When approached to develop a fast bomber, Douglas responded with the Douglas XB-42 “Mixmaster,” a decidedly unconventional, piston-powered design promised to achieve nearly 500 mph. Jason McDowell ...

Q: In the 1940s, I worked as a draftsman for Douglas Aircraft Co. in Santa Monica, Calif. During my period of employment, the design and construction of an experimental plane called the Mixmaster ...

When approached to develop a fast bomber, Douglas responded with the Douglas XB-42 “Mixmaster,” a decidedly unconventional, piston-powered design promised to achieve nearly 500 mph.