For precisely the same requirement to which Boeing designed the B-29, Consolidated evolved a competing proposal, and each company was awarded a contract to build three prototypes: those ordered from Consolidated were allocated the designation XB-32.
The first prototype made its maiden flight on 7 September 1942, two weeks before the first XB-29. The second and third followed on 2 July 1943 and 9 November, respectively. Like the XB-29 these featured pressurization and remotely-controlled gun turrets, but each differed in some fairly major aspect of its configuration. The first had a rounded fuselage nose and twin fins and rudders based on those of the B-24 Liberator. The second retained this tail unit but had a modified fuselage nose with a stepped windscreen for the flight deck. The third prototype retained this fuselage design, but introduced a large single fin and rudder, and this was the basic configuration as finalized for production aircraft.
Somewhat smaller than the B-29, the B-32 was of cantilever high-wing monoplane configuration, and powered by four Wright Cyclone 18 radial engines of the same series used for the B-29. Landing gear was of the retractable tricycle type, and two cavernous bomb bays could carry 20,000 lb (9,070 kg) of bombs. Accommodation was provided for a standard crew of eight.
Consolidated was to experience extensive problems in the development of the B-32, to the extent that it was not possible to begin the delivery of production examples until November 1944, almost eight months after XX Bomber Command B-29s had been deployed on forward bases in China. Even then, production aircraft (of which 115 were built) had the intended pressurization system and remotely-controlled gun turrets deleted.
In the final analysis, only 15 of these aircraft were to become operational before VJ-Day, these equipping the USAAF's 386th Bombardment Squadron based on Okinawa. A total of 40 TB-32s was also produced for training purposes, but with the end of the war all versions were very soon withdrawn from service.
Specification
Type:long-range strategic bomberPowerplant:four 2,200-hp (1,641-kW) Wright R-3350-23 Cyclone radial piston enginesPerformance:maximum speed 357 mph (575 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,620 m); service ceiling 35,000 ft (10,670 m); range with maximum bomb load 800 miles (1,287 km); maximum range 3,800 miles (6,115 km)Weights:empty 60,272 lb (27,339 kg); maximum take-off 111,500 lb (50,576 kg)Dimensions:span 135 ft 0 in (41.15 m); length 83 ft 1 in (25.32 m); height 33 ft 0 in (10.06 m); wing area 1,422 sq ft (132.10 m2 )Armament:two 20-mm cannon (one in nose and one in tail turret) and four 0.50-in (12.7-mm) machine guns, plus up to 20,000 lb (9,072 kg) of bombs