830-88 Speed: 343km/h Ceiling: 6130m Range: 2400km Armament: 8*mg12.7mm, 5440kg S-2 Grumman S-2 Tracker Classic ASW aircraft. Type: S-2E Year: 1952 Crew: 4 Engines: 2 * 1120kW Wright R-1820-82WA Speed: 425km/h Ceiling: 6400m Range: 2100km Armament: S2F Grumman S2F Tracker Renamed S-2. SB2A Brewster SB2A Bermuda Dive bomber developed from SBA/SBN. 1052 built. Production problems caused two years delay; man were used as target tugs, other were scrapped straight from the production line. Type: SB2A-3 Year: 1940 Crew: Engines: Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: 450kg SB2C Curtiss SB2C Helldiver Bad handling characteristics earned this dive bomber the nickname 'The Beast'. Its performance was little better than that of the SBD. Nevertheless the USN fought several major battles with it. Type: SB2C-4 Year: 1943 Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 1400kW Wright R-2600-20 Speed: 475km/h Ceiling: 8900m Range: 3100km Armament: 2*g20mm, 2*mg12.7mm, 910kg SB2D Douglas XSB2D Intended as a successor to the SBD, the XSB2D-1 was an unspectacular aircraft. Two built. Type: XSB2D-1 Year: 1943 Crew: Engines: 1 * Wright R-3350 Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: SB2U Vought SB2U Vindicator The SB2U combined biplane technology with a monoplane layout and was obsolete in 1940. Type: SB2U-1 Year: 1937 Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 610kW P&W R-1535-96 Speed: 402km/h Ceiling: 8350m Range: 1610km Armament: 2*mg7.62mm, 454kg TB2D Douglas TB2D Skypirate Large torpedo-bomber intended for service on the Midway-class carriers. But it was already obsolete when these entered service. Type: XTB2D-1 Year: 1945 Crew: Engines: Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: 8000lb A-3 Douglas A-3 Skywarrior Carrier-borne nuclear bomber. Type: A-3 Year: 1954 Crew: 3 Engines: 2 * 55.2kN P&W J57-40 Speed: 982km/h Ceiling: 13100m Range: 3220km Armament: 2*g20mm, 5443kg A3D Douglas A3D Skywarrior Renamed A-3. B-3 Keystone B-3A Twin-engined biplane bomber. 36 built. Type: B-3A Year: 1930 Crew: Engines: 2 * Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: P-3 Lockheed P-3 Orion Sea recce and ASW development of the L.188 Electra transport. Type: P-3C Year: 1969 Crew: 12 Engines: 4 * 3660kW Allison T56-A-14 Speed: 760km/h Ceiling: 8600m Range: 7700km Armament: 9070kg P3M Martin P3M Flying boat. S-3 Lockheed S-3 Viking ASW aircraft that replaced the S-2 Tracker. Type: S-3A Year: 1974 Crew: 4 Engines: 2 * 41.25kN G.E. TF34-GE-2 Speed: 834km/h Ceiling: 10670m Range: 5560km Armament: SB3U Vought SB3U Biplane alternative to the SB2U. One built. T3M Martin T3M Torpedo aircraft. Used wings of the Curtiss SC with a new fuselage. Type: T3M-1 Year: 1926 Crew: 3 Engines: 1 * 425kW Wright T3B Speed: 175km/h Ceiling: Range: 845km Armament: A-4 McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Designed as a small-and-simple jet attack aircraft. Kept in production for 22 years, and still serving with some air forces. Type: A-4F Year: 1966 Crew: 1 Engines: 1 * 41.4kN P&W J52-P-8A Speed: 1100km/h Ceiling: 14940m Range: 3220km Armament: 2*g20mm, 3720kg A4D Douglas A4D Skyhawk Renamed A-4. B-4 Keystone B-4A Twin-engined biplane bomber. 