1937: Test pilot Edmund Turney (“Eddie”) Allen flew the Boeing XB-15 on its first flight at Boeing Field, Seattle. The specification that produced the XB-15 (originally designated the XLRB-1) began in mid-1933 as “Project A”, a project exploring the possibility of flying a very large bomber with a range of 5,000 miles. In April 1934 the US Army Air Corps contracted with Boeing and Martin to design a bomber capable of carrying 2,000 lb. at 200 mph over 5,000 miles. The prototype XB-15 continued to fly long-range goodwill missions and tested heavy lifting of supplies through 1945. (USAF Photos)
