USAAF aircraft of the Pacific War
Boeing XB-15
By the mid-1930s the US Army Air Corps (USAAC) saw the need for a new type of long-range bomber. The procurement of the Boeing B-9 and the Martin B-10 and B-12 series had filled an […]
USAAF
Boeing 314 Clipper
Pan Am approached several companies with a request for a large flying boat to augment their existing fleet of Sikorsky S-42s and Martin M-130s. The requirements specified an aircraft with enormous range, but still capable […]
Martin B-26 Marauder
Designed as part of the same competition that produced the North American B-25 Mitchell, the Martin B-26 Marauder was quite an advanced aircraft for the time. Envisaged as a high speed bomber, the B-26 promised […]
Bell P-39 Airacobra
The Bell P-39 was designed in 1937 in response to a USAAC requirement for a new fighter that could match the performance of European models that were then in development – particularly the Supermarine Spitfire […]
North American B-25 Mitchell
In 1937, the US Army Air Corps began to look for a new twin-engine attack bomber to replace the single-engine types it had on hand. The USAAC solicited for several designs, three of which ended […]
Douglas SBD Dauntless
In 1934 the US Navy ran several design competitions for new aircraft, among them one for a two-seat scout bomber. The entrants were the Brewster XSBA, the Vought XSB2U and the Northrop XBT, which eventually […]
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was one of the most widely used aircraft of World War II and was the most produced heavy bomber in history, with over 18,000 rolling off the assembly lines. The original […]
Douglas B-18 Bolo
The Douglas B-18, later given the popular name ‘Bolo’, was designed in response to a 1934 request for a bomber to replace the Martin B-10 and B-12, which at the time made up the bulk […]
Lockheed A-29 Hudson
The Lockheed Hudson was a medium bomber, built in the United States but primarily operated by British and Commonwealth air forces. It was based on the company’s successful Model 14 airliner, called the ‘Super Electra’ […]
Seversky P-35
Developed from a series of unsuccessful trainer types, the Seversky P-35 shared many of the characteristics of these earlier designs but with a new engine and additional features including retractable landing gear. The design failed […]