The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was more than just a heavy bomber—it was an engineering marvel full of innovations that were almost futuristic for the 1940s. As a military aviation history buff who’s spent years in research, I’m still struck by some of the strange and brilliant design decisions that made this plane so groundbreaking. Let’s dive into some of its most surprising aspects that even many aircraft enthusiasts don’t realize exist.
The pressurized cabin made all the difference
Most WWII bombers exposed crews to harsh cold and thin air at high elevations. The B-29’s pressurized compartments meant crews could toil in shirtsleeves—a luxury that hugely minimized fatigue on those marathon 16-hour missions over the Pacific.
Remote-controlled gun turrets worked like a video game
The B-29’s gunners didn’t physically man their weapons. Instead, they aimed through periscopic sights while small analog computers calculated trajectories. This system was so advanced that gunners could engage targets they couldn’t even see directly.
Two specific B-29s altered world history forever
We have all heard of the Enola Gay, but fewer are familiar with Bockscar, the aircraft that released the second atomic bomb. Both were ordinary B-29s with secret modifications, demonstrating how versatile the airframe truly was.
Firefighting duty after World War II
In one of the world’s most bizarre military-to-civilian conversions, surplus B-29s were modified to drop water on forest fires. Those great big bomb bays that carried devastation instead brought salvation to burning forests.
The “Tokyo Tanks” modification lengthened its legs
To fly from the Marianas to Japan, engineers installed auxiliary fuel tanks in the bomb bays. This provided the Superfortress with an astounding 5,830-mile range—plenty long enough to hit Tokyo and have gas left over.
A 35-foot-long narrow tunnel bridged the front and rear pressurized cabins. In case of an emergency, the crew had to worm their way through this cramped tunnel to access escape hatches—not particularly convenient while attached to a parachute!
First use of analog fire control computers in combat
The B-29’s Central Fire Control system was able to lock onto multiple targets at once, compensating for speed, range, and even the planet’s curvature. This technology wouldn’t be seen on other planes for almost a decade.
Silverplate upgrades left it naked
Atomic-capable B-29s lost armor, guns, and even paint to reduce weight. These pale silver ghosts flew higher and quicker than normal versions, but were utterly defenseless against enemy fighter aircraft.
Direct ancestor of commercial airliners
The B-29 wing and pressurized cabin system directly determined the design of the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser. The next time you fly in comfort at 30,000 feet, credit a Superfortress engineer.
The name was a bold promise
Boeing dubbed it the “Superfortress” as a direct challenge to their previous B-17 Flying Fortress. Against all odds, the B-29 fulfilled—and then surpassed—that ambitious nickname.
Most interesting to me is the way the B-29 spanned two different ages of aviation. It delivered the final bombs of World War II while introducing innovations that would characterize the Jet Age. From its strange escape tunnel to its surprising second career as a fire bomber, this airplane repeatedly surprised. Even now, surviving B-29s such as “Fifi” and “Doc” continue to astound airshow crowds, their radial engines rumbling witness to one of history’s greatest warbirds.