30 built. Type: B-4A Year: 1932 Crew: Engines: 2 * Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: P4M Martin P4M Mercator A less succesful competitor for the Neptune. A small number was built and used as ELINT aircraft. Type: P4M-1Q Year: Crew: Engines: 2 * kW P&W 2 * 1800kg Allison J33 Speed: 675km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: P4Y Consolidated P4Y Also known as PB4Y. PB4Y Consolidated PB4Y The PB4Y was the B-24 Liberator in naval use. The PB4Y-2 Privateer was a development of the late single-tail B-24N Liberator. Type: PB4Y-2 Year: 1944 Crew: 11 Engines: 4 * 990kW P&W R-1830-94 Speed: 381km/h Ceiling: 6300m Range: 4500km Armament: 12*mg12.7mm, 2725kg T4M MArtin T4M Development of T3M. Type: T4M-1 Year: Crew: 3 Engines: 1 * 390kW P&W Hornet Speed: 185km/h Ceiling: 3100m Range: 590km Armament: A-5 North American A-5 Vigilante The A-5 was not a succes in its intended role as nuclear bomber. Most production were RA-5C recce aircraft. Type: RA-5C Year: 1964 Crew: 2 Engines: 2 * 79.4kN G.E. J79-10 Speed: M2 Ceiling: 19500m Range: 4820km Armament: B-5 Keystone B-5 Twin-engined biplane bomber. 44 built. Type: B-5A Year: 1930 Crew: Engines: 2 * Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: P-5 Martin P-5 Marlin ASW flying boat. Type: P-5A Year: Crew: 8 Engines: 2 * 2400kW Wright R-3350-30WA Speed: 420km/h Ceiling: 6800m Range: 5800km Armament: 2*g20mm, 3600kg P5M Martim P5M Renamed P-5 P5Y Convair P5Y Tradewind Type: Year: Crew: Engines: Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: T5M Martin T5M Also known as the BM. A-6 Grumman A-6 Intruder All-weather attack aircraft. Entered service in 1963. The A-6 has good range and carried a heavier load than any previous USN attack aircraft. Still in service with the USN. Also built as EA-6 electronic warfare and KA-6 tanker versions. Type: A-6E Year: 1972 Crew: 2 Engines: 2 * 41.4kN P&W J52-P-8A Speed: 1043km/h Ceiling: 14480m Range: 4690km Armament: 8165kg B-6 Keystone B-6A Twin-engined biplane bomber. 44 built. Type: B-6A Year: 1932 Crew: Engines: 2 * Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: P6M Martin P6M Seamaster Swept-wing jet flying boat. Only four built. Type: P6M-2 Year: 1959 Crew: 4 Engines: 4 * 7940kg P&W J75-P-2 Speed: 965km/h Ceiling: 12200m Range: 2415km Armament: 2*g20mm A-7 General Aviation XA-7 Attack monoplane. Open cockpits, fixed landing gear. Type: XA-7 Year: 1930 Crew: Engines: 1 * Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: A-7 LTV A-7 Corsair II The A-7 was a very capable attack aircraft, bought by both USN and USAF. Phased out of service recently, but efforts to sell upgraded versions continue. Type: A-7B Year: 1968 Crew: 1 Engines: 1 * 54.8kN P&W TF30-P-8 Speed: M0.8 Ceiling: Range: 4540km Armament: 2*g20mm, 2*msl AIM-9, 9072kg B-7 Douglas B-7 Bomber development of the twin-engined O-27 observation aircraft. Eight built. Type: B-7 Year: 1933 Crew: Engines: 2 * Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: P-7 Lockheed P-7 The P-7 would have been a replacement and development of the P-3 Orion, but was cancelled recently. A-8 Curtiss A-8 The pre-war 1-8 was an early Shrike; teh operational version was the A-12. AV-8 McDonnell Douglas AV-8 Harrier The only operational Western VTOL aircraft. U.S. Harriers are used by the Marine Corps. The AV-8A was later replaced by the AV-8B with 50% more internal fuel and 70% more external ordnance. Type: AV-8B Year: 1983 Crew: 1 Engines: 1 * 9730kg R.R. F402-RR-406 Speed: M 0.93 Ceiling: Range: 1205km Armament: 1*g25mm, 4170kg B-8 General Aviation XB-8 Twin-engined bomber developed from the O-27 recce aircraft. A-9 Northrop A-9 A design for a battlefield attack and tank-killer aircraft that competed for orders with the A-10. A large twin-engined shoulder-wing aircraft. Type: A-9A Year: 1974 Crew: 1 Engines: 2 * 26.7kN Lycoming ALF502 Speed: 837km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: 1*g30mm, 8350kg B-9 Boeing B-9 Seven