The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the
United States toward the end of World War II and during the Korean War. It was one of the largest aircraft to have seen
service during World War II and a very advanced bomber for its time, with features such as a pressurized cabin, an
electronic fire-control system, and remote-controlled machine-gun turrets.
The name "Superfortress" was derived from that of its well-known predecessor, the B-17 Flying Fortress. Although designed as
a high-altitude strategic bomber, and initially used in this role against the Empire of Japan, these attacks proved to be
disappointing; as a result the B-29 became the primary aircraft used in the American firebombing campaign, and was used
extensively in low-altitude night-time incendiary bombing missions. One of the B-29's final roles during World War II was
carrying out the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Below is a list of surviving airframes.
The Boeing B-50 Superfortress is a post–World War II revision of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress,
it was fitted with more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, stronger structure, a taller tail fin,
and other improvements. It was the last piston-engined bomber built by Boeing for the United States Air Force,
and was further refined into Boeing's final such design, the B-54. Not as well known as its direct predecessor,
the B-50 was in USAF service for nearly 20 years.
