List of United States bomber aircraft

Last updated

This is a list of United States bomber aircraft, including those with the capability of bombing, meaning aircraft such as strike aircraft (also known as tactical bombers) and torpedo bombers are included.

Contents

1915–1935 (First Flight)

Name & RoleYear of
first flight
IntroductionStatusNumber
built
Photo
Airco DH.4 1917retired 1932 Souther Field - World War I Airco DH.4.jpg
Curtiss Model H patrol flying boat1917Retired478 Curtiss America 001.jpg
Curtiss HS patrol flying boat1917Retired1,178 Curtiss HS-2 NAN10-48.jpg
Curtiss F5L patrol flying boat1918Retired227 Naval Air Station at Pensacola.jpg
Martin MBT/MT 1918Retired20 Martin MB-1 front right quarter SN AS 39059 P104 040315-F-9999G-013.jpg
Consolidated P2Y patrol flying boat1929retired 194178 Consolidated Model 22.jpg
Bellanca 77-140 medium bomber1934retired 19424 Bellanca 77-140 Bomber.jpg
Consolidated PBY Catalina maritime patrol flying boat/amphibian1935retired 1980s4,051 ca. PBY Catalina landing.jpg
Curtiss A-3/A-4 Falcon attack/light bomber1924retired 1937155 Curtiss A-3 Falcon (SN 27-243).jpg
Curtiss A-8 attack/light bomber1931retired 193913 Curtiss A-8 No.60.jpg
Curtiss A-12 Shrike attack/light bomber1933retired 194246 Curtiss A-12 Shrike(USAF).jpg
Curtiss XA-14 attack/light bomber1935retired prototype1 Curtiss YA-14 in front of hangar.jpg
Curtiss A-18 Shrike attack/light bomber1935retired 194313 Curtiss A-18.jpg
Curtiss B-2 Condor heavy bomber1929retired 193413 B-2 Condor in flight.jpg
Curtiss BF2C Goshawk fighter-bomber1933retired 1949166 Curtiss BF2C-1 Goshawk - GPN-2000-001239.jpg
Curtiss CS torpedo bomber1923Retired83 EL-2002-00572.jpg
Curtiss T-32 Condor II bomber/transport1933Retired45 Curtiss YC-30 Condor front.jpg
Douglas DT torpedo bomber1921Retired90 Douglas DT dropping torpedo NAN6-75.jpg
Douglas B-18 Bolo heavy bomber1935retired 1946350 Douglas B-18A airplane in flight (00910460 121).jpg
Douglas Y1B-7 bomber1931retired prototype8 Douglas Y1B-7 on the ground.jpg
Fokker XB-8 bomber1929retired prototype7 Atlantic XB-8.jpg
Great Lakes BG dive bomber1933retired 194161 Great Lakes BG-1 of VB-3B in flight, circa in 1936 (NNAM.1996.253.1770).jpg
Huff-Daland XB-1 heavy bomber1927retired prototype1 Parked Huff-Daland XB-1.jpg
Keystone B-3 medium bomber, heavy bomber1929retired 194036 Keystone B-3A (SN 30-281).jpg
Keystone B-4 medium bomber, heavy bomber1930retired30 Keystone Y1B-4 (SN 30-281).jpg
Keystone B-5 medium bomber, heavy bomber1929retired30 Keystone B-5A front left quarter 060421-F-1234P-017.jpg
Keystone B-6 medium bomber, heavy bomber1931retired44 Keystone B-6A.jpg
Martin NBS-1 night bomber1920retired 1929130 Martin MB-2 061219-F-1234S-014.jpg
Martin T3M torpedo bomber1926retired 1932124 T3m-2 martin c1929.jpg
Martin T4M torpedo bomber1927retired 1938155 Martin T4m 01.jpg
Martin B-10 & related medium bomber1932retired 1949342 Martin-B-10B.jpg
Curtiss SBC Helldiver dive bomber1935retired 1943257 SBC-4 New York Naval Air Reserve 1940.jpg
Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bomber1935retired 1944130 Douglas TBD-1 VT-6 in flight c1938.jpeg
Northrop A-17 attack bomber1935retired 1944411 Northrop A-17 front three-quarters view.jpg
Northrop BT dive bomber1935retired 194155 Northrop BT-1 at El Segundo.jpeg
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Daylight heavy bomber1935 [1] 1938 [1] retired 195912,731 [1] Color Photographed B-17E in Flight.jpg

