An authoritative, superbly illustrated history of the huge Douglas
XB-19 intercontinental bomber, the biggest bomber the United States
built in World War II.
In 1935 the USAAC wanted to build a potential intercontinental bomber, a
'Guardian of the Hemisphere, ' and granted Donald Douglas a contract to
build the world's largest bomber. The groundwork for the
intercontinental bomber had been laid in the previous two decades by the
courageous military and civilian pilots who risked their lives to set
new distance and endurance records. After World War I the future Axis
and Allied nations built larger aircraft and finally during World War II
Germany and Japan became intent on developing intercontinental bomber to
retaliate against America. While the XB-19 never flew as an
intercontinental bomber or even as a combat bomber; its contributions as
a 'Flying Laboratory' significantly influenced the development of the
Consolidated B-36 Peacemaker, the world's first true intercontinental
bomber.
Since the XB-19 project was top secret and there was only one example
built there is little information remaining for researchers. Over the
years Bill Wolf has collected the largest quantity of XB-19 material and
a number of photographs, including a copy of the original Army Air Force
acceptance of the aircraft, first-hand narratives of its first flight,
and other USAAC and Douglas Company documents. This book provides a
superbly illustrated history of the XB-19 intercontinental bomber and
the text is supported by previously unpublished photographs.
