World War II Database

1.  BILL says:
23 Mar 2009 12:01:44 PM

The B-29 Superfortress was one of the most remarkable achievements of WWII. Developed and produced in the space of four years. All B-29's were assigned to the assault against Japan. Total production was 3,970 aircraft the B-29 made its last opernational flight in 1960, and was retired from the Air Force. .

2. John Pounds says:
10 Jul 2009 04:22:44 PM

I have two questions:
1. If All 3,970 B-29's were assigned to the assault against Japan). How many of these aircraft's were shot down or crashed?

2. How many B-29 Bombers made it through the war and what happen to them?

My email: white_tiger401@yahoo.com

3.  David Stubblebine says:
19 Feb 2010 05:09:03 PM

This B-29-40 is shown factory-fresh on a pre-delivery check flight. She later flew with the 20th AF, 73rd BW, 498th BG, 873rd BS flying out of Saipan, Mariana Islands. Survived the war and flew post-war as "Klondike Kutie."

4.  Bill says:
23 Jun 2010 11:09:17 AM

"Powered by Hemi"

Hemispherical Combustion Chamber (Hemi)

Hemi was stamped on the Chrysler built
Wright-Cyclone Engine.
The engine was an air-cooled radial with
18 cylinders, it was 3,350 cubic inches
producing 2,200hp.
Chrysler built 18,413 of them!

Did you know...
Besides the Hemi stamp on the engine, the
trade-mark rams horns were also stamped on as well.

5. Bill says:
23 Jun 2010 11:47:56 AM

John Pounds #2 Information

Information I have the 20th Air Force lost
414 B-29's due to different causes However, 147 were lost due to flak and enemy fighters
3,015 crewmen were eather dead,wounded or missing. B-29 gunners shot down about 900
enemy aircraft.

USAAF losses go to:

www.aviationarchaeology.com

6.  Bill says:
25 Sep 2010 06:28:15 PM

One B-29 cost the US Government $605,360.00
dollars. Fifty B-29's were "Silverplate
Aircraft" modified to carry the A-bomb.

"SILVERPLATE"

What ever Tibbets wanted through channels he could get, but if he needed anything fast
from personnal, equipment to aircraft all he had to say was "Silverplate" and all the
Generals jumped, with no questions asked!

A good film covering the events leading up to
the dropping of the A-bomb.
Starring the late actor Robert Taylor, who
was himself a World War II pilot and played
Col. Paul Tibbets Jr. who commanded the 509th
composite group was called Above and Beyond (1952) filmed in black and white, it is a very good aviation film.
The B-29's were the center of the film with
some great air-to-air shots.

I know it was available on VHS but I don't know about DVD. Above and Beyond (1952)

7.  Bill says:
11 May 2011 06:04:41 PM

SILVERPLATE:

Between 1944 to 1947 Sixty-five B-29s were
modified to carry the Atomic bomb missions
Fifty-three served with the 509th Composite Group.

DID YOU KNOW:

At one time the British Avro Lancaster four-engine heavy bomber was considerated at one time to deliver the A-bomb, but was rejected.
The B-29 was the aircraft the USAAF wanted to
use. Modifications took 6,000 man-hours of labor to complete.

OJT: ON THE JOB TRAINING

Pratice missions were flown, carrying 5 ton
pratice bombs same shape and weight as the Atomic bombs being built.
The "Pumpkins" as they were called, were dropped from an altitude of six miles, and
hit the target within 25feet! an astonishing
feat given the technology of the day.
Pilots also praticed making 155 degree diving
turns after dropping the bomb. This was used
to get out of the lethal zone ahead of the explosion and trying to outrun the supersonic
shock wave, before it ripped the aircraft apart.

THE BOMBERS:

Sixty-five Silverplate B-29s were produced during and after World War II.
Twenty-nine of the aircraft were assigned to the 509th Composite Group during WWII.
Fifteen were used to carry out Atomic bombing
of Hiroshima & Nagasaki, an additional Twenty
-four were assigned to the 509th for post-war
operations.
Sixteen were placed in storage, and latter scrapped, Twelve were lost due to accidents,
two are in museums the Enloa Gay and Bockscar
Another group the 97th Bomb Wing operated
B-29s receiving Twenty-seven of the aircraft in 1949 within one year, they were converted
to TB-29s.
One Silverplate B-29 was assigned TDY to the
UK, as a WB-29 Weather Reconnaissance a/c
later transferred to the 9th Bomb Wing, at Travis AFB, California.

KEEPING THE EDGE:

In 1949 225, B-29, B-50 and B-36 Bombers were
modified to carry nuclare weapons that were
operated by the USAF Strategic Air Command.

SURVIVORS:

Another Twenty-five B-29s are in museums world-wide.

TDY: Acronym for Temporary Duty (US Military)

8.  Bill says:
11 May 2011 06:45:38 PM

SUGGESTED READING:

The Silverplate Bombers
By Richard H. Campbell
McFarland & Co Inc Pub.
ISBN 0786421398

This interesting book covers the development
and delivery of Silverplate B-29s, with a
forward by Brigadier General Paul W. Tebbets

9.  Bill says:
30 Oct 2014 06:39:18 PM

Another experiment was fitting out a B-29 to act as escort gunship. Carrying extra guns and ammo
the remote controlled gun positions were replaced with two-manned upper turrets, underneath were two ball turrets, and barrette on each side of the nose, waist gun positions were manned, plus the tail position.
The escort B-29, would have the same problem as the YB-17 Flying Fortress Gunship once the other B-29s dropped their bombs, they would be able to fly faster and would out distance the gunship escort. No gunships were put into operation.

10.  Bill says:
23 Feb 2015 07:20:38 AM

FILE PHOTOGRAPH:

Boeing B-29-50-BN s/n 42-24812 the B-29A had four .50 caliber machine guns in the top upper turret, behind the cockpit, Boeing built 1,119
"A" Models