Douglas XB-19In 1935, the USAAC wanted to build a potential intercontinental bomber, a 'Guardian of the Hemisphere,' and granted Donald Douglas a contract to build the world's largest bomber. The groundwork for the intercontinental bomber had been laid in the previous two decades by courageous military and civilian pilots who risked their lives to set new distance and endurance records. After World War I, the future Axis and Allied nations built larger aircraft