Douglas B-18 Bolo — Technical Documentation Collection

The Douglas B-18 Bolo was the United States Army Air Corps' primary heavy bomber of the late 1930s — a twin-engine, mid-wing monoplane that adapted the proven wing architecture of the commercial DC-2 into a dedicated military bombardment platform. Manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Co. of Santa Monica, California, the B-18 and its refined B-18A variant served in the Pacific, Caribbean, and Atlantic theaters before transitioning to anti-submarine patrol duty as the B-18B/C from 1942 onward. This collection assembles the surviving primary-source factory and Air Corps technical publications for the aircraft and its powerplant — documents that defined how the Bolo was flown, serviced, and overhauled at depot level.

Understanding What Engineering and Technical Manuals Are — and Are Not

These are original factory and Air Corps engineering publications — not simplified guides, not construction plans, not RC or scale-model references. They assume professional-level technical reading ability: tolerance tables, material specifications, assembly sequences, and military regulatory references. They are primary-source documents intended for researchers, restorers, museum professionals, aviation historians, and serious engineers who require access to the deepest available layer of surviving factory documentation.

If you are looking for simplified construction plans or hobby-level guides, this is not the right product for you.
If you are a researcher, restorer, museum professional, or serious engineer who needs original primary-source factory documentation — this is it.

Documents Included

• T.O. 01-40EA-1 — Handbook of Operation and Flight Instructions for the Model B-18 Bombardment Airplanes (Douglas Aircraft Co. / Materiel Division, Wright Field · July 1, 1939 · Revised 10-1-42). Replaces T.O. 01-40E-1 dated July 15, 1938. Covers initial operational parameters, cruise charts, and emergency procedures for the base B-18 variant.
• T.O. 01-40EB-1 — Handbook of Operation and Flight Instructions for the Model B-18A Bombardment Airplanes (Douglas Aircraft Co. / Materiel Division, Field Service Section, Wright Field · November 20, 1940). Detailed cruise charts, emergency procedures, fuel tank management, and revised operational limits for the elongated-nose B-18A. Replaces T.O. 01-40EB-1 dated July 15, 1938.
• T.O. 01-40EB-2 — Handbook of Service Instructions for the Model B-18A Bombardment Airplanes (Douglas Aircraft Co. / Maintenance Command, Air Corps, Field Service Section, Wright Field · December 20, 1940 · Revised 6-3-41). Comprehensive maintenance, structural repair, and engine replacement guide covering periodic inspection requirements referenced on Air Corps Form 41-A.
• Air Depot Progressive Overhaul Manual — R-1820 Engine (Materiel Division / ASCMD · September 25, 1943 · Revised March 1, 1944). Depot-level overhaul procedures for the Wright R-1820 Cyclone radial engine as installed in the B-18 series. Published under Espionage Act restricted classification.
• Operation and Service Manual — Wright Cyclone 9, Series C9GA · C9GB · C9GC (Wright Aeronautical Corporation, USA). Manufacturer's original operation and service manual for the Wright Cyclone 9-cylinder radial engine variants powering the B-18/B-18A, covering operating limits, servicing procedures, and component specifications.

Aircraft Technical Summary

• Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Co., Santa Monica, California
• Powerplant: Two Wright R-1820-53 Cyclone, 9-cylinder air-cooled radial, 1,000 hp each at takeoff
• Propellers: Three-bladed, fully-feathering Hamilton Standard Hydromatic
• Wing Airfoil: NACA 2215 (root) tapering to NACA 2209 (tip); DC-2 commercial wing lineage
• Max Speed: 348 km/h at 3,000 m (216 mph at 10,000 ft)
• Cruising Speed: 269 km/h (167 mph)
• Service Ceiling: 7,285 m (23,900 ft)
• Empty Weight: 7,403 kg (16,320 lbs)
• Max Takeoff Weight: 12,552 kg (27,673 lbs)
• Standard Range: 1,448 km (900 miles) with 2,496 lbs bomb load

⚠️ Regulatory Notice: Under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13 and EASA Part-M, any mechanic performing maintenance on an active aircraft must use current, manufacturer-approved revision-controlled data. This archival document does not satisfy that requirement.

This is an archival, static-copy edition fixed at its original publication date. Intended for historical reference, flight simulation, museum restoration, and educational use only. Not approved for active airworthiness maintenance under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13, EASA Part-M, or equivalent international regulations. Operators of active aircraft must use current, revision-controlled publications from the Type Certificate holder or an authorized distributor.

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