Consolidated B32 Dominator plus bonus XP73, XB28, XP67 Bat

In 1939, the USAAC issued requirements for a Super Bomber which could operate at high-speed, long-range, more bomb load, and more defensive armament than the existing B-17 and B-24. In 1940, the Army issued contracts for preliminary design to four major aircraft companies, which were designated as Boeing XB-29, Lockheed XB-30, Douglas XB-31 and Consolidated XB-32. The XB-29 was chosen as the winner, and the XB-32 was ordered as an insurance against the failure of the B-29. In 1941, the Army's war plan was based on the bombing of German industrial targets with B-29s and B-32s, but both the bombers programs were not ready due to delays. The first XB-32 finally made its maiden flight on September 1942. It was similar in overall layout to the twin-finned B-24, but development problems continued until the third XB-32 was fitted with a single vertical tail in early 1944. The first combat mission took place as a strike against a Japanese supply depot on May 1945. After WWII all the surviving B-32s were ordered to return to U.S. and all of them were scrapped.