Boeing B-29 Superfortress, design, development, deployment, specifications, photographs, World War II, surviving aircraft

A Tribute to the Great Boeing B-29 Superfortress

This website is a tribute to the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, and to the people who designed, built, flew, and serviced these aircraft.

"Enola Gay" parked on tarmac after Hiroshima atomic bomb flight

"Enola Gay" parked on tarmac after the Hiroshima atomic bomb flight

We provide first-hand commentary, specifications, history and original photographs of the Superfortress.

Boeing began work on a pressurized long-range bomber in 1938. In December 1939, the Army Air Corps issued a formal specification for a so called "superbomber", capable of delivering 20,000 lbs of bombs to a target 2,667 miles distant, at a speed of 400 mph.

The B-29 was one of the most advanced bombers of its time, featuring innovations such as a pressurized cabin, a central fire-control system, and remote-controlled machine gun turrets.

As part of the World War II military buildup, 3,970 B-29s were built during production at four assembly plants across the United States.

Read about the B-29's role in World War II and Korea, the bomber's development, production and deployment.

Explore our coverage of the B-29 Superfortress "Enola Gay" and its role in dropping the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Days later, the B-29 "Bockscar" dropped the second bomb, on Nagasaki.

Boeing WB-50D, S/N 49-0310, a later variant of the B-29

Left fuselage view of the Boeing WB-50D, S/N 49-0310 (staff photo)

After World War II, many of the existing B-29 aircraft were sent for storage, and ultimately scrapping at aircraft storage and disposal facilities around the U.S.

The remaining B-29s helped build the initial bomber inventory of the Strategic Air Command when it was formed in March of 1946. Many served during the Korean War and as KB-29 aerial tankers during the 1950s.

A later variant of the B-29 was the B-50 Superfortress which featured more powerful Pratt & Whitney radial engines, a stronger structure, a taller fin, and other improvements.

Only 22 complete B-29 airframes are currently on display in the United States. We've had the privilege of seeing, and photographing, 16 of these, and have on this website a list of surviving B-29 Superfortresses, photographs and locations. These surviving bombers provide us a first-hand, up-close opportunity to appreciate the size and power of these aircraft.

Boeing B-29 Superfortress S/N 44-87627 at the USAF Global Power Museum in Louisiana (staff photo)

Right fuselage view of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress S/N 487627

Continued Evolution of This Website Series

We originally launched www.PlanesOfThePast.com in 2012. Since then, it has grown into a large site covering a variety of aviation-related topics. Now we offer the following websites:

Airplanes-Online.com - Introduction to the Airplanes Online Series
AirplanesOfthePast.com - World War II, the Cold War and modern day airplanes
B29-Superfortress.com - The Boeing-built super bomber of World War II and the early Cold War years (this site)
AirplaneBoneyards.com - Military and airliner boneyards in the United States
AirplaneNoseArt.com - Nose art on aircraft, its origin, usage in World War II, and the modern day art form
AirplaneMuseums.com - Airplane exhibits, museums, memorials and air parks
AirlinerSpotter.com - Jet airliner spotting tips, Airbus and Boeing fleets with characteristics, comparisons and photographs