The World War Two bomber that cost more than the atomic bomb

The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was one of the most advanced and expensive bombers ever built during World War Two. It cost more to design and build than the atomic bombs it eventually dropped on Japan. The B-29 was created because the US Army Air Corps wanted a bomber that could fly farther and higher than any other plane at the time. This 'superbomber' was needed to prepare for the possibility of the US entering the war, and it ended up playing a key role in ending the conflict. The B-29 not only helped bring World War Two to a close, but it also influenced the development of modern airliners and the way we travel by plane today.

In January 1940, the US Army Air Corps asked five American airplane companies to design a bomber bigger and better than anything before. While some companies like Douglas and Lockheed gave up because the challenge was too great, Boeing had already started working on a design. After winning the competition, Boeing spent four years developing the B-29, which became the most expensive project of the war, costing about $55. 6 billion in today's money. The B-29 was designed to fly at altitudes up to 30,000 feet, which was much higher than other bombers. Flying so high meant the crew faced tough conditions, like needing oxygen masks and heated suits to survive. To solve this, Boeing introduced pressurisation, a new technology that kept the air inside the plane at normal pressure, so the crew could breathe easily and wear lighter clothing.

The B-29 was also packed with other innovations. It was the first bomber to have remote-controlled guns, which allowed gunners to aim and fire more accurately using a radar system. The plane had three sets of wheels, a design that is now standard on modern airliners. Its powerful engines, made by Wright, were necessary for long flights at high altitudes, but they sometimes overheated and caught fire, causing dangerous situations. Building the B-29 was a huge task, requiring four massive factories and thousands of new workers, many of whom had never built airplanes before. The first planes were often not built perfectly, with problems like leaky windows and faulty wiring, so many had to be fixed before they could be used.

The B-29 was mainly used in the Pacific, flying from bases on islands close to Japan. The hot and humid conditions made engine fires a constant risk. The B-29s carried out controversial missions, including bombing Japanese cities with incendiary bombs that caused massive destruction and loss of life. The raid on Tokyo in March 1945 killed more people than either atomic bomb. After the war, the B-29 continued to serve in the Korean War and was even used as a tanker to refuel other planes in flight. Some crashed B-29s were copied by the Soviet Union to make their own bombers, which became a threat during the Cold War.

The B-29's design helped launch the era of large passenger planes. Its pressurised cabin made flying more comfortable, leading to the creation of airliners like the Boeing Stratocruiser, which could carry up to 100 passengers. The long runways built for the B-29 helped airports grow and made global air travel possible. Today, only 22 B-29s survive, with a few still flying at airshows. One, called 'It's Hawg Wild,' is displayed at a museum in the UK. It was flown from the US in 1980 after being restored. The B-29 is a huge plane, with a tail as tall as a three-story building. Walking around it, you can see how much it changed from older bombers. The B-29 was both a powerful weapon and a masterpiece of innovation, shaping the future of aviation and making the world smaller.