The World War Two bomber that cost more than the atomic bomb
8 days ago
- #Military Technology
- #World War Two
- #Aviation History
- The Boeing B-29 was the most advanced and expensive bomber of World War Two, costing more than the Manhattan Project.
- Designed as a 'superbomber', it could fly up to 2,000 miles at unprecedented altitudes and was used to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- The B-29 introduced pressurization technology, allowing crew to operate without oxygen masks and wear lighter flight suits.
- It featured remote-controlled gun turrets with radar-assisted targeting, a first for bomber aircraft.
- The B-29's development faced significant challenges, including engine fires and production delays, leading to the 'Battle of Kansas' to fix issues.
- Used primarily in the Pacific, the B-29 conducted controversial firebombing raids on Japanese cities before the atomic bombings.
- Post-war, the B-29 influenced civil aviation, leading to Boeing's 377 Stratocruiser and the development of global airport infrastructure.
- The Soviet Union reverse-engineered the B-29 to create the Tupolev Tu-4, their first atomic bomber.
- Only 22 B-29s survive today, with one displayed at the Imperial War Museum's American Air Museum in the UK.
- The B-29's legacy includes both its role in warfare and its contributions to modern aviation technology.