Douglas XB-31

Template:Infobox Aircraft The Douglas XB-31 (Douglas Model 423) was the design submitted by Douglas after the request by the United States Army Air Forces for a very heavy bomber, the same request that led to the B-29 Superfortress and B-32 Dominator.

Around 1938, General Henry H. 'Hap' Arnold, the head of the Army Air Force, was growing alarmed at the possibility of war in Europe and in the Pacific. Hoping to be prepared for the long-term requirements of the Air Force, Arnold created a special committee chaired by Brigadier General W. G. Kilner; one of its members was Charles Lindbergh. After a tour of Luftwaffe bases, Lindbergh became convinced that Nazi Germany was far ahead of other European nations. In a report in 1939, the committee made a number of recommendations, including development of new long-range heavy bombers. When war broke out in Europe, Arnold requested design studies from several companies on a Very Long-Range bomber capable of traveling 5,000 miles (8,000 km). Approval was granted on December 2.

Despite the promising design, it never progressed past the design stage, mainly because Boeing had a huge head start with its B-29 Superfortress.

Specifications (as designed)

General characteristics

• Crew: 12
  • Powerplant after later redesign: 4× Pratt & Whitney R-4360 "Wasp Major" radials, 3,000 hp (2,200 kW) each

Performance Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 4× .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns
  • 1× 1.46 in (37 mm) cannon in tail
• Bombs: 25,000 lb (11,000 kg)

References and links

• Joe Baugher's Encyclopedia of American Aircraft

Related content

• Island hopping

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• B-29 Superfortress
• Lockheed XB-30
• B-32 Dominator
• Messerschmitt Me 264

Related lists

• List of bomber aircraft
• List of military aircraft of the United States