Is B-29 a good plane?
In wartime, the B-29 was capable of flight at altitudes up to 31,850 feet (9,710 m), at speeds of up to 350 mph (560 km/h) (true airspeed). This was its best defense because Japanese fighters could barely reach that altitude, and few could catch the B-29 even if they did attain that altitude.
Is B-29 Doc still flying?
At this time, except for two noted museum aircraft, the B-29 was considered an almost extinct aircraft. Since the early 1970s, numerous other B-29s have been recovered from Aberdeen as well as China Lake for museum displays – the last B-29 (Doc) removed from China Lake in 2000 was restored to flying condition.
Is there a bomber at the bottom of Lake Mead?
Abstract. Submerged for the last 70 years after ditching into the waters of Nevada’s Hoover Dam reservoir, the tale of the Lake Mead B-29 grows more interesting with each passing decade. Although constructed in 1945 to join the war in the Pacific, this Superfortress never flew a single hostile mission.
Is there a b29 in Lake Mead?
The Lake Mead B-29’s preservation is considered important due to it being the only intact underwater B-29 and one of few still in existence.
How deep is the plane in Lake Mead?
When it sank in 1948, the wreckage rested in around 300 feet of water. The lake has been receding since, but the dive remains challenging. Today, it lies at about 110 feet below the surface.
When did the B-29 Doc come to life?
Watch Doc come to life, from rescue to first flight! In March of 1945, B-29 No. 44-69972 (now known as Doc) was delivered to the U.S. Army. About five months later another B-29 was used to drop two atomic bombs on Japan, eventually leading to Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II.
Why was the B-29 Superfortress used in World War 2?
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was conceived as a state-of-the-art, high altitude strategic bomber. In 1938, with World War II on the horizon, the United States Army Air Corps saw the need for a bomber that could carry heavy bomb loads over the vast distances of the Pacific.
Where did Doc B-29 Superfortress do target towing?
The squadron was known as the Seven Dwarfs. In May of 1955, Doc was assigned to target-towing duty and in March a year later, Doc and the rest of its squadron became targets for bomb training at China Lake, California. For 42 years, Doc sat in the Mojave Desert serving as a target for the U.S. Navy.
Where was the front station on a B-29 bomber?
The front station was located in the nose, where the bombardier acted as the front gunner when not occupied on the bomb run. Just behind the wing were three stations, one on top of the aircraft and one on each side. Plexiglas “blisters” allowed these three gunners a larger field of view for spotting incoming fighters.