GIANT BOMBER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 230, 27 September 1940, Page 5

GIANT BOMBER.

NEARING COMPLETION. AMERICAN SKY FIGHTER. (By Air.) SAX FRAXCISCO, Sept. 2L Among the thousands of warplane* being manufactured in California for jsexvice either abroad or for the United States Army and Xavy, unusual interest has been invested in the evolution of the world's largest super-battle plane, a veritable war monster of the. sides, and known as the 70-ton B-19, which will be ready for test flying within a few months at the Douglas Aircraft Company's factory in Santa Monica, Southern California.

It is being made for the United State* Army, and although not fully assembled, this largest military plane in the world stands complete enough within Douglas* largest hangar to give an idea of its size—a wingspread of more than 210 feet. The B-19 will be capable of taking off with a total weight of 164.0W pounds. Four 2000 horsepower engines will drive the new plane at from 200 to 300 miles per hour for 7500 miles— across the Atlantic and bark—without touching landing gear to runway.

Securely wrapped in official secrecy arm the details of the ship"? armament*. N» inkling of their working has been made public. But this much the army promises: The B-19 will be the most formidable sky fighter ever to cast a shadow on the cloud.