We all know this iconic plane that dropped the first atomic bomb!
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress was a heavy bomber built for the United States by the Boeing company. The B-29 had four engines, a wingspan of 141 feet, a length of 99 feet and height of almost 28 feet. The Superfortress could fly at an altitude of 31,850 feet, and had a range of about 3,250 miles. A B-29 loaded with bombs weighed 135,000 pounds. The crew consisted of 11 people (Pilot, Co-pilot, Bombardier, Flight Engineer, Navigator, Radio Operator, Radar Observer, Right Gunner, Left Gunner, Central Fire Control and Tail Gunner). You might have heard that the B-29 dropped the Atomic bomb, and it’s true! On August 6, 1945 the United States sent three B-29’s to Japan, two of which were carrying normal bombs and one carrying an Atomic bomb. The one with the atom bomb was named the Enola Gay after Colonel Paul Tibbets’ mother, Enola Gay Tibbets. The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, and that single bomb killed 80,000 people. Several days later, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on the City of Nagasaki, and after that the Japanese surrendered. It was magnificent but is not flying anymore. The B-29 Superfortress played a major role in WWII, and we’ll never forget it.
The B-29 Superfortress was a heavy bomber built for the United States by the Boeing company. The B-29 had four engines, a wingspan of 141 feet, a length of 99 feet and height of almost 28 feet. The Superfortress could fly at an altitude of 31,850 feet, and had a range of about 3,250 miles. A B-29 loaded with bombs weighed 135,000 pounds. The crew consisted of 11 people (Pilot, Co-pilot, Bombardier, Flight Engineer, Navigator, Radio Operator, Radar Observer, Right Gunner, Left Gunner, Central Fire Control and Tail Gunner). You might have heard that the B-29 dropped the Atomic bomb, and it’s true! On August 6, 1945 the United States sent three B-29’s to Japan, two of which were carrying normal bombs and one carrying an Atomic bomb. The one with the atom bomb was named the Enola Gay after Colonel Paul Tibbets’ mother, Enola Gay Tibbets. The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, and that single bomb killed 80,000 people. Several days later, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on the City of Nagasaki, and after that the Japanese surrendered. It was magnificent but is not flying anymore. The B-29 Superfortress played a major role in WWII, and we’ll never forget it.