Why werent B-29's used in Europe??

[Formerjughead]

Originally Posted by Za Rodinu

That big wingspar had to run through somewhere. They didn't have that problem with the B-24s, but 40 years later it was the same thing with the B-1.

Design is compromise (won't rhyme but it's true anyway!)

The B-36 had a wing spar through the Bombay as well. I tried to take a picture of it but there was too much pidgeon netting in the way to get a clear shot

[Za Rodinu]

Originally Posted by Drew5233

Courtesy of 'life'

Ordance man inserting fuse into 500-lb. demolition bomb in bomb bay of B-29. June 1944.

Another great photo! The shiny cylinder on top is the fore and aft pressurised communication tunnel.

[kfz]

Thats the rear bombbay I think , check out the domed pressure cabin.

What an amazing aircraft!

Kev

[kfz]

Originally Posted by Formerjughead

The B-36 had a wing spar through the Bombay as well. I tried to take a picture of it but there was too much pidgeon netting in the way to get a clear shot

Yea, not much you can do really.

The Lanc on runs right through the crew cabin right by the navs station.

Kev

[BulgarianSoldier]

Its a surprise that nothing is wrote on the bombs, i mean some "smartass" phrase like "Hey there Tojo", or "Thats for Perl".

[Za Rodinu]

Too many bombs dropped already and to be dropped for that kind of game

[Drew5233]

B-29 at Chinese base, revving giant propellers as it prepares to bomb Japan. China 1944.

[Drew5233]

Bombardier in B-29 bombing raid Ansham, Manchuria during WWII. 1944.

[Drew5233]

Planes fr. 58th Bombardment Wing lined up at West Field. 1945.

[Harry Ree]

The prototype shown visiting USAAF Glatton was one of 14 produced at the US government owned plant at Boeing Wichita, Kansas.The 14 prototypes were only ready to fly in the autumn of 1943 for assessment at the Accelerated Service Test Branch at Smokey Hill, Kansas.Engine refinements meant that there was a delay in main production which did not reach production targets until the middle of 1944.By the end of 1943,only one production B 29 had flown long range and less than 70 B 29 pilots had completed training and validation.Previous to that The three flight experimental XB 29s had only been ready be test flown in the new year of 1942 with continous refined engineering applied from feedback from the RAF experience of bombing operations and air warfare over the European mainland.

This background to the developement and production of the B 29 illustrates the reason why the aircraft could not be utilised in the offensive against Germany.The aircraft was chosen to carry the offensive to Japan which up to as late as 1943 had seen the Allies restricted to a defensive policy of holding Japanese expansion.The B 29 was seen as the weapon to severely affect the Japanese war economy from remote bases in the South Pacific and China and this could only start when bomber squadrons and crews could be formed to match the aircraft production rates.

I think the arrival of the YB 29 at Glatton was part of the assessment of the aircraft to undertake the long range operations so essential to prove the specification for the aircraft's future role in the Pacific.Apart from the use of newly constructed Chinese bases,on which there was quite a debate over costs back charged to the US by the Chinese goverment,(the US considered that they were charged double the true costs),the US also drew up plans to operate out of the Calcutta area as an option against failure to make progress in capturing "island hopping" sites in the Pacific.