built. Martin quickly build a better bomber, the B-10. The B-9 was a mix of the new (monoplane) with the old (open cockpits, fixed landing gear.) Type: YB-9 Year: 1931 Crew: 7 Engines: 2 * 440kW Curtiss GIV Speed: 300km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: 2*mg7.62mm, 4*b270kg A-10 Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II Battlefiled tank-killer, heavily armoured and built around a powerful 30mm gun and its enormous munition drum. It seems that its career is going to be rather short. Type: A-10A Year: 1976 Crew: 1 Engines: 2 * 40.3kN G.E. TF34-GE-100 Speed: 805km/h Ceiling: Range: 4200km Armament: 1*g30mm, 7560kg A-10 Curtiss A-10 Stage in the development of the A-12 Shrike. B-10 Martin B-10 The B-10, as a monoplane bomber with retractable landing gear, enclosed cockpits and good streamlining, outpaced the contempary biplane fighters. Type: B-10 Year: 1932 Crew: 4 Engines: 2 * 570kW Wright R-1820-25 Speed: 342km/h Ceiling: 7500m Range: 1995km Armament: 3*mg7.62mm 454kg LB-10 Keystone LB-10 Renamed B-3, B-4 or B-5. A-11 Consolidated A-11 Conversion of the P-25 fighter. B-11 Douglas YB-11 One built. Also known as the YOA-5. Type: YB-11 Year: 1933 Crew: Engines: 2 * Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: A-12 Curtiss A-12 Shrike Type: A-12 Year: Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 570kW Wright SR-1820-F52 Speed: 293km/h Ceiling: 6300m Range: 774km Armament: 5*mg7.62mm, 220kg B-12 Martin B-12 Development of B-10. A-13 Northrop A-13 Dive bomber Type: XA-13 Year: 1933 Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * Speed: 338km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: 270kg B-13 Martin B-13 Projected version of the B-10. Cancelled. Type: B-13 Year: 1933 Crew: Engines: Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: LB-13 Keystone LB-13 Renamed B-4 and B-6. A-14 Curtiss A-14 Shrike Fourteen built. Type: A-14 Year: Crew: Engines: 2 * 540kW Wright R-1670-5 Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: B-14 Martin B-14 Development of B-10. LB-14 Keystone LB-14 Renamed B-4. B-15 Boeing XB-15 The big XB-15 was designed as a long-range bomber. It proved underpowered, too slow and too vulnerable. One built. Type: XB-15 Year: 1937 Crew:10 Engines: 4 *735kW P&W Twin Wasp Speed: Ceiling: Range: 8000km Armament: 3600kg A-16 Northrop A-16 Dive bomber. One built. Prototype of A-17. Type: XA-16 Year: 1935 Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * Speed: 340km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: 295kg AV-16 McDonnell Douglas / Hawker Siddeley AV-16 Super Harrier Cancelled. Uprating the R.R. Pegasus engine was considered too costly. B-16 Martin XB-16 A 1935 bomber project with two fuselages and six engines; cancelled. A-17 Northrop A-17 Nomad Northrop DB-8A. Reengined A-16. Relegated to general duties by WWII, except for some exported aircraft. 490 built. Type: A-17A Year: 1936 Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 825hp P&W R-1535-13 Speed: 354km/h Ceiling: 5900m Range: 1180km Armament: 2*mg, 180kg B-17 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Designed as a heavily-arme, long-range medium bomber. The B-17 was the mainstay of the USAF bomber offensive over Europe. It had good range, and was easy to fly except when -- as was often the case -- it was overloaded; but its bomb-carrying capacity on long range was very limited. 