Douglas XB-19

usa flag USA (1941)
Prototype Heavy Bomber – 1 Built

The XB-19 parked on the ground.

The XB-19 was a heavy bomber designed in 1935 to fulfill a request made by the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) to develop an experimental heavy bomber with extreme range. Although slow in its development and obsolete by the time it was produced, it served as a test vehicle to evaluate plane and engine performances. The sole XB-19 was converted to a cargo transport plane and was eventually scrapped in 1949. The XB-19 was the largest plane operated by the USAAC and USAAF until the Convair B-36 came into service.

History

The roots of the XB-19 can be traced to 1935 on February 5th when the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) commenced “Project D”. The purpose of Project D was to experiment with the maximum distances achievable with bombers. The USAAC contacted and discussed the project with Douglas Aircraft Company and Sikorsky. Douglas representatives agreed to the terms of the design and plans were made during a conference on June 5th, 1935. The initial plan was to begin the basic design on July 31st of 1935, detailed designs on January 31st of 1936, and have the plane physically produced by March 31st, 1938. The plan however was soon found out to be too ambitious, with the designers underestimating the work required. The designers would be plagued with a lack of proper funding and the sheer enormity of the task. The project would finally be completed in May of 1941, nearly four years after the original deadline.

Douglas XB-19 under construction. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Douglas Aircraft Company received a contract to the project in October of 1935 which required Douglas to create a general and detailed design of the plane, create a mockup of the plane and test the wing centre section, undercarriage, and engine nacelles of the plane. Douglas accepted the contract on October 18th. Later that year, the USAAC would evaluate the mockups provided by Douglas and Sikorsky. Douglas’s design was ultimately chosen, and was given the task of further developing the plane.

The XB-19 under construction at the Douglas Aircraft Factory located in Santa Monica, California. 1940.

The plane would be known as the “XBLR-2” (Experimental Bomber Long Range 2) in its early stages of development. The progress of developing the bomber proved to be tedious and slow. Lack of funding would severely hinder work on the plane. During that time the USAAC made a change to the requirements, the plane was suppose to be powered by four Allison XV-3420-1 engines producing 1,600 horsepower each, but was ordered to be replaced by four Wright R-3350 engines producing 2,000 horsepower each instead. This would also hinder work as the plane had to be slightly redesigned. As time went on, Douglas had to loan a Douglas OA-4A from the USAAC to test an experimental tricycle landing gear configuration intended for the XBLR-2. The tests proved to be a success. Later, the XBLR-2 would be redesignated as “XB-19” (Experimental Bomber 19). Douglas eventually managed to scrape together enough funds to produce a prototype, and the production was authorized on March 8th of 1938.

XB-19_38-471_at_Mines_Airfield_Colorized copy
The XB-19 parked at Mines Airfield. (Colorized by Michael J.)
Washing XB-19 at March Field 1941. (Colorized by Michael J.)

During its development, the Douglas company had many problems with the XB-19. They were forced to allocate more funds than initially expected, and needed design staff to work on other aircraft which had a more promising production future. They claimed the XB-19’s design was obsolete due to the production delays it suffered over the past three years and the fact that the plane’s weight was far heavier than expected. The Douglas company officially made a recommendation to cancel the XB-19 project on August 30th, 1938. This recommendation was denied by the USAAC. Interestingly enough, two years later, the USAAC would suggest that the slow development of the XB-19 already rendered the project obsolete when they removed the plane from the top secret classified list. The XB-19 would finally be completed in May of 1941.

The XB-19 parked on the ground next to a P-40 Kittyhawk.

Shortly after completion, the XB-19 was used in taxiing tests on May 6th, 1941. The flight test was scheduled to be on May 17th, but was postponed three times due to critical mechanical errors. The landing gear brakes were found to have defects, its engines had backfiring issues, and the propeller pitch control system had to be worked on. On June 27th however, the XB-19 would finally have its maiden flight. In the maiden flight, seven crewmembers were on board with Major Stanley M. Umstead in charge. The flight lasted 55 minutes from Clover Field in Santa Monica to March Field. The flight went by smoothly without any problems and was successful. Shortly afterwards, Donald Douglas would receive a congratulatory telegram from President Roosevelt. The USAAC unofficially accepted the XB-19 in October of 1941.

Eager observers watch the XB-19 preparing for its maiden flight. Clover Field, 1941.

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on December 7th of 1941, the United States was on high alert. The XB-19’s turrets were armed and a new layer of olive camouflage paint was applied, replacing its bare metal USAAC livery. It would make 4 more tests flights in California before being transferred to Wright Field on January 23rd, 1942 as another safety measure. By then, the XB-19 had over 70 hours of flight time.