1936–1945 (First Flight)

NameYear of
first flight
Retired/StatusNumber
built
Photo
Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly medium/attack bomber1944retired prototype2 A-38 Grizzly.jpg
Boeing B-29 Superfortress/Washington heavy bomber1942retired 19603,970 B-29 in flight.jpg
Boeing Model 306 heavy bomber, flying boatn/aabandoned 1935 project0
Boeing XB-15 heavy bomber1937retired prototype 19441 XB-15 Bomber.jpg
Boeing XB-38 Flying Fortress heavy bomber1943Lost 1943 project cancelled1 XB-38.jpg
Boeing XB-39 Superfortress heavy bomber1944retired prototype1 XB-39 Superfortress.jpg
Boeing XF8B fighter bomber1944retired prototype3 XF8B-I (US Navy).jpg
Boeing XPBB Sea Ranger maritime patrol bomber1942retired prototype1 Boeing XPBB from below 1943.jpg
Brewster SB2A Buccaneer scout bomber1941retired 1944771 Brewster SB2A-4 Buccaneer in flight 1942.jpg
Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber1939retired 196818,482 [notes 1] XB-24 in Flight.jpg
Consolidated B-32 Dominator heavy bomber1942retired 1945118 B32.jpg
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer patrol bomber1943retired 1962739 PB4Y-2 Privateer VP-23 in flight.jpg
Consolidated PB2Y Coronado
maritime patrol flying boat
1937retired 1945217 [notes 1] PB2Y Coronado in flight.jpg
Consolidated XP4Y Corregidor
maritime patrol flying boat
1939retired prototype1 XP4Y-1 in flight.jpg
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver/A-25 Shrike
dive bomber
1940retired 19597,140 Curtiss SB2C col.jpg
Curtiss XBTC torpedo bomber1945retired prototype2 Curtiss XBTC-2 Model A.jpg
Curtiss XSB3C dive bombern/aabandoned 1941 project0
Douglas A-1 Skyraider attack aircraft1945retired 19853,180 A-1H VA-152 USS Oriskany 1966.jpg
Douglas A-20 Havoc medium bomber1939retired 19497,478 [notes 2] Douglas A-20G Havoc.jpg
Douglas A-26 Invader medium bomber1942retired 19802,452 A-26.jpg
Douglas XB-19 heavy bomber1941retired prototype1 XB-19 on ground (cropped).jpg
Douglas XB-22
medium bomber
n/aabandoned project0
Douglas B-23 Dragon medium bomber1939retired38 [notes 1] Douglas B-23.jpg
Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber1940retired 19595,936 Dauntless bomb drop.jpg
Douglas BTD Destroyer torpedo bomber/dive bomber1943retired 194530 Douglas XSB2D Destroyer in flight.jpg
Douglas XTB2D Skypirate torpedo bomber1945retired prototype2 Douglas XTB2D-1 landing c1945.jpg
Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber1941retired 19669,839
Grumman AF Guardian anti-submarine aircraft1945retired 1955389 [notes 3] AF-2S VS-25 NMNA.jpg
Grumman XTB2F torpedo bombern/aabandoned 1944 project0
Hall XPTBH torpedo bomber1937retired prototype1 Hall XPTBH.jpg
Kaiser-Fleetwings XBTK torpedo/dive bomber – prototype1945project scrapped 19465 XBTK-1 with drop tank 1945.jpg
Lockheed Hudson medium bomber/maritime patrol1938retired 19482,941 Lockheed A-29 Hudson USAAF in flight c1941.jpg
Lockheed P2V Neptune maritime patrol1945retired 19841,132 Lockheed SP-2H Neptune of VP-7 in flight, circa in 1966 (CNIC 042984).jpg
Lockheed Ventura/Harpoon medium bomber/maritime patrol1941retired 19743,010 Lockheed PV-1 Ventura patrol bomber in flight, circa 1943 (fsa.8e01506).jpg
Lockheed XB-30 heavy bomber – projectn/aabandoned project0
Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber1940retired 19465,288 B 26.jpg
Martin Baltimore
medium bomber
1941retired 19491,575 Martin A-30A.jpg
Martin PBM Mariner maritime patrol1939retired 19641,285 Martin PBM-5 Mariner in flight c1945.jpeg
Martin Maryland
medium bomber/reconnaissance bomber
1939retired 1945450 Martin Maryland RAF North Africa.jpg
Martin AM Mauler attack aircraft1944retired 1953151 Martin AM-1 NATC in flight.jpg
Martin XB-27 heavy bombern/aabandoned project0
Martin XB-33 Super Marauder heavy bombern/aabandoned project0
Naval Aircraft Factory SBN dive bomber1936retired 194231 SBN-1 VT-8 in flight 1941.jpg
North American A-27 attack1940retired 194110 Two North American A-27s intercepted from order from Siam on Nichols Field.jpg
North American T-6 Texan light attack1940retired15,495 [notes 4] AT-6C Texans in flight 1943.jpg
North American XB-21 medium bomber1936retired prototype1 North American XB-21 4.jpg
North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber1940retired 19799,984 North American Aviation's B-25 medium bomber, Inglewood, Calif.jpg
North American XB-28 medium bomber1942retired prototype2 North American XB-28 running up.jpg
Northrop N-3PB patrol bomber1940retired 194324 Northrop N-3PB in flight.jpg
Republic P-47 fighter-bomber1941retired 196615,678 [notes 2] P-47D-40 Thunderbolt 44-95471 side.jpg
Vought F4U Corsair fighter-bomber1940retired 197912,571 Vought F4U Corsair (USMC).jpg
Vought SB2U Vindicator/Chesapeake dive bomber1936retired 1945260 Restored Vought SB2U-2 Vindicator at the U.S. National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida (USA), in 1999.jpg
Vought TBU/Consolidated TBY Sea Wolf torpedo bomber1941retired 1948180 Consolidated TBY-2 Sea Wolf in flight c1945.jpg
Vultee A-31/A-35 Vengeance dive bomber1941retired 19451,528 Vengeance bomber of 12 Sqn RAAF in flight 1943.jpg

