The B-52 Competition of 1946...and Dark Horses from Douglas, 1947-1950

In this issue, we examine proposals submitted to the Army Air Force heavy bombardment competition of 1946, which ultimately produced the legendary Boeing B-52. Though Boeing won the initial competition, it struggled to keep the contract as changing Air Force requirements and rival companies put intense pressure on the program. One of its most aggressive competitors was Douglas Aircraft, which submitted scores of strategic bomber studies from 1947-1950 in an effort to reopen the contract to competition. The magazine covers the Boeing Model 462; Convair Heavy Bombardment Airplane; Martin Models 216 & 232; Douglas VLRB-C; and Douglas Models 1112, 1155, and 1211. Multiple variants of several are shown, with the Model 1211 series including 40 configurations. The magazine features 77 illustrations, photos, and artist’s impressions, the majority published here for the first time.