The XB-19 was finally accepted officially by the USAAF in June of 1942 after minor modifications were made to the plane’s brake system. The contract cost to the United States government was $1,400,064. The Douglas Aircraft Company also spent $4,000,000 in personal company funds. The XB-19 was extensively tested by the USAAF for eighteen months to see the engine performances and different altitudes and the maneuverability of the aircraft.  The results of these tests would later go on to influence the design of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress and the Convair B-36. The XB-19 performed well in all aspects and was generally free of problems. The only problem noted however was the inefficient engine cooling process. Due to this, the cooling gills on the plane had to be open the whole time in longer flights, thus reducing the effective speed of the XB-19.

The XB-19 in flight over Santa Monica with an AT-6 following it.

After the XB-19 was thoroughly tested and experimented with, the USAAF no longer had a need for it. It was brought to the Wright Field and modified to be a cargo transport aircraft. It was refitted with Allison V-3420-11 engines and had its armaments removed. The new aircraft would be designated “XB-19A”. For the next two and a half years, the XB-19A would fly to numerous airfields within Ohio. It was documented to have been stationed at Wright Field, Patterson Field, Lockbourne Air Base, and Clinton Country Air Base. The XB-19A would make its last flight on August 17th, 1946, where it flew to the Davis-Monthan airfield in Arizona from Wright Field to be stored. It stayed in storage for three years before finally being scrapped in 1949, thus ending the legacy of the XB-19.

XB-19_in_flight_1942_Colorized copy
The XB-19 in flight some time in 1942. (Colorized by Michael J.)

To this day, only two wheels of the XB-19’s landing gear survives. One can be seen in the Hill Aerospace Museum in Oregon, and the other can be seen in the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Ohio.

The wheel of the XB-19 with a car and person for comparison.

Design

The XB-19 is described as a colossal, all metal low wing monoplane installed with a conventional tricycle landing gear. The two main wheels of the landing gears measured at 2.44 m (8 ft) in diameter, which was impressive for the time. The original design specifications ordered wanted the engines to be four Allison XV-3420-1, but was swapped for four Wright R-3350-5 engines instead with a three blade metal propeller with a 5.18 m (17 ft) diameter. The engines would be switched once again to Allison V-3420-11 after the plane was repurposed as a cargo transport aircraft. The plane could carry an impressive amount of fuel, at 38,178 L (10,350 US Gallons) in its auxiliary fuel tanks, with an optional 3,210 L (824 US Gallons) that could be stored in the bomb bay.

A shot of the underside of the XB-19 with the gear down.

The XB-19 carried 8,480 kg (18,700 lbs) of ordinance usually, but could be overloaded to 16,828 kg (37,100 lbs) if fuel was reduced significantly. As for armaments, the initial prototype was unarmed. Later though, two 37mm Oldsmobile T9 autocannons, five 12.7mm M2 Brownings and six M1919 Brownings were fitted to the plane. One T9 was fitted to the nose while the other was fitted to the upper front turret, each accompanied by a single M1919 machine gun. There would be one M1919 on each side of the bombardier’s position, and a M1919 on each side of the stabilizer. A single M2 Browning was fitted in the tail of the XB-19, two M2 Brownings on each side of the galley compartment, one in the bottom turret, and one in the upper powered turret.

In the crew compartment, there was eight seats and six bunks. The compartment could accommodate two flight engineers, and six relief crew members. The normal combat crew consisted of sixteen people. (Refer to Specifications Table).

The cockpit of the XB-19.

Variants

  • XB-19 – The original model and design. Initially developed as a long range heavy bomber for the USAAC, but was outdated by the time it entered service. It served as a “flying laboratory”, testing engine performances and plane handling. It was converted to the XB-19A after the USAAF no longer had use for it.
  • XB-19A – The XB-19A was a converted XB-19 using improved Allison V-3420-11 engines. It was used as a cargo transport aircraft after the air force was done experimenting with it. All armaments were removed. It was scrapped in 1949.

Operators

  • United States of America – The XB-19 and XB-19A was operated by the USAAC and USAAF throughout its service life.

