DOUGLAS B-18 BOLO

The Douglas B-18 Bolo was an American production bomber with a full metal dorsal wing structure from the interwar period and World War II. The drive - in the B-18A version - was provided by two Wright radial engines R-1820-53 . The flight of the prototype took place in 1935, and serial production continued in the years 1936-1940, ending with the production of about 350 aircraft of this type. The on-board armament consisted of three 7.62 mm machine guns and a bomb load of up to 2,200 kg. The Douglas B-18 Bolo was commissioned by the US Air Force, which wanted to acquire a successor to the Martin B-10 aircraft. The new machine was characterized by a much greater range, greater lifting capacity and better performance. It was also based on the proven design of the DC-2 passenger and transport aircraft. The B-18 Bolo also proved to be relatively cheap to produce. Several development versions were created, including: B-18 (the first series produced in series), B-18A (version with new Wright engines with more power) or the B-18B version (anti-submarine aircraft). Douglas B-18 Bolo bombers took a very limited part in the initial phase of the war in the Pacific (1941-1945), because as early as 1942 they began to be replaced in the line with much better Boeing B-17 planes. In addition to the US Air Force, these types of planes were used by Brazil and Canada.