12731 built. Type: B-17G Year: 1943 Crew: 12 Engines: 4 * 880kW Wright R-1820-97 Speed: 462km/h Ceiling: 10850m Range: 3160miles Armament: 13 * mg12.7mm, 9453kg A-18 MDD - Northrop F/A-18 Hornet First the attack version of the F-18 would have been the A-18. Finally it was decided to assign the double designation F/A-18 A-18 Curtiss A-18 Shrike A re-engined A-14. The A-18 was a complety different aircraft than the A-8/10/12 Shrike; it was a elegant twin-engined aircraft. Type: A-18 Year: 1934 Crew: 2 Engines: 2 * 440kW Wright R-1820-47 Speed: 383km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: 5 * mg, 297kg B-18 Douglas B-18 Bolo Medium bomber developed from the DC-2. Obsolete when WWII began. Type: B-18A Year: 1937 Crew: 6 Engines: 2 * 740kW Wright R-1820-53 Speed: 346km/h Ceiling: 7285m Range: 1900km Armament: 3 * mg 7.62mm, 2950kg A-19 Vultee A-19 Attack aircraft developed from the Vultee V-1 transport. The USAAF used some as engine testbeds. Seven A-19's built, Vultee had more succes with exporting the aircraft. Type: YA-19 Year: 1939 Crew: Engines: 1 * 1200hp P&W R-1830-17 Speed: 370km/h Ceiling: Range: 1768km Armament: B-19 Douglas XB-19 This huge long-range bomber was a too demanding concept for the technology of the time. Max. loaded weigth was 73480kg, span was 64.62m! Underpowered and too vulnerable. One built. Type: XB-19 Year: Crew: 16 Engines: 4 * 2000hp Wright R-3350-5 Speed: 360km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: 2*g37mm, 5*mg12.7mm, 6*mg7.62mm, 16830kg A-20 Douglas A-20 Boston/Havoc Twin-engined light bomber that was built in large numbers until 1944. Type: A-20G Year: 1941 Crew: 3 Engines: 2 * 1180kW Wright R-2600-23 Speed: 548km/h Ceiling: 7800m Range: 1750km Armament: 5*mg7.62mm, 4*g*20mm, 1814kg B-20 Boeing B-20 1937, cancelled. B-21 North American XB-21 Dragon One built, 1938. A-22 Martin A-22 Maryland Not used by the USAF, all lend-leased to GB. B-22 Douglas B-22 Cancelled in favour of the B-23. 1938. B-23 Douglas B-23 Dragon Development of the B-18. Only 38 built; many converted to UC-67 transports. Type: B-23 Year: Crew: 5 Engines: 2 * 1180kW Wright R-2600-3 Speed: 454km/h Ceiling: 9630m Range: 2340km Armament: 3*mg7.62mm, 1*mg12.7mm, A-24 Douglas A-24 Banshee Army version of the SBD dive-bomber. The USAF used 948 of the 5937 Dauntlesses built. B-24 Consolidated B-24 Liberator The big and complicated B-24 was the most built US aircraft of WWII. The B-24 lacked the glamour of the B-17, but it was efficient and had longer range. 19256 built. Type: B-24J Year: 1943 Crew: 12 Engines: 4 * 880kW P&W R-1830-65 Speed: 467km/h Ceiling: 8500m Range: Armament: 10*mg12.7mm, 4000kg A-25 Curtiss A-25 Shrike USAAF version of the SB2C dive-bomber. B-25 North American B-25 Mitchell The most built and used medium bomber of the war. The 'Doolittle raid' on Tokyo made the B-25 famous. 9816 built. Type: B-25J Year: 1943 Crew: 6 Engines: 2 * 1250kW Wright R-2600-29 Speed: 438km/h Ceiling: 7375m Range: 2170km Armament: 13*mg12.7mm, 1800kg A-26 Douglas A-26 Invader The Invader was fast and powerful. Participation in WII was small; the USAF used them until 1961. In 1977 six airforces still used the Invader. Redesignated B-26K from 1948 onwards. Type: A-26B Year: 1944 Crew: 3 Engines: 2 * 1470kW P&W R-2800-27 Speed: 571km/h Ceiling: 6700m Range: 2900km Armament: 8 to 16 mg 12.7mm, 2725kg B-26 Martin B-26 Marauder The B-26 was difficult to handle but had high performance. Type: B-26G Year: 1944 Crew: 7 Engines: 2 * 1470kW Wright R-2800-43 Speed: 455km/h Ceiling: 6050m Range: 1770km Armament: 11*mg12.7mm, 1814kg B-26 Douglas B-26 Invader Renamed A-26. A-27 North American A-27 Attack version of the T-6. Built 41. Type: A-27 Year: Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 550kW Wright R-1820-75 Speed: 402km/h Ceiling: 8500m Range: 1290km Armament: 3 * mg 7.7mm, 181kg B-27 Martin XB-27 Martin M-182. Cancelled. 