The YFM-1 Airacuda was developed as a bomber destroyer aircraft. It was an interesting design in that it had two engines,
each with rearward-facing propellers, and forward-facing gunner's positions in the front of each of the extended engine nacelles.
The 37mm cannon in each of these positions were remotely controlled by an operator seated in the fuselage behind the pilot,
though a gunner was stationed behind each gun as a loader and for manual backup.
The first prototype XFM-1 flew on September 1, 1937. It was decided to build an experimental series of 13 aircraft, first of which
was completed in September 1939. It was a revolutionary design that unfortunately was plagued by mechanical problems
and poor performance. As a result the program ended without the Airacuda entering mass production.