The Douglas XSB2D-1 Destroyer was designed as a replacement for both the Douglas SBD Dauntless and the new Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. It was fitted with a bomb bay and underwing racks for up to 4,200 lb (1,900 kg) of bombs or one torpedo (typically the Mark 13), while defensive armament consisted of two wing-mounted 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon and two remote-controlled turrets, each with two .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns.
Not long after its first flight on 8 April 1943, the US Navy requested torpedo bomber be developed from the XSB2D-1. This resulted in the Douglas BTD Destroyer. Only two prototypes of the XSB2D-1 were built as the production order was converted to BTD Destroyers instead.
Douglas XSB2D-1 DestroyerDouglas XSB2D-1 DestroyerDouglas XSB2D-1 DestroyerDouglas XSB2D-1 DestroyerDouglas XSB2D-1 DestroyerDouglas XSB2D-1 DestroyerDouglas XSB2D-1 DestroyerDouglas XSB2D-1 Destroyer Crash in a Sunnyvale prune orchard, 10 January 1946Douglas XSB2D-1 Destroyer Fuselage-mounted turret with a 12.7 mm machine gun
Developed from the Douglas XSB2D-1 Destroyer as a torpedo bomber for the US Navy, the Douglas BTD Destroyer first flew on 5 March 1944. It differed from the XSB2D-1 with the removal of the turrets and second crewman, the addition of more fuel and armor and wing racks that could carry two torpedoes.
The additional weight from the modifications severely affected performance and the contract was terminated at the end of the war, with only 26 production aircraft being completed.
Two XBTD-2 prototypes were built in an attempt to increase performance with the additional Westinghouse 19B engines in rear fuselage giving 1,500 lbf (6.7 kN) thrust. This mixed propulsion with the additional turbojet did not sufficiently improve performance to warrant production.
Douglas BTD-1 DestroyerDouglas BTD-1 Destroyer 12 August 1943Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer 12 August 1943Douglas BTD-1 DestroyerDouglas BTD-1 DestroyerDouglas BTD-1 Destroyer at Pax River 26 July 1944Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer s/n 04963 at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland (USA), on 26 June 1944Douglas BTD-1 DestroyerDouglas BTD-1 Destroyer s/n 04963 at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland (USA), on 26 June 1944Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer in 1945Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer at the NACA Langley Research Center on 31 August 1945Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland (USA), circa 1945Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer s/n 04970 at Pax River 10 May 1946Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer s/n 04970 at Pax River 10 May 1946Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer on the flight line at Naval Air Station Alameda, California, circa 1947Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer s/n 04968 used by the NACA from 28 July 1944 to 30 June 1947Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer at the Naval Air Rework Facility, Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia (USA).Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer out of NATC Patuxent River, Maryland, July 25th 1944.Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer s/n 04963 4 September 1944Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer s/n 04963 4 September 1944Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer s/n 04963 4 September 1944Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer s/n 04963 4 September 1944Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer s/n 04963 4 September 1944Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer at Pax River 25 July 1944Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer at Pax River 25 July 1944Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer at Pax River 25 July 1944Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer at Pax River 25 July 1944Douglas BTD-1 DestroyerDouglas BTD-1 in Ames 40×80 foot Wind Tunnel, unseated, horizontal tail onDouglas BTD-1 Destroyer cockpit
The Bloch MB.135 made its maiden flight on 12 January 1939. A development of the Bloch MB.131, it was designed as a medium bomber for the French Air Force. Heavily redesigned, it bore little resemblance to the MB.131 it was derived from. It was developed in parallel with the twin-engined MB.134 bomber version.
Despite promising performance, it was not entered into production, as it did not represent a sufficient improvement of existing bombers (the LeO 45 and Amiot 350).
