(Note: The above image was borowed from Adrian's Aviation Archive. Thank you Adrian.)
(Note: The above image was borowed from Adrian's Aviation Archive. Thank you Adrian.)
Hi every body! This site will discuss some of my favorite airplanes of World War Two. It will have some of the American "Big Friends" of World War Two.
This page is dedicated to all of the airmen who died during the dark days of this world. This is also dedicated to my grand uncle and the rest of his B-29. His B-29's name was "Were Wolf" which was stationed on Saipan with the 497th Bomb Group,870th Bomb Squadron..
This is also who dedicated to any airman of any nationality who flew in the unsecure days of this world.
There is a page which will contain information on my grand uncle, his crew, and his B-29, so far from my research.
Let's start out by talking about the B-29 and why it was designed.
Prior to the American involvment in World War Two, General "Hap" Arnold, who was a long time believer in Strategic Bombing, came up with the idea for a long range bomber, that could go a long distance, and carry a heavy bomb load.
Previously, Army Air Corps aircraft where not allowed to venture beyond 100 miles from the coast of the U.S. Four companies entered the race for this new bomber. The companies where: Boeing, Lockheed, Douglas, and Consolidated. For an unknown reason, Lockheed, and Douglas droped out, so Boeing and Consolidated where left in the race.
Boeing was further ahead the Douglas because they had prior experience of designing long range aircraft, circa 1939. Boeing designed a plane which had features from the unsuccessfull Boeing XB-15, and the very successfull B-17. This designed was lead to the Boeing Model 322.
Boeing had experimented with pressurization. They used this experience to add to the model. They added 2,200hp engines to the model, which was designated the Boeing Model 341. The design was submitted to Wright Field, and later, to make the 341 able to perform in combat it was modified and designated the Boeing model 345.
The features that where incorperated into the B-29 are still in use in "modern" aircraft, so the B-29 is gone, but not forgotten.
Boeing had created such a "high tech" aircraft that there was not a wing avilable to perform with the 345. So the engineers at Boeing, after thousands of hours of work, and eight different designs, came up with the Boeing "117" wing. The wings where revolutionary. A reason for that was because the flaps where one fifth of the entire surface area of the wing. Now the B-29 could take off, and land, at lower speeds.
The engineers at Boeing needed a way to keep the plane presurised while on the bomb run, so a brilliant idea was concieved. The forward section would become seperated from the rest of the aircraft, this is true with the tail gunners compartment, and the centeral section, but a way was needed for a way for crew members to go back and forth. A pressurised comunications tunnel was set up, conecting the forward section, to the rear section was installed over the bomb bay. Now the bomber crews could bomb from high altitudes, and not have to wear high altitiude gear. What a sight it was. It could fly long range, with a heavy bomb load, bomb higher than the B-17, or the B-24.
The first B-29s where stationed in India and China. The combat debeut of the B-29 was made when several B-29s bombed Bangkok, Tailand on June 5, 1944. But B-29s where not being sent to bomb Japan. In June of 1944 the United States Marine Corps (here's to you guys also) had secured the Mariana islands. Soon the B-29s began from the United States factories, and from the bases in India and China. The 20th Air Force was formed here. The three main islands captured where: Saipan, Guam, and Tinian. Soon the B-29s started to bomb the Japanese home land, but recon photos where needed of possible targets in Tokyo. A B-29 named the "Tokyo Rose" (named after the Japanese women who brocasted propaganda to the G.I.s) flew over Tokyo for the first time since Doolittle's Raid in April of 1942. But the first B-29 raid over Tokyo would not happen untill December of 1944. This raid was lead by Col. Robert K. Morgan, Memphis Belle fame, piloted Dauntless Dotty. The war would last about another year, but two B-29s, Enola Gay (Paul W. Tibbits) droped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, and another, Bock's Car droped the second on Nagasaki, ending the war in the Pacific. When the treaty was signed in September of 1945, B-29s showing one final show of strength, flew over the U.S.S. Missouri which was ancored in Tokyo Bay. The B-29 would live to serve in the Korean Conflict. But after Korea, they didn't escape the scrap yards.
Today there are approximently 20 B-29s left, one of which is owned by the Confederate Air Force, is the only one currently flyable, but don't get upset, the United States Air Force Musum West in Inyokern is currently conducting a restoration project to bring a B-29 named "Doc" back to flying condition. So there will be two flyable ones. The restoration ending is set for summer of 2000, so hang tight.
In the future, I will try to open a museum, so the first project could be a B-29 to bring back to flying condition, who knows! Thanks alot for your time.
In order to prevent plagarisim I have used some information from the B-29 section in Great American Bombers of World War Two by Cheseter Marshall, publishes by MBI Publishing Company, 1998, WI.Go to Heavy Bombers for all of your research needs.
This is in memory of pet that lived with my family who died on the night of May 25, 1999.
All right the anniverasary of two important things. On June 5, 1944 the B-29s made their combat debuet while bombing Bangkok, Tailand.
And for all of you Liberator buffs out there. June 11 marks the first raid over Ploesti Romania in 1942.
For your History event for Friday May 28, 1999: 1945 Japanese launch last big air offense against American forces in Okinawa area. They also step up attacks on American shipping with High Altitude bombers, dive bombers, and kamikaze aircraft.
This is about my grand uncle's B-29 crew on "Were Wolf."
Were Wolf was assigned to the 20th Air Force, 73rd Bomb Wing, 497th Bomb Group, 870th Bomb Squadron. In the photo of my crew, it shows that when that photo was taken that it had make 7 bombing missions over the Japanese Empire, with five kills, making it a Bomber Ace. From my research I have determined that it was shot dowm on January 27, 1945, over Tokyo. The B-29's did not drop bombs. Died for nothing. Four other B-29's are downed, along with four others that ditched or crashed. One crew that was shot down was the crew of Mary Ann, with future author, Chester Marshall as Co-pilot. I am obtaining the manufacturing date currently.
Robert C. Frazier was the navigator, my grand uncle, he died on February 17, 1945 in, I believe, a P.O.W. camp. He was a 1st Lt. Were Wolf was commanded by Elmer G. Hahn. He was listed as K.I.A.(Killed in Action) Some of the information that I have obtained, is from Mrs. Sally ann Wagoner, Mr. