The Douglas XB-19 was originally designated XBLR-2 (eXperimental Bomber Long-Range 2) and was the largest bomber built for the Army up to that time (1938).
The XB-19 was essentially used as a test bed for very large bomber construction techniques and flight characteristics. The Douglas Aircraft Company actually wanted to cancel the project because of the expense and extended construction time which made the aircraft obsolete before it ever flew. However, the Army Air Corps insisted the aircraft be completed for test use.
The XB-19's first flight was 27 June 1941, more than 3 years after the construction contract was awarded. In 1943, the original radial engines were replaced by Allison V-3420 in-line engines and the aircraft was redesignated XB-19A. After testing was completed, the XB-19A was used as a cargo/transport aircraft until 1949 when it was scrapped.
Douglas XB-19 on YOUTUBE
3-View
A three-view drawing (605 x 713)
Specification
CREW
16
ENGINE
4 x 2000hp
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight
73467 kg
161968 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan
64.62 m
212 ft 0 in
Length
40.23 m
132 ft 0 in
Height
13.03 m
43 ft 9 in
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed
360 km/h
224 mph
Ceiling
7015 m
23000 ft
Range
8372 km
5202 miles
ARMAMENT
2 x 37mm cannon, 5 x 12.7mm + 6 x 7.62mm machine-guns , 16330kg of bombs
This A /C was assigned to the All Weater Flying Center stationed at Clinton County Air Base, Wlmington,Ohio in the late 40s. The famous Col. Ben Kelsey would come to the base from Wright Pat to fly the B-19. A few of us lucky Lieutneants would get to fly co-pilot for him. Col.Ben had a Flight Engineer sargent(he called Rosey) especially assigned to this plane and Rosey's huge control panel was down a set of steps beneath the pilots. Of course engine starting, monitoring etc was all done on interphone. At that time it had the liquid cooled Allisons under the cowl. As I recall these were 2-1710s of the type used on the P-40s etc, mated at the front with a gear box. Therefore the plane had 8 Allisons hauling her along. I still recall that cool sound. Standing beside the single wheel on the main strut, I could just see over the top of the tire. The short time in the right seat is one of the highlights of my aeronautical career. I have one faded photo taken with "The All Weather Flying Center" livery paint job but do not know how to add it to this comment. There is a fine site on the web about Col. Kelsey. An interesting account of his delivering the first P-38 to Mitchell Field on Long Island.
AS a 12 year old,living just outside of Wright-Patterson A.F. Base in Dayton during the war years, I saw many experimental aircraft flying over the house. THE XB-19 was one I remember as I had never seen anything so big. It landed at Wright Field and had to take right back off as the concrete runway was breaking up under it from the weight. It returned to Wright Field after they were resurfaced with a greater depth of concrete. Bob