1940. A-28 Lockheed A-28 Hudson Earlier versions of the A-29 with P&W Wasp engines, instead of Wright Cyclones in the A-29. B-28 North American XB-28 Twin-engined bomber with pressurised cockpits. Much of its technology wa used in the B-29. Type: XB-28 Year: 1942 Crew: Engines: 2 * P&W R-2800 Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: A-29 Lockheed A-29 Hudson The Hudson was a military version of the Lockheed 14 Electra. Mainly used as naval patrol and ASW aircraft. Type: A-29 Year: 1939 Crew: 4 Engines: 2 * 880kW Wright R-1820-87 Speed: 407km/h Ceiling: 8080m Range: 4500km Armament: 7 * mg 7.7mm, 726kg B-29 Boeing B-29 Superfortress The B-29 set new limits in performance, aramament and range. It was used only in the Pacific, finally dropping the A-bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Type: B-29A Year: 1943 Crew: 10 Engines: 4 * 1600kW Wrigth R-3350-23 Speed: 575km/h Ceiling: 9710m Range: 5230km Armament: 1*g20mm, 12*mg12.7mm, 9072kg A-30 Martin A-30 Baltimore Development of the A-22 Maryland with a deeper fuselage. Not used by the USAF; Lend-lease to GB. Type: Baltimore Mk. III Year: 1941 Crew: 4 Engines: 2 * 1220kW Wright R-2600-19 Speed: 486km/h Ceiling: 7315m Range: 1700km Armament: 6 * mg12.7mm, 907kg B-30 Lockheed XB-30 Project only. Bomber version of the Constellation. None built. Type: XB-30 Year: 1940 Crew: Engines: 4 * 2200hp Wright GR-3350-13 Speed: 380mph Ceiling: Range: Armament: Five gun turrets. A-31 Vultee A-31 Vengeance Dive bomber. Also known as the A-35. The A-31 was built to British specifications and the A-35 to US specifications. B-31 Douglas XB-31 Project only. B-32 Convair B-32 Dominator Less sophisticated alternative to the B-29; was a dissapointing aircraft. 118 built. Type: B-32 Year: 1945 Crew: 8 Engines: 4 * 1620kW Wright R-3350-23 Speed: 576km/h Ceiling: 9360m Range: 6080km Armament: 10*mg12.7mm, 9080kg A-33 Northrop A-33 Version of the A-17 originally built to Peruvian order. B-33 Martin XB-33 Super Marauder A four-engined bomber designed in 1942. Cancelled. B-34 Lockheed B-34 Lexington USAAF version of the PV Harpoon/Ventura. A-35 Northrop A-35 Vengeance Type: A-35A Year: 1942 Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 1250kW Wright R-2600-13 Speed: 449km/h Ceiling: 6800m Range: 3220km Armament: 5*mg7.7mm, 907kg B-35 Northrop B-35 Flying Wing The first of the Northrop flying wing bombers. Development was protracted and only 15 were built. Type: XB-35 Year: 1946 Crew: 9 Engines: 4 * 2200kW P&W R-4360-17/21 Speed: 630km/h Ceiling: Range: 16100km Armament: 20*mg12.7mm, 18700kg A-36 North American A-36 Apache This was the dive-bomber version of the P-61 Mustang. The USAAF bought this version first. 500 were built. Type: A-36A Year: 1940 Crew: 1 Engines: 1 * 850kW Allison V-1710-F3R Speed: 630km/h Ceiling: 9150m Range: 700km Armament: 6*mg12.7mm, 900kg B-36 Convair B-36 The huge B-36 served never saw action, but was the mainstay of the SAC for some time. Type: B-36D Year: 1946 Crew: 16 Engines: 6 * 2800kW P&W R-4360-53 4 * 2360kg G.E. J47-GE-19 Speed: 706km/h Ceiling: 13780m Range: 12070km Armament: 12*g20mm, 32660kg A-37 Hughes XA-37 The Hughes DX-2 was a wooden attack aircraft buitl by Howard Hughes -- who allowed no photographs, and kept its performance secret. In the end it was destroyed by fire. A-37 Cessna A-37 Dragonfly The little T-37 jet trainer was developed into the A-37 attack aircraft with more powerful engines and carrying an impressive weapons load for such small aircraft. 