The B-29 Superfortress

The B-29 Superfortress was for many years a cornerstone of American military aviation. Best known as a bomber, it also served in reconnaissance, as a tanker, and as a rescue plane. It was a crucial tool for American and Allied forces during World War II, Korea and beyond.
This operational history of the B-29 gives in-depth information on the career of each plane. A list of the names and serial numbers of the planes, each plane’s history from delivery date to removal from service, a description of the B-29’s physical characteristics and performance parameters, and a description of the five B-29 variants are provided.
Sections of the book give complete mission data for the B-29’s World War II service in the China-Burma-India theater of operations, operations over Japan, aerial mining missions and test atomic bombing runs.

Robert A. Mann is a former member of the United States Air Force, and enjoyed a long career in the aerospace industry. The author of five books, he lives in Pahrump, Nevada.

Robert A. Mann
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 288
Bibliographic Info: tables, appendix, bibliography
Copyright Date: 2009 [2004]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4458-8
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8276-4
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vii
Preface      xi
Introduction      1
Abbreviations, Column Headings and Acronyms      3

I. Master List      9

II. Names List      89
Names with Known Group Assignments but Unknown Serial Numbers      96
Unnamed Nose Art with Known Serial Number or Group Assignment      98
Names without Known Serial Numbers or Group Assignments      99

III. Block Numbers and Construction Numbers      100

IV. Design Specifications and Performance Parameters      103

V. B-29 Variants      104
F-13 Photo Reconnaissance Configuration      105
KB-29M Hose and Reel Tanker Configuration      106
KB-29P Boom Tanker Configuration      107
SB-29 Rescue Configuration      107
WB-29 Weather Reconnaissance Configuration      108

VI. The XX Bomber Command      112
Mission List      113
Mission Details      114
Losses      138

VII. The XXI Bomber Command      139
Bomber Command Mission List      140
Bomb Group Mission Lists      172
Bomb Group Plane Rosters      195
Targets Listed by Name      199
Targets Listed by Number      215
The Fire Raids on Japan      229
Missions Against Kyushu Airfields      236
Operation STARVATION: The Aerial Mining of the
Japanese Home Waters      241
“Pumpkin” Missions of the 509th Composite Group      245

VIII. Strategic Air Command      246
B-29 Strength, by Year      246
RB-29 Strength, by Year      247
Bombardment and Reconnaissance Units Assigned B-29s      248

IX. The B-29 in Korea      250
Bomb Group Plane Rosters      251
Korean Tactical Drop Sample: 19th Bomb Group, May 2–14, 1951      252
Known B-29 Losses in Korea, 1950–1953      253
South and North Korean Air Base Codes, 1950–1953      254

X. B-29s in the Royal Air Force      255

Appendix: Serial Key Matrix      257
Bibliography      275

“unique…the master list is a truly valuable contribution to World War II aviation history”—ARBA; “densely packed tome of data…huge amounts of information…a great starting point…invaluable”—Stone & Stone Second World War Books.