Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Definition

The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a four-engined, long-range bomber of the United States Air Force. The largest of all Second World War (1939-45) bombers, B-29s were used to strike Japanese targets from the summer of 1944. In August 1945, the B-29s 'Enola Gay' and 'Bockscar' each dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively, thereby ending the war.

More about: Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Timeline

  • 21 Sep 1942
    The first prototype of the Boing B-29 Superfortress bomber flies.
  • Jun 1943
    The first test aircraft of the Boing B-29 Superfortress are flown.
  • Apr 1944
    The first Boing B-29 Superfortress bombers are sent for operations in East Asia and the Pacific.
  • 24 Nov 1944
    The first Boeing B-29 Superfortresses raid from the Marianas Islands attacks Japan.
  • Feb 1945
    Boing B-29 Superfortress bombers switch to incendiary bombing over Japanese targets.
  • 9 Mar 1945
    334 Boing B-29 Superfortress bombers attack Tokyo causing over 87,000 deaths.
  • 6 Aug 1945
    The ‘Enola Gay’, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
  • 9 Aug 1945
    The ‘Bockscar’, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.
  • 1950 - 1953
    Boing B-29 Superfortress bombers see service in the Korean War.
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