Alerts Sign-up
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress, a key aircraft during World War II, was produced in significant numbers due to its critical role in the Pacific theater. According to the National World War II Museum, a total of 3,970 B-29s were built, surpassing the investment in atomic bomb development by over $1 billion in 1944 dollars.
The aircraft first saw action from May 1944 to August 1945 when it conducted operations against Japan from bases up to 2,000 nautical miles away. These missions contributed significantly to Tokyo's early surrender by overwhelming Japanese defenses with massive bombing campaigns. Although the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were devastating, the B-29's firebombing raids are often credited as being equally impactful in ending World War II.
Designed specifically for long-range missions over hostile territories, the B-29 incorporated several advanced features for its time. It was the first bomber with a pressurized cabin and featured remotely controlled gun turrets through a central fire-control system. The construction process of these aircraft required an extensive hiring and training effort, eventually reducing production time per unit significantly.
