What Could Have Been: The North American XB-28 “Dragon”
Okay… We all know about the B-25 “Mitchell” medium bomber, which is probably one of the most respected and recognizable American bombers of World War 2. Long story short, it was an absolutely fantastic aircraft known for its reliability, ruggedness, and most of all, adaptability. But what you may not know is that as soon as the B-25 entered service, the U.S. Army Air Corps were already looking for something better. That something being the XB-28 “Dragon.”
The Need for Better Technology
Now you have to remember, the Dragon came about at a time when aircraft technology was advancing at a breakneck speed. At the time, the USAAC wanted a new “High Altitude” medium bomber that was both fast and could carry a sizable payload. Of course, the specifications of what the Army wanted continued to change during the 1930s going into the 1940s. The B-25 was a result of this desire, but the Army Air Corps wanted something better.
Thus, North American came up with the XB-28. Basically, it was a better version of the B-25 in every way you could imagine. It was faster with a top speed of 372mph. It had a max altitude of 32,000 feet, and thanks to the twin Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 supercharged piston engines, it could also carry a bomb payload of 2,000lbs.
Features That Set the Dragon Apart
But what really set the Dragon apart from the Mitchell was the fact that the entire aircraft was pressurized, making it more suited for high-altitude bombing missions. North American had certainly delivered on what the Army wanted, but what happened?
Well, doctrine changed. Before, the Army believed that high-altitude bombings were the way to go at the start of WW2. But they soon learned that medium bombers were much more effective making quick, low-level attacks. Modifications to the B-25 design also made that aircraft an absolute beast when it came to conducting such missions. Hell, the B-25G came with a 75mm tank gun, which proved to be very effective in low-level attacks. There was also the fact that the B-26 Marauder was now entering service, which had the same performance as the Dragon, minus the pressurized fuselage.
The End of the Dragon
So in the end, despite its promise, the XB-28 just was not needed anymore.
~NC
