<hi style=afpcap>The Douglas XB-43 has the distinction of being the first jet bomber in the Air Force, although it did not go into production. Designed in 1944, the XB-43 was based on the earlier radial engined XB-42 Mixmaster pusher of 1943. The XB-43 had two General Electric J35 turbo jets positioned one above the other buried deep in the fuselage. The prototype made its first flight in May 1946, with a second example being ordered later in 1944 as a YB-43 to perform development of the engines. </hi>
