Introduction
The Boeing B‑22, sometimes referred to as the “Peashooter,” was an American twin‑engine medium bomber that entered service in the mid‑1930s. Designed as a prototype for the United States Army Air Corps’ search for a modern bomber to replace older single‑engine aircraft, the B‑22 introduced a number of features that would become standard on subsequent heavy bombers, most notably the B‑17 Flying Fortress. Though it saw limited combat service, the aircraft played a significant role in the development of bomber technology and the training of crews that would later fly larger and more capable bombers during World War II.
Design and Development
Background
In the early 1930s the U.S. military recognized the need for a new class of bombers that could carry larger payloads over greater distances while maintaining adequate defensive armament. Boeing was tasked with developing a prototype that would test concepts such as all‑metal construction, retractable landing gear, and improved aerodynamic efficiency. The result was the B‑22, which entered the prototype phase in 1932 and saw its first flight in 1933.
Airframe and Construction
The B‑22 featured a low‑wing monoplane design with a semi‑monocoque aluminum alloy structure. The fuselage was constructed using stressed‑skin panels that provided rigidity while reducing weight. Wing spars were reinforced with steel fittings, and the entire aircraft was covered with a combination of fabric and metal skins. This construction approach was innovative for its time and set a precedent for later bomber designs.
Powerplant
The aircraft was powered by two 650‑horsepower Wright R‑1670 Cyclone radial engines mounted on the wings. Each engine drove a two‑bladed propeller that was fitted with a variable‑pitch system to improve performance across different phases of flight. The use of two engines provided redundancy and allowed the B‑22 to maintain flight in the event of an engine failure.
Landing Gear
Defensive Armament
The B‑22 was armed with three .30‑inch (7.62 mm) machine guns. Two were mounted in fixed forward‑firing positions to cover the aircraft’s forward arc, while a third was placed in a flexible tail gunner’s station to defend against attacks from behind. This arrangement was intended to provide balanced protection while keeping weight and complexity manageable.
Crew and Interior
The aircraft’s crew comprised five members: a pilot, a co‑pilot, a bombardier, a navigator, and a tail gunner. The cockpit was equipped with standard flight instruments of the time, including an artificial horizon, a compass, and a basic radio set. The bombardier’s station featured a dorsal and ventral bombardier’s compartment with a panoramic view, facilitating the precise aiming of the aircraft’s bomb load.
Production and Operational History
Initial Service
The B‑22 entered service with the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1935, primarily as a training and evaluation platform. The aircraft was assigned to the 5th Bombardment Group at Mitchel Field, New York, where it was used to train crews in medium‑bombing tactics and procedures. During this period, the B‑22’s performance was compared against contemporary aircraft such as the Martin B‑10 and the Douglas A‑20, allowing the Army to refine its operational doctrine.
Limited Combat Use
When war broke out in Europe in 1939, the B‑22 was largely considered obsolete by the standards of the time. Nonetheless, a small number of B‑22s were deployed to the Philippines in 1940 for defensive duties in the face of rising tensions in the Asia‑Pacific region. These aircraft were used mainly for coastal patrol and short‑range bombing missions, but no significant combat engagements were recorded involving the B‑22 during World War II.
Training and Conversion
As newer bombers such as the B‑17 and B‑24 entered service, many B‑22s were converted into advanced trainer aircraft. The aircraft’s relatively stable flight characteristics made it suitable for teaching novice pilots basic bomber handling. The B‑22 trainer program was conducted at several Army airfields, including Langley Field, Virginia, and Fairfield, California.
Final Disposition
By the end of 1942, all operational B‑22s had been retired from front‑line service. The aircraft were either scrapped for metal or repurposed for ground support roles such as cargo transport and personnel movement. No B‑22 aircraft survived into the postwar period, and no examples remain in museums or private collections.
Variants
B‑22
The original production version, equipped with two Wright R‑1670 engines, three machine guns, and a maximum bomb load of 2,000 lb. The B‑22 served as the baseline for subsequent variants.
B‑22A
Modified for advanced training, the B‑22A featured updated instrumentation, reinforced armor for the crew compartment, and a modified nose section to accommodate improved observation equipment. This variant remained in service until 1943.
B‑22B
A limited number of B‑22s were converted to carry an experimental fuel injection system on one of the engines. The objective was to evaluate the feasibility of fuel injection on radial engines for future bomber designs. The B‑22B was never entered into full production due to the complexities involved in the installation.
Legacy and Influence
The B‑22’s influence on the evolution of bomber aircraft is evident in several key design philosophies that it introduced. First, its all‑metal stressed‑skin structure became a defining characteristic of the B‑17 and other heavy bombers that followed. Second, the incorporation of retractable gear improved aerodynamic performance and provided a model for subsequent aircraft that required higher cruise speeds. Third, the aircraft’s crew configuration, including separate stations for bombardier, navigator, and tail gunner, set a template for crew roles that would be expanded upon in larger bombers.
From a tactical standpoint, the B‑22’s performance data informed the Army’s shift toward larger, four‑engine heavy bombers capable of carrying heavier payloads over longer distances. The experience gained from operating and training on the B‑22 contributed to the proficiency of crews that later flew the B‑17 Flying Fortress in the European theater.
The aircraft also played a part in fostering a deeper understanding of bomber defensive tactics, particularly the necessity of flexible tail gunners and the integration of defensive armament with crew coordination. These lessons were integral to the subsequent redesign of heavy bomber armament suites, which included more powerful machine guns and early forms of remote‑controlled gun turrets.
Technical Specifications (B‑22)
- Crew: 5
- Length: 58 ft 6 in (17.83 m)
- Wingspan: 77 ft 0 in (23.53 m)
- Height: 15 ft 6 in (4.73 m)
- Empty weight: 16 000 lb (7 257 kg)
- Maximum take‑off weight: 20 500 lb (9 299 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Wright R‑1670 Cyclone radial engines, 650 hp (485 kW) each
- Maximum speed: 165 mph (265 km/h) at 10 000 ft (3 048 m)
- Range: 1 300 mi (2 092 km)
- Service ceiling: 18 000 ft (5 486 m)
- Armament: 3 × .30 inch (7.62 mm) machine guns, 2 000 lb bomb load
See also
- B‑17 Flying Fortress
- B‑24 Liberator
- Twin‑engine bomber
- History of bomber aircraft
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