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

[Gerard]

My Brother asked me this question recently and I didnt know the answer so from a relative "newbie" to the Air War forum can any of you experts help out on this one? I'd really like to know why they were used exclusively in the Pacific

[Harry Ree]

Originally Posted by Gotthard Heinrici

My Brother asked me this question recently and I didnt know the answer so from a relative "newbie" to the Air War forum can any of you experts help out on this one? I'd really like to know why they were used exclusively in the Pacific

Came into service too late for the European threatre of operations which was able to manage with medium range performance bombers.Its priority was the Pacific war.

The B29 was designed for the operations in the Pacific and south east Asia as a whole.The B29 was a long range bomber which could carry a heavier bomb load farther than any other aircraft of its day.It immediately put the Japanese homeland and war economy at risk as soon as the "island hopping" strategy provided the bases for their use.

[jhor9]

One of the reasons for the invasion of Iwo Jima was to get their airfield. It was the half way point from the B29 bases to Japan. The long overwater flights took it's toll

[tropper66]

First B29 mission was flown from Kharaagpur,India to Bangkok on 5th June 1944

[KevinW4]

B29's were designed for long range high altitude bombing. In the Pacific the Americans had their bomber bases well away from any Japanese fighters. Not so in Europe, by the time they had climbed to their operational ceiling they would have crossed most of the Continent!!

[kfz]

What Harry says.

Basically the Pacific absorbed all production, to convert all the crews from B24 and B17 so late in the war just wasnt worth it.

After the war the B50's where based in europe. Im guessing this is RAF Burtonwoods regular B50 weather flight.



Kev

[Slipdigit]

Originally Posted by kfz

What Harry says.

Basically the Pacific absorbed all production, to convert all the crews from B24 and B17 so late in the war just wasnt worth it.

After the war the B50's where based in europe. Im guessing this is RAF Burtonwoods regular B50 weather flight.



Kev

Kev is correct. Production was not suffiicent to allow the numbers to fully fill out bomb groups in both theaters and since the PTO had the more pressing need for the B-29's range, they went there.

Interesting that they had their greatest effect on Japanese cities at medium altitudes, not at the above 30,000 feet they were designed for.

[kfz]

That picture of the B50 shows the split in the bomb bay (main spar??), did this not limit the size of the bombs that could be carried. I know the RAF where fond of large cookie's or blockbusters with smaller incendaries, was the B29 limite to standard thickcase GP bombs?

Kev

[Slipdigit]

It was not limited to GP bombs. It's raids on Japan after Mar 1945 were made at low altitude, dropping incendiaries.

[Slipdigit]

Here is a pic of the bombbay



Years ago, I was able to crawl around inside Fifi, the only flying B-29 left. I did not remember there being a split bomb bay.