1946–current

Name of BomberYear of
first flight
Retired/StatusNumber
built
bombload
(kg)
Photo
Boeing B-47 Stratojet strategic bomber1947retired 19772,03211,340 Boeing B-47E-65-BW.jpg
Boeing B-50 Superfortress strategic bomber1947retired 196537012,700 USAF Boeing B-50D.jpg
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber1952operational74431,500 Usaf.Boeing B-52.jpg
Boeing XB-54 strategic bombern/aabandoned 1948 project016,400
Boeing XB-56 strategic bombern/aabandoned 1950 project011,300 Boeing B-56A drawing 061025-F-1234P-001.jpg
Boeing XB-59 strategic bombern/aabandoned 1952 project04,500 Xb59.jpg
Cessna A-37 Dragonfly light attack aircraft1963retired5771,860 OA-37B-1 (centered).jpg
Convair B-36 Peacemaker heavy bomber1946retired 195938439,600 Convair B-36 Peacemaker.jpg
Convair B-58 Hustler strategic bomber1956retired 19701168,820 Convair B-58A Hustler in flight (SN 59-2442). Photo taken on June 29, 1967 061101-F-1234P-019.jpg
Convair XB-46 heavy bomber1947retired prototype110,000 Convair XB46.jpg
Convair YB-60 heavy bomber1952retired prototype233,000 The Convair YB-60.jpg
Douglas A2D Skyshark attack aircraft1950retired prototype82,500 Douglas A2D-1 in flight 1954.jpeg
Douglas A-3 Skywarrior strategic bomber1956retired 19912825,800 EA-3B VQ-1 in flight South China Sea 1974.jpeg
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk attack aircraft1954retired2,9603,720 Douglas A-4E Skyhawk of VA-164 in flight over Vietnam on 21 November 1967 (6430101).jpg
Douglas B-66 Destroyer tactical bomber1954retired 1973726,800 B-66 Destroyer.jpg
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft1972operational7167,260 A-10 Thunderbolt II In-flight-2.jpg
General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark medium bomber1967retired 199856314,300 F-111F dropping high-drag bombs.jpg
Grumman A-6 Intruder attack aircraft1960retired 19976938,200 Grumman A-6E Intruder of VA-52 in flight, in 1981 (6379373).jpg
Grumman F9F Panther fighter-bomber1947retired 19691,382910 F9F-2 VF-21 CVA-41.jpeg
Grumman OV-1 Mohawk light attack1959retired 1996380450 OV-1 Mohawk.jpg
Grumman S-2 Tracker anti-submarine aircraft1952retired 19761,2842,200 S-2A VS-29 CVS-33.jpg
Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk stealth attack aircraft1981retired 2008642,300 F-117 Nighthawk Front.jpg
Lockheed P-3 Orion/CP-140 Aurora/Arcturus maritime patrol1959operational7579,100 Orion.usnavy.750pix.jpg
Lockheed S-3 Viking anti-submarine aircraft1972retired1882,200 Lockheed S-3B Viking of VS-35 is launched from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on 28 August 2002 (020828-N-9593M-019).jpg
Martin B-57 Canberra reconnaissance bomber1953retired403 [notes 5] 3,300 Martin B-57A USAF 52-1418.jpg
Martin P4M Mercator maritime patrol1946retired 1960215,400 Martin P4M-1 Mercator of VP-21 in flight in the early 1950s (NH 101801-KN).jpg
Martin P5M Marlin maritime patrol1948retired 19672857,200 U.S. Coast Guard Martin P5M-2G Marlin in flight on 28 January 1958 (NNAM.2001.261.012).jpg
Martin P6M SeaMaster strategic bomber1955retired 19591214,000 Martin YP6M-1 Seamaster in flight.jpg
