Was the B-29 a failure?

Was the B-29 a failure?

A post-war official report credited B-29s with 914 victories against 72 losses in over 31,000 sorties flown in the 13 months from August 1944 to August 1945. Despite the effort that went into developing the B-29’s central fire control and its operational success, it was not always seen as an essential system.

Are there any B-29 still flying?

Many served during the Korean War and as aerial tankers during the 1950s. Only 22 complete B-29 airframes are currently restored in the United States. Two of these are airworthy.

Is B-29 a good plane?

Considered the most advanced bombers in the world, the B-29s had pressurized cabins, remote control gun placements and 2,200-horsepower engines — the most powerful piston engines of the time. Able to fly over 3,000 miles, up to 16 hours, these bombers were just what the Allies needed to target Japan.

How many B-29 were shot down in Korean?

At least 16 B-29s were shot down over North Korea, and as many as 48 were lost in crash landings or written off because of heavy damage after returning to base. The bombers were also used as reconnaissance, weather, and rescue aircraft.

Did the B-29 have a bathroom?

B-29. ‘For the long flight, we were provided with sandwiches and coffee, and Benzedrine tablets to keep us awake. In the forward end of the aircraft, there was a cylindrical canister with a funnel and a rubber tube into which we could urinate.

How many B-29s were lost over Japan?

How many B-29s were lost over Japan? ‘Four hundred and fourteen (414) B-29s were lost bombing Japan—147 of them to flak and Japanese fighters, 267 to engine fires, mechanical failures, takeoff crashes and other “operational losses,”’ Pete Feigal, Former Pro Military Artist, explains on Quora.

How many B-29s were shot down over Japan?

‘Four hundred and fourteen (414) B-29s were lost bombing Japan—147 of them to flak and Japanese fighters, 267 to engine fires, mechanical failures, takeoff crashes and other “operational losses,”’ Pete Feigal, Former Pro Military Artist, explains on Quora.

How deep is the B-29 in Lake Mead now?

Today the B-29 rests in 115 feet of fresh water at the bottom of the Overton Arm of Lake Mead National Recreational Area. This is a protected site within the National Park.

How many B-29s got shot down?

B-29 gunners were credited with shooting down 27 enemy aircraft. In turn 78 B-29s were lost; 57 B-29 and reconnaissance variants were lost in action and 21 were non-combat losses.

Did the B-29 have a tail gunner?

During the closing years of the conflict, the American B-29 bombers were equipped with a tail gun position in which the gunner still had a direct view on his target while operating his synchronized weapons, but some other gun positions of this particular model of Boeing bomber were, for the first time in an aircraft.

How high can a B-29 fly?

31,850 feet
Technical Specifications

What did the Japanese think of the B-29?

Because B-29s targeted civilians, B–29 crewmen were considered war criminals by the Japanese government.

Was the B-29 ever used in Europe?

The intended use of Superfortresses in WWII was to bomb Japan, but the first B-29 was deployed to England in March 1944. It was sent to the European theater to trick the Germans into thinking that B-29s were to be based in England, and to disguise the concentrated use of Superfortresses against Japan.

Can you dive the B-29 in Lake Mead?

We will be offering a 2 dive and 1 dive option! The B-29 will vary in depth throughout the year. Lake levels range from 95 feet to 125 feet. It has an 87-foot traverse from the mooring line to the tail section of the plane.

What was the life expectancy of a tail gunner in WW2?

The Rear-Turret Gunners were in the most vulnerable position on the Plane. The life expectancy of a WW2 Rear-gunner varied but was never high, mostly about just 5 Sorties.

Which was better B-17 or B-29?

In turn, the B-29 had a much longer combat range than the B-17. On top of the longer combat range, the B-29 also had a much faster cruising and max speed. Both bombers also had the same rate of climb, although the B-17 had to climb higher as its service ceiling was higher too.

Does the B-52 still have a tail gun?

By 1992, the Air Force had removed the guns from all its remaining B-52Gs and Hs. The service’s 111X0s, including Wellbaum, transitioned to other jobs. Neither the B-1 Bone nor the B-2 Spirit bombers ever had tail guns.

What was the life expectancy of a b17 crew?

The average age of the crew of a B-17 was less than 25, with four officers and six enlisted Airmen manning the aircraft. Their chance of survival was less than 50 percent.

What was the fastest U.S. plane in ww2?

Upon its official introduction in 1940, the P-38 was capable of climbing to 3,300 feet in a single minute and reaching 400 mph, 100 mph faster than any other fighter in the world.

Does the B-52 have a toilet?

Given the lack of space on board the Bombers, there is no sitting toilet, and crew members must defecate into bags and dispose of the waste when they land. The Bombers are used for long-haul missions and can stay airborne for up to 40 hours.

How many tail gunners died in WW2?

Through the entire Operation, the Rear Gunner knew that the Luftwaffe Fighter Pilots preferred to Attack from the rear and under the belly of the Bomber, so he was often 1st in line for elimination. During WW2 – 20,000 Air Gunners were killed while serving with Bomber Command.

How cold did it get in a B-17?

The planes were unheated and open to the outside air. The crew wore electrically heated suits and heavy gloves that provided some protection against temperatures that could dip to 60 degrees below zero.

What was the average age of a B-17 pilot?

What plane shot down most in ww2?

It is accurate to state that the P-38 did shoot down more Japanese aircraft than any other USAAF plane with 1,857, with the P-40 running a close second at 1,633.5. Even though the F6F did not start reaching Naval and Marine units in the Pacific until late 1943, once it did it came in prodigious numbers.

What fighter plane has the most kills in ww2?

Which Allied Fighter scored the most victories in World War Two? I believe I know the answer