The name Super Fortress was probably given because this was the largest bomber during its time.It was definitely the most sophisticated bomber of its day. Some of the new innovations were a pressurized cabin, an electronic fire control system, and remote controlled machine gun turrets.
It was designed to be a heavy long range, high altitude bomber.
The B-29 had four 18 cylinder propeller driven engines, a 357mph cruising speed, and a range of 3,249 miles. That bad boy had 12 machine guns, and a 20mm cannon as defensive armament so it was well able of fending for itself. This plane could also carry a 20,000 pound bomb load, and 10,000 gallons of fuel when loaded.
This bomber initially had many problems when it was first fielded and was almost scrapped except for the support of some key people. It turned out to be decisive in the Pacific Campaign and the winning of the war. The B-29 was the plane chosen to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The reason that the B-29 was chosen was because it was the only plane big enough to carry the bomb.
This may not be news to all of you Air Force Military Ring customers but it is new to many of us who were ground pounders. We owe a debt of gratitude to all B-29 pilots and crew because this aircraft prevented a very, very bloody ground war if we would have had to invade the Japanese mainland.
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