577 built and 39 converted from the T-37. Type: A-37B Year: Crew: 2 Engines: 2 * 12.7kN G.E. J85-GE-17A Speed: 810km/h Ceiling: 12730m Range: 1630km Armament: 1*mg7.62mm 2450kg B-37 Lockheed B-37 Development of the B-34, 2 * 1250kW P&W R-2600-31 A-38 Beechcraft A-38 Grizzly Twin-engined attack aircraft. B-37 Lockheed B-37 Development of the B-34, 2 * 1250kW P&W R-2600-31 B-38 Boeing XB-38 One B-17E with Allison 1425hp V-1710 engines. B-39 Boeing XB-39 A B-29 with Allison V-4320 engines of 1910kW. One built. B-40 Boeing YB-40 Twenty-one B-17E's were converted to escort gunships with 14 .50 guns. The concept was a failure. A-41 Vultee XA-41 A big dive-bomber, too late for service in WWII. One built. Type: XA-41 Year: 1944 Crew: 1 Engines: 1 * 3000h P&W XR-4360-9 Speed: 353mph Ceiling: Range: Armament: 907kg B-41 Consolidated XB-41 Gunship conversion of the B-24D with 15 .50 guns. One built. A-42 Douglas A-42 Skymaster Also known as the B-42. B-42 Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster The name was due to the large contrarotating pusher props fitted to the tail of this unusual bomber. Two built. Type: XB-42 Year: 1942 Crew: Engines: 2 * Speed: Ceiling: Range: Armament: 907kg A-43 Curtiss A-43 Blackhawk Developed into the XP-87 Nighthawk. B-43 Douglas XB-43 The XB-43 was a jet-engined development of the XB-42. Two built. Type: XB-43 Year: 1946 Crew: Engines: 2 * 1814kg G.E. TG-180 Speed: 830km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: 3480kg A-44 Consolidated Vultee A-44 Renamed XB-53. Not built. B-44 Boeing XB-44 Development of the B-29 with P&W R-4360 engines; precursor of the B-50. Three built. A-45 Martin A-45 Renamed XB-51. B-45 North American B-45 Tornado First USAF jet bomber in active service. Also used in the RB-45 recconaissance version. Type: B-45 Year: 1950 Crew: 4 Engines: 4 * 2360kg G.E. J47-GE-13/15 Speed: 932km/h Ceiling: 13170m Range: 3075km Armament: 2*mg12.7mm, 18698kg B-46 Convair XB-46 A straight-wing jet bomber. It was sleek, graceful, and too slow. The B-47 was preferred. One built. Type: XB-46 Year: 1947 Crew: 3 Engines: 4 * 1800kg G.E. J35-C3 Speed: 877km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: 2*mg12.7mm, 10000kg B-47 Boeing B-47 Stratojet The B-47 broke new ground with it high swept wing and neatly podded engines. Much used by the SAC in the '50-'60 period. Its main deficiency was the limited range. Type: B-47E Year: 1951 Crew: 3 Engines: 6 * 3266kg G.E. J47-GE-25 Speed: 975km/h Ceiling: 12350m Range: 6440km Armament: 2*g20mm, 9072kg C-47 Douglas AC-47 This was a gunship version of the venerable C-47 'Dakota' transport. Armament was pointed through the left windows; the AC-47 sprayed its targets with gunfire in a lefthand turn. B-48 Martin XB-48 The only claim of this ungraceful aircraft could make is being the first six-engined jet bomber. Type: XB-48 Year: 1947 Crew: 3 Engines: 6 * 1750kg Allison J35-A-7 Speed: 830km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: 2*mg12.7mm, 9500kg B-49 Northrop B-49 A rebuild B-35 with eight jet engines. Only two built. Type: YB-49 Year: 1946 Crew: 7 Engines: 8 * 1800kg Allison J35-A-15 Speed: 790km/h Ceiling: Range: RB-49 Northrop YRB-49 Six-engined recce bomber developed from the B-49. One built. Type: YRB-49 Year: 1950 Crew: 6 Engines: 6 * Speed: 800km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: B-50 Boeing B-50 Superfortress Refined post-war development of the B-29. Type: B-50D Year: 1945 Crew: 11 Engines: 4 * 2575kW P&W R-4360-35 Speed: 640km/h Ceiling: 11580m Range: 7880km Armament: 