Special Sub-Topic: American Bombers Click Here To Play: American Bombers

Which was the first B designated bomber to enter service with American forces?

Curtiss B-2 Condor. Throwing bombs out of airplanes had been around since 1911 or so, but a properly designed bomber was not conceived until 1914 by the Russians (a four-engined job called the Ilya Muromets). The U.S. decided to classify bombers properly in 1920 but did not use the B category (at the time for medium bombers) until 1924 and the first B designated bomber followed in 1929. It was given the B-2 name as it was a descendant of the NBS-1 which was a night bomber classified under the old system in 1920. The Condor had a top speed of 132 mph and could carry 1,100 lbs of bombs. Only 13 were ever built as they were more or less obsolete when they entered service.

Which bomber has dropped more tonnage of bombs than any other in USAF history?

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. The B-17 is probably the most iconic and widely recognized bomber to see service with the USAF. Pictures of returning aircraft with serious battle damage were widely circulated fueling its legendary status. The marque dropped over 650,000 tonnes of bombs on Germany and was the preferred aircraft of pilots of the 8th Air Force. The last U.S. Fortress was retired by the coastguard in 1959.

Which bomber holds the record for the highest production run of all US military aircraft?

Consolidated B-24 Liberator. While the B-17 was probably the best known American bomber of WWII, with its legendary ability to take damage and still stay in the air, the B-24 outstripped B-17 production by 3:2 and its final production run was over 18,000 units. Headline overall losses of B-24 due to enemy fire were less than the B-17 but this figure does not take into account that many B-24s were used as transport and maritime patrol aircraft rather than straight bombers.

Sergeant Anthony Marchione was the last American airman to die in combat in WWII. In which type of bomber did he meet his end?

Consolidated B-32 Dominator. The B-32 was designed as a possible replacement for the B-29 if the Superfortress design failed to live up to expectations. The B-32 prototype was delayed while the B-29 was a success so very few were ever delivered for active service and the order was canceled on 8 Sept 1945. The last aircraft to engage in combat was a B-32 of 386th Bomb Squadron on a photographic mission over Tokyo on 18th August 1945. Sgt Marchione was fatally wounded helping a fellow crewman. The remaining B-32s were flown straight from the production line to the scrapyard and none survive to the present day.

In 1949, the USAF introduced the largest piston-engined bomber ever built. What was the designation of this aircraft?

Convair B-36 Peacemaker. The Peacemaker was conceived in 1941 as the first intercontinental bomber in case Britain fell to the Nazis and America had no base to attack Germany. The prototype did not fly until late 1946 and later was the only candidate to carry the heavy first generation hydrogen bombs. It was adopted as the world's first dedicated nuclear bomber and was absolutely huge with a wingspan of 230ft. Despite its size and awesome payload, it was obsolete from first flight and if it was ever attacked it would have been a dead duck with a top speed of only 420mph in the age of jet interceptors. Its Pratt and Whitney engine were liable to burst into flames if the crew sneezed and the model was responsible for Americas first "Broken Arrow" in British Columbia on 13 Feb 1950. But what a plane, eh?

Into the jet age, which was the first jet bomber to enter service with the USAF?

North American B-45 Tornado. The B-45 entered service in 1948 as the mainstay of the United States nuclear deterrent. It was superseded in the mid-1950s by the B-47 and some were converted to reconnaissance duties while others were sent to the RAF to become Britain's nuclear workhorse. In 1952, a B-45 became the first aircraft to fly non stop across the Pacific Ocean refuelling in midair twice along the way.

Which was the first American bomber capable of Mach 2 in level flight?

Convair B-58 Hustler. The B-58 was designed to fly fast, high level bombing runs out of range of enemy interceptors. The development of accurate Soviet surface-to-air missile rendered the design obsolete and it was retired in 1970 after just 10 years service. It was an aircraft that was difficult to fly and expensive to maintain...indeed it was rumoured that they cost more to build than their weight in gold. Eight machines survive to the present day, but none are currently in airworthy condition.

Which bomber was designed as a supersonic replacement for the B-52?

Rockwell B-1 Lancer. After being cancelled and reinstated many times, the B-1 entered service in 1986, some 20 years after first design. It is a beautiful plane, and the last variable sweep wing aircraft in service with the U.S. military. Affectionately known as the "lawn dart" from its unfortunate habit of nose-diving into Midwestern cornfields, 10 of the original 100 machines have been lost in crashes. Wouldn't mind a go in one though.

In 2005, which USAF bomber became only the second aircraft type in the world to mark 50 years of continuous service with its primary operator?

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. The B52's performance and low operating costs have seen off competition from several more modern designs. It is a truly awesome machine with the ability to deliver over 31 tonnes of bombs at a range of 5,000 miles. If you are under it when it opens its bomb doors, the end is near.

Which is the only US bomber to deploy stealth capabilities?

Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit. The controversial and horrendously expensive B-2 was first seen in 1989 and a production run of 132 were ordered. Due to budget cutbacks only 21 were ever built. They cost over $700 million per plane, and cost four times more to maintain than the B-52 and B-1B force, requiring air-conditioned hangars to keep the stealth skins in prime condition.