 

Douglas XB-19

Wingspan 212 ft / 64.62 m
Length 132 ft & 4 in / 40.34 m
Height 42 ft / 12.8 m
Wing Area 4,285 ft² / 398.091m²
Wing Loading 32.6 lb/sq ft / 159.5 kg/sq m
Power Loading 17.5 lb/hp / 7.9 kg/hp
Engine 4x Wright R-3350-5 Duplex Cyclone (2,000 hp)
Fuel Capacity 10,350 US Gallons / 38,178 L – in auxiliary fuel tanks + 824 US Gallons / 3,120 L – in bombay (Optional)
Maximum Weight 140,000 lbs / 63,503 kg
Empty Weight 86,000 lbs / 39,009 kg
Climb Rate 650 ft/min / 198 m/min
Speeds Cruising: 135 mph / 217 km/h – Sea Level

Operational: 186 mph / 299 km/h – @ 15,700 ft / 4,785 m

Maximum Speed: 224 mph / 360 km/h – @ 15,700 ft / 4,785 m

Normal Range 5,200 mi / 8,369 km
Maximum Range 7,710 mi / 12,408 km
Service Ceiling 23,000 ft / 7,010 m
Crew 2x Pilots

1x Commander

1x Navigator

1x Engineer

1x Radio Operator

1x Bombardier

2x Flight Mechanics

1x Turret Operator

8x Gunners

6x Relief Crew

(24 Crew – 16 Active, 2 Emergency Stations, 6 Relief Crew)

Defensive Armament 2x 37mm Oldsmobile T9 Autocannon

5x 12.7mm M2 Browning

6x 7.62mm M1919 Browning

Normal Ordinance 18,700 lbs / 8,480 kg
Maximum Ordinance 37,100 lbs / 16,828 kg *

* – with reduced fuel load

 

Douglas XB-19A

Wingspan 212 ft  / 64.62 m
Length 132 ft 4 in / 40.34 m
Height 42 ft / 12.8 m
Wing Area 4,285 ft² / 398.091m²
Wing Loading 32.71 lb/sq ft / 159.8 kg/sq m
Power Loading 13.51 lb/hp / 6.1 kg/hp
Engine 4x Allison V-3420-11 (2,600 hp)
Loaded Weight 140,230 lbs / 63,607 kg
Empty Weight 92,400 lbs / 41,912 kg
Maximum Speed 265 mph / 426 km/h
Cruising Speed 185 mph / 298 km/h
Normal Range 4,200 mi / 6,759 km
Service Ceiling 39,000 ft / 11,885 m

Gallery

A spectacular shot of the XB-19 flying low. 1942.
XB-19A on the ground with Allison V-3420-11 engines.
Crewmen washing the XB-19 at March Field, some time in 1941.
The crew of the XB-19 operating in the cockpit.
XB-19A on the ground with Allison V-3420-11 engines.
XB-19 Before Scrapped
A photo of the XB-19 post-war before it was scrapped.

 

Sources

Bunker, Howard G. Development, Test and Acceptance of Douglas XB-19 Airplane, AAF No. 38-471. 1942, pp. 18–25, Development, Test and Acceptance of Douglas XB-19 Airplane, AAF No. 38-471., Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920. Putnam, 1988., Images:  Side Profile Views by Ed Jackson – Artbyedo.com, Colorized Images by Michael of PE

 

About Leo Guo

Leo Guo is an avid aviation enthusiast based in Canada. Having a particular interest in German and Chinese aviation, Leo has contributed numerous articles for Plane Encyclopedia, of which he holds the position of team manager, head writer and co-owner.

10 thoughts on “Douglas XB-19

  1. So great is the B-19 would require extremely large tracks that only in some places would be built and services on such a large plane, only to see the rear rim it would scare the mechanics. Thanks

  2. There are a few errors, including in the paragraph about pre-first flight delays: Reference to ‘landing gear break’ should be to “landing gear brakes” and the pilot’s last name is incorrectly spelled. It should be: Umstead

    1. Hello Eaton!

      Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The errors have been fixed.

      – Plane Encyclopedia Administrator

    1. Hey Adam!

      The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is most certainly on our to-do list. The aircraft itself has a very interesting development and operational history. This means that the article will be quite large and will take some time to complete.

      Stay tuned!

      – Plane Encyclopedia Administrator

  3. My grandfather was a WWII veteran who returned to Tucson, Arizona and began working at Davis-Monthan AFB in 1946. He worked for MASDC and placed aircraft into storage. What if I told you that the 2 wheels are not the only surviving items from this aircraft? I have the Douglas Aircraft Data Plate from the cockpit, passed on to me by my grandfather nearly 25 years ago, before his passing.

  4. The P-40 parked next to the XB-19 was from the 77th Pursuit Squadron. In June 1941 the 77th along with the rest of the 20th Pursuit Group were, TDY From Hamilton Fld, at Muroc Dry Lake for gunnery practice. When they were ordered to Mines Field to provide escort to the B-19 on its maiden flight. The pilot and enlisted men were billeted at the Hermosa Biltmore while on the assignment. I have several photos of this assignment of aircraft and men assigned to it. I’m the historian for the 20th Fighter Wing Association.

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