RON DUPAS COLLECTION
No. 2311. Douglas XB-43 (44-61508 c/n 6564) US Army Air Forces
Source unknown

Douglas XB-43

09/15/2006. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "The XB-43-DO, serialed 44-61508 and nicknamed "Jetmaster", was the first US jet bomber and made its first flight on May 17, 1946.

Douglas XB-43
(44-61508) (Jacques Trempe Collection)

Douglas XB-43
(44-61508) (Jack McKillop Collection)

Douglas XB-43
(44-61508) (Ray Crupi Collection)

However, by the time of its first flight, the USAAF had decided to put the North American B-45 Tornado into production.

Douglas XB-43
(44-61509) (David Horn Collection)

The second XB-43, serialed 44-61509, was retired and became part of the collection of the NASM in Washington, D.C., USA. When I was stationed at Andrews AFB, Maryland, USA, in 1957-59, the second aircraft was stored in a fenced area at a remote end of the base. The aircraft is now stored at NASM's Paul E. Garber Facility in Suitland, Maryland, USA."


Created March 10, 2003