Martin XB-48 medium bomber1947retired prototype29,000 MartinXB48.jpg
Martin XB-51 attack bomber1949retired prototype24,700 Martin XB-51 46-585 in flight.jpg
McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II attack aircraftn/aabandoned 1983 project02,300 A-12 Avenger in flight NAN11-90.jpg
McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft1978operational3234,200 United States Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II hovering.jpg
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II fighter-bomber1958retired 20165,195 [notes 2] 8,500 F-4B VMFA-314 1968.jpg
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter/attack aircraft1978operational1,4806,200 McDonnell Douglas FA-18C Hornet of VMFA-212 in flight over the South China Sea on 8 October 2003 (6638451).jpg
North American A-5 Vigilante reconnaissance bomber1958retired 19801566,200 A-5 Vigilante ECN-231.jpg
North American AJ/A-2 Savage nuclear attack bomber1948retired 19641435,400 AJ-1 in flight over California 1950.jpg
North American B-45 Tornado reconnaissance bomber1947retired 195914310,000 North American RB-45C 061023-F-1234S-008.jpg
North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco light attack1965operational370230 OV-10 Bronco firing White phosphorus.jpg
North American T-28 Trojan light attack1949retired 19941,948540 T-28B VT-2 over NAS Whiting Field c1973.jpeg
North American XA2J Super Savage bomber1952retired prototype14,800 XA2J-1 NAN3-53.jpg
North American XB-70 Valkyrie strategic bomber prototype1964retired prototype222,500 North American XB-70 in Flight EC68-2131.jpg
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber1989operational2118,000 B-2 Spirit original.jpg
Northrop YA-9 attack aircraft1972retired prototype27,300 Northrop YA-9 prototype.jpg
Northrop YB-35 heavy bomber1946retired prototype423,200 XB-35.jpg
Northrop YB-49 heavy bomber1947retired prototype47,300 YB49-2 300.jpg
Piper PA-48 Enforcer counter-insurgency/attack aircraft1971retired prototype42,600 Piper PA48 Enforcer USAF.jpg
Republic F-84 Thunderjet fighter-bomber1946retired 19737,5242,000 F-84E of 9th Fighter-Bomber Squadron in Korea.jpg
Republic F-84F Thunderstreak fighter-bomber1954retired 19913,4282,700 F-84F Thunderstreak.jpg
Republic F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bomber1955retired 19848336,400 Republic F-105D-30-RE (SN 62-4234) in flight with full bomb load 060901-F-1234S-013.jpg
Rockwell B-1 Lancer strategic bomber1974operational, to be retired by 203610434,000 B-1B over the pacific ocean.jpg
Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber2023in development118000 (est.) B-21 Raider front high.jpg

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "B-17G Flying Fortress". Air Mobility Command Museum. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  1. 1 2 3 Production figure includes aircraft used as transports
  2. 1 2 3 Production figure includes fighters or other non-bomber variants
  3. Production figure includes AEW variant
  4. Production figure includes trainers
  5. Production figure includes reconnaissance variants

Bibliography