B-29 Superfortress

The B-29 Superfortress, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States Air Force, was one of the largest, most advanced bombers to see service during World War II. The B-29 Enola Gay dropped the world's first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan during the final months of the war. Three days later a second B-29, Bockscar, dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Shortly thereafter, Japan surrendered.

 

 

 

FACTS & STATS:

First Flown
1942
Range		 4,100 miles (6,598 km)
Length 99 ft (30 m)
Engine Four Wright R-3350s of 2,200 hp each
Wingspan 141 ft 3 in (43 m)
Max Speed 358 mph (576 km/h)
Ceiling 33,600 ft (10,241 m)
Weight

Empty: 74,500 lb (33,800 kg);
Loaded: 141,100 lb (64,000 kg)
Number Built

3,905
Armament

Eleven .50-caliber machine guns or ten .50-caliber machine guns and one 20 mm cannon, plus 20,000 lbs bomb load



Crew of a B-29.
Image Description: Crew of a B-29.
The B-29 Superfortress displayed at the Cleveland Airport in 1945.
Image Description: The B-29 Superfortress displayed at the Cleveland Airport in 1945.
B-29 Superfortress bombers near Mount Fuji, Japan, July 1945.
Image Description: B-29 Superfortress bombers near Mount Fuji, Japan, July 1945.