13*mg12.7mm, 12700kg B-51 Martin XB-51 The XB-51 pioneered with variable incidence winfs, a T-tail, and a rotary bomb bay. Type: XB-51 Year: 1949 Crew: 2 Engines: 3 * 2350kg G.E. J47-GE-13 Speed: 1040km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: 4700kg B-52 Boeing B-52 Stratofortess Large intercontinental jet bomber. Saw combat dropping conventional bombs in Vietnam and lately in the Gulf. Increasingly vulnerable in a modern combat environment, the B-52 still offers unique bomb- carrying capacity. Entered service in 1955 and will probably stay until at least 2000. Type: B-25H Year: 1955 Crew: 6 Engines: 8 * 75.6kN P&W TF-33-P-3 Speed: 957km/h Ceiling: 16765m Range: 16093km Armament: 1*g20mm 20*msl AGM-69 SRAM B-53 Convair B-53 Jet bomber with forward swept wings. Never built. B-54 Boeing B-54 Development of the B-50, also called B-50C. B-55 Boeing B-55 Development of the B-50. Never built. B-56 Boeing B-56 Also known as the YB-47C project. A-57 Martin A-57 Renamed B-57. B-57 Martin B-57 Intruder US development of the English Electric Canberra, a highly succesfull straight-wing jet bomber. Was also developed into a spy aircraft with oversized wings. Type: B-57G Year: 1955 Crew: 2 Engines: 2 * 3275kg Wright J65-5 Speed: 937km/h Ceiling: 14500m Range: 3380km Armament: 2270kg B-58 Convair B-58 Hustler The B-58 was a sleek delta-wing jet bomber. It carried the bombs and fuel in a large pod, bigger than its fuselage, that was dropped over the target. Its too short range brought an end to its service life. 116 built. Type: B-58A Year: 1959 Crew: 3 Engines: 4 * 707kg G.E. J79-GE-5B Speed: 2125km/h Ceiling: 19200m Range: 8250km Armament: 1*g20mm B-59 Boeing B-59 Boeing model 701, not built. B-60 Convair B-60 Sweptwing jet-engined development of the B-36. Proved inferior to the B-52. Type: YB-60 Year: 1952 Crew: 10 Engines: 8 * Speed: 805km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: 10*g20mm, 32000kg B-61 Martin Matador, a missile. B-62 Northrop Snark, a missile. B-63 Bell Rascal, a missile. B-64 North American Navajo, a missile. B-65 Convair Atlas, a missile. B-66 Douglas B-66 Destroyer USAF version of the A-3. B-67 Radioplane Crossbow, a missile. B-68 Martin B-68 Not built. B-69 Lockheed B-69 USAF version of the P2V Neptune. B-70 B-70 Valkyrie High-flying Mach 3 bomber, intended to replace the B-52. It was designed to 'ride' on the shock wave contained between the lower fuselage and its downturned wingtips. Two built. Type: XB-70A Year: 1969 Crew: 4 Engines: 6 * 14060kg G.E. YJ93-GE-3 Speed: 3200km/h Ceiling: 24400m Range: 12070km Armament: F-111 General Dynamics FB-111 A strategic bomber development of the F-111. Type: FB-111A Year: 1969 Crew: 2 Engines: 2 * 90.58kN P&W TF30-P-7 Speed: 2335km/h Ceiling: Range: Armament: 17000kg C-119 Fairchild AC-119 Gunship version of the C-119 Packet. C-130 Lockheed AC-130 Spectre Gunship conversion of the C-130 Hercules. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Following aircraft were used before a code sequence was assigned. During WWI, the US used large numbers of French and British aircraft; these are not included here. Curtiss R4 Two-seat bomber first flown in 1915. Used for training. Type: R4 Year: 1915 Crew: 2 Engines: 1 * 200hp Curtiss V-2 Max. Speed: 90mph Ceiling: m Max. Range: km Armament: 1020lbs Curtiss R6 Development of the R4 with a 200hp Curtiss or Liberty engine. Curtiss R9 Development of the R4 with a 200hp Liberty engine. Had the distinction of being the first US built military aircraft to serve abroad. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------