Boeing RB/WB-29A - "Superfortress" - Lackland AFB, Texas - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

Boeing RB/WB-29A, "Superfortress"
Serial No. 44-62220

The B-29 design began early in 1940 in response to specification for a high altitude long range "Super Bomber" to replace the B-17 and B-24 bombers.  The Boeing XB-29 prototype first flew in September 1942.  Part of the advance design featured a fuselage divided into three pressurized compartments.  The nose and back midsection were connected by a tunnel and the tail gunner area was a separate pressurized compartment.  Another feature included the installation of a remote control fire system directing the gun turrets from scanner stations.  All B-29s were assigned to the 20th Air Force that originally started in the China-Burma-India theatre of operations.  Later final bombing operations were carried out from captured out from captured islands of the Marianas in the Pacific.  World War II ended with the dropping of the first atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.  B-29 production continued after the end of World War II until May 1946 when the last of 2,513 aircraft were completed.  By 1950 the B-29s were recalled for combat service during the Korean War.  During the post WWII era some flew with the Royal Air Force out of England.  Both China and Russia produced exact copies call the TU-4S.

The aircraft on display is actually a RB/WB-29A, serial no. 44-62220, but painted and marked to depict a B-29-40-BW, serial no. 42-24614, assigned to the 498th Bomb Group, 873rd Bomb Squadron, in the Pacific Theatre during 1944.

Wing Span:  141' 3"	Maximum Speed:  375 mph
Length:  99'	Armament:  Twelve .50 cal. Machine Guns/ One 20mm Cannon
Height:  27' 9"	Bomb Load:  20,000 lb
Weight (Empty)  69,610 lbs	Crew:  Eleven
Engine:  Four Wright 4-3350-23 (2,200 hp)

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Boeing RB/WB-29A - "Superfortress" Tail Number: (S/N): Actually 44-62220 Painted as 42-24614 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Lackland AFB inside / outside: outside Other Information:: Not listed Access restrictions: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

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