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Boeing F6B (BFB)—1933

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (XBFB-1) Type: One- place carrier fighter /bomber- fighter.

Manufacturer: Boeing Airplane Co., Seattle, Washington. Total produced: 1 (USN)

Powerplant: One 625-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1535-44 14-cylinder radial driving a two- bladed Hamilton Standard variable- pitch propeller.

Armament: Two fixed forward- firing .30-caliber machine guns and up to 474 lbs. of bombs carried externally.

Performance: Max. speed 195 mph at 6,000 ft.; ceiling 20,700 ft.; combat range 437 mi.

Weights: 2,823 lbs. empty, 3,705 lbs. loaded.

Dimensions: Span 28 ft. 6 in., length 22 ft. 2 in., wing area 252 sq. ft.

The F6B/BFB was the second installment of the Navy’s short- lived, single-seat bomber- fighter concept. In 1931, while Boeing was making preparations to manufacture the F4B-3 and F4B-4 in quantity, BuAer in- dicated interest in a related design that would possess im- proved light dive- bombing capability, and thus in June of 1931, authorized the company to construct a single prototype as the XF6B-1. But as a consequence of Boeing’s concurrent involvement in other military projects (i.e., F4B-3 and -4, P-12E, B-9, and P-26) completion and de- livery of the XF6B-1 to NAS Anacostia was delayed until February 1933, by which time Curtiss had already flown two prototypes (i.e., F11C-1 and -2) built to the same re- quirements. After commencing flight trials, the prototype received the new bomber- fighter designation XBFB-1. While having many aerodynamic and structural character- istics in common with the F4B-3 and -4, the

XBFB-1 came with ten percent more wing area, more horsepower, and fully cantilevered main gear legs allowing clearance for ord- nance on the centerline. The aircraft was re- tained for testing but no production was or- dered. It was the last type of biplane to be built by Boeing at Seattle.

The sole XBFB-1 (XF6B-1) evaluated at Ana- costia during 1933. Similarity to Boeing’s suc- cessful F4B series is evident. By the time the XBFB-1 arrived, the Navy had decided to pur- chase the Curtiss BFC-2 (F11C-2).

Grumman F2F—1933

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (F2F-1) Type: One- place carrier fighter.

Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft Engr. Corp., Bethpage, New York.

Total produced: 55 (USN)

Powerplant: One 700-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1535-44 14-cylin- der radial driving a two- bladed Hamilton Standard variable- pitch propeller.

Armament: Two fixed forward- firing .30-caliber machine guns.

Performance: Max. speed 231 mph at 7,500 ft.; ceiling 27,100 ft.; range 985 mi. max.

Weights: 2,691 lbs. empty, 3,847 lbs. loaded.

Dimensions: Span 28 ft. 6 in., length 21 ft. 5 in., wing area 230 sq. ft.

In the wake of Grumman’s success with the FF-1 in 1931, BuAer awarded the company a contract in No- vember 1932 to design and construct a prototype for the Navy’s most recent single- seat fighter competition (i.e., one of two retractable- gear biplanes considered along with the Curtiss XF11C-3/BF2C-1, reported above). When flown for the first time on October 18, 1933, the XF2F-1 epitomized the stubby, “beer- barrel” appearance associated with all Grumman biplane fighters. Using many of the structural and aerodynamic features seen on the FF-1, the XF2F-1 introduced improved stream- lining with a very tightly cowled engine having bumps for cylinder- head clearance. During acceptance trials, the prototype showed itself to be highly maneuverable and fast, posting a top speed of 229 mph and a rate- of- climb exceeding 3,000 feet- per- minute. On the negative side, flying the XF2F-1 proved to be tricky, with a pre- disposition to spin, but the trait was not judged serious enough to require aerodynamic changes.

In May 1934, Grumman received a contract to pro- duce 54 aircraft as the F2F-1,

and deliveries to the fleet com- menced in early 1935. By mid- year, the type was equipping VF-2B on Lexington and VF- 3B aboard the Ranger. When VF-3B was changed to VF-7B on the new Yorktown, then later, to VF-5 on the even newer Wasp, the F2Fs went with the unit. All F2F-1s had been replaced by F3Fs in car- rier squadrons before the end of 1940 but remained in serv- ice as gunnery and fighter trainers. As of December 1941, 16 F2F-1s were still flying at NAS Miami and another seven

at NAS Pensacola. A brand-new F2F-1 in front of Grumman’s factory in mid–1934, just before delivery. The aircraft_{is depicted in the markings of Lexington’s VF-2B, the first squadron to become operational with} the type.

Boeing F7B—1933

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (XF7B-1) Type: One- place carrier fighter.

Manufacturer: Boeing Airplane Co., Seattle, Washington. Total produced: 1 (USN)

Powerplant: One 550-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-30 Wasp 9-cylinder radial driving a two- bladed Hamilton Stan- dard variable- pitch propeller.

Armament: Two fixed forward- firing .30-caliber machine guns.

Performance: Max. speed 239 mph at 10,000 ft.; ceiling 26,900 ft.; range 824 mi. max.

Weights: 2,697 lbs. empty, 3,579 lbs. loaded.

Dimensions: Span 31 ft. 11 in., length 27 ft. 7 in., wing area 213 sq. ft.

The first of three monoplane fighter prototypes to be tested at NAS Anacostia during the early and mid–1930s, the F7B represented an ultimately unsuc- cessful effort by Boeing to maintain its place as a major supplier of Navy fighters. Though sharing the same powerplant and some design characteristics with the Army’s monoplane P-26, the XF7B-1 differed in having 30 percent more wing area, an enclosed canopy, and per requirements, landing gear that re- tracted rearward into the wings. The prototype made its first flight on September 14, 1933, and was delivered for military trials two months later. Despite having a top speed 10 mph higher (239 mph) than the rival bi- planes (i.e., XF11C-3 and XF2F-1), the XF7B-1 suffered from excessive takeoff runs, high landing speeds, and general instability to the extent that the Navy returned it to the factory for modifications in the spring of 1934. When the prototype arrived back at Anacostia for testing in early 1935 without the canopy and flaps installed on the wings, landing speed was 12 mph lower, however, the added weight of the improvements effectively cancelled any speed advan- tage over the biplanes. Soon afterward, the plane was rendered non- flyable after

being overstressed in dive tests and the project was cancelled.

The F7B-1, seen here at Ana- costia in 1934, was one of three monoplane fighter prototypes being tested by the Navy. It was ultimately rejected in favor of improved biplanes (e.g., Cur- tiss BF2C-1 and Grumman F2F-1).

Berliner- Joyce