The Consolidated B-32 Dominator was a heavy strategic bomber developed alongside the Boeing B-29 Superfortress during World War II. It saw limited service, entering combat in the final months of the war and being withdrawn shortly after Japan’s surrender. Despite its brief operational period, it marked a significant moment as both the last US heavy bomber to enter service during WWII and the last Allied aircraft to engage in aerial combat.
Developed as a contingency plan due to initial issues with the B-29 program, the B-32 shared many features with its counterpart, including pressurized cabins and Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone engines. However, only 118 units were produced compared to nearly 4,000 B-29s.
The Dominator was primarily used for reconnaissance missions over Japan rather than bombing runs. “One of the first trio of aircraft sent to the Pacific was aircraft serial number 42-108532, nicknamed Hobo Queen II,” reported The National WWII Museum. These missions continued even after Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945.
In one notable post-ceasefire incident, Dominators engaged rogue Japanese fighters over Tokyo. “Fifteen B-32s were ferried overseas…for tests and combat missions,” according to Pacific Wrecks. This engagement resulted in what may have been some of the last air-to-air combat actions of WWII.
Following Japan’s surrender, production ceased on October 12, 1945. The planes were quickly retired and scrapped due to demobilization efforts by the United States Army Air Force. As noted by The National World War II Museum: “The machines soon went into storage and then were unceremoniously chopped to pieces.”
The most famous of these bombers was Hobo Queen II, which met an unfortunate end when damaged beyond repair while parked in Okinawa.
