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United States' Boeing B-29 Superfortress1,2,3
Boeing B-29 Superfortress: |
Boeing B-29 Superfortress: |
Boeing B-29 Superfortress: |
Boeing B-29 Superfortress: |
Boeing B-29 Superfortress: |
Boeing B-29 Superfortress: |
Design
In 1940 the US Army Air Corps put out a requirement for a "hemisphere defense weapon."2 It was to carry 2,000 lb / 907 kg of bombs at 400 mph / 644 kph for 5,333 miles / 8,582 km.2 After Pearl Harbor the project was given priority.2
Originally it was intended to bomb Germany from the United States.1
Was first bomber to be pressurized.1,3 There was a tunnel that went over the bomb bay that connected the cabin with the rear area.1 Bunks were located in the rear area for the crew on long missions.1 There were two bomb bays that had winches to hoist the bombs.1
During take-off there was a retractable bumper that helped protect the tail.1 The B-29 had a tricycle undercarraige.3
$3 billion had been spent before the first plane flew.1
Prototype
The XB-29 first flew on September 21, 1942.2,3
Production
The B-29s were produced at Boeing Wichita, Bell Atlantic, Martin Omaha, and Boeing in Renton.2 Production started in late 1943.3
- XB-29: 33
- YB-29: 143
- B-29 2,5133
- Boeing Wichita: 1,6203
- Boeing Renton: 5363
- Bell: 3573
- B-29A: 1,119 at Boeing Renton3
- B-29B: 311 at Bell3
- Total: 3,9603, 3,9702
Variants
- XB-29: Prototype.2
- YB-29: Pre-production.2
- B-29A-BN: Increased wingspan and added a forward four gun upper turret.2,3
- B-29B-BA: Had fewer guns which allowed for a larger bomb load.2,3
- B-29-45-MO: Modified to carry atomic bombs.2
- KB-29: After World War II, was first flying refueling tanker.1
Usage
Pacific
It was decided to use the B-29s only in the Pacific against the Japanese.2
First use in China and India
The XX Bomber Command used the B-29s first from China and India.2 The B-29 equipped four groups.3
The 58th Bomb Wing received the first YB-29s in July 1943.2 B-29-BWs arrived three months later.2
Bangkok Raid
On June 5, 1944 the first raid on Bangkok was conducted by four groups that had moved to India in early 1944.2,3 On June 15, 1944 the B-29s bombed the Japanese mainland.2,3
Mariana Island Bases
B-29s started missions from the Mariana Islands in October 1944.3
Low Level Raids
The bombing campaign against mainland Japan wasn't very success by attacking from high level raids.2 On March 9, 1945 the raids were switch to low-level incendiary raids.2
Atomic Bombs
The 393rd Bomb Squadron dropped an atomic bomb ("Little Boy") on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 from "Enola Gay."2 On August 9, 1945 Fat Boy was dropped on Nagasaki.2
Korea
Only the F-86 Sabre shot down more enemy aircraft.1
Usage by the United Kingdom
Was called the Washington.1 88 were flown by the Royal Air Force (RAF).3
Usage by Russia
The Tu-4 bomber was copied from the B-29 by the Tupolev design bureau.1
| Boeing B-29 Superfortress1,3 | Boeing B-29A Superfortress2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Long-range strategic bomber1 Heavy bomber3 |
Heavy bomber2 |
| Crew | 10-111, 10-143 Pilots (2), bombardier, navigator, flight engineer, radio operator, radar operator, central gunner, left gunner, right gunner, tail gunner1 |
102 |
| Engine (Type) | 4: Wright R-3350 Cyclone 18 turbo charged piston1 4: Wright R-3350-23, -51, -57 Cyclone3 |
4: Wright R-3350-57 piston2 |
| Cylinders | Radial1, Radial 183 | Radial2 |
| Cooling | ||
| HP | 2,200 each1,3 | 2,200 each2 |
| Propeller blades | 4 each3 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 141' 3"1,3 43.05 m1,3 |
142' 3"2 43.36 m2 |
| Length | 99'3, 99' 2"1 30.18 m1,3 |
99'2 30.18 m2 |
| Height | 27' 9"3, 29' 7"1 8.46 m3, 9.02 m1 |
29' 7"2 9.01 m2 |
| Wing area | 1,736 ft2 1 161.27 m2 1 |
1,736 ft2 2 161.27 m2 2 |
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 70,140 lb1, 71,360 lb3 31,815 kg1, 32,370 kg3 |
71,360 lb2 32,269 kg2 |
| Loaded | 123,999 lb1, 138,000 lb3 56,245 kg1, 62, 597 kg3 |
141,100 lb2 64,003 kg2 |
| Performance | ||
| Speed | 358 mph1 576 kph1 |
|
| Speed @ 20,000' / 6,096 m |
344 mph3 553 kph3 |
|
| Speed @ 25,000' / 7,620 m |
358 mph2 576 kph2 |
|
| Maximum cruising speed | 328 mph3 529 kph3 |
|
| Range cruising | 230 mph3 370 kph3 |
|
| Climb | 900'/minute3 274 m/minute3 |
|
| Climb to 20,000' / 6,095 m |
38 minutes2 | |
| Service ceiling | 30,085'1, 31,850'3 9,170 m1, 9,700 m3 |
31,800'2 9,695 m2 |
| Range | 3,250 miles1 5,230 km1 |
4,100 miles2 6,598 km2 |
| Range with 5,000 lb | 3,250 miles3 5,230 km3 |
|
| Range with 12,000 lb | 2,647 miles3 4,260 km3 |
|
| Range with 20,000 lb / 9,080 kg |
1,950 miles3 3,138 km3 |
|
| Armament | 1: 20 mm3 10-12: 0.5" MG3 |
|
| Remotely controlled turrets | 4: turrets, 2: 12.7 mm MG each1 | |
| Tail turret | 3: 12.7 mm MG1 | 1: 20 mm2 2: 12.7 mm2 |
| OR | 2: 12.7 mm MG1 1: 20 mm1 |
|
| Over nose turret | 4: 12.7 mm MG2 | |
| Under nose turret | 2: 12.7 mm MG2 | |
| Over rear fuselage turret | 2: 12.7 mm MG2 | |
| Bombs | 20,000 lb1,3 9,072 kg1,3 |
20,000 lb2 9,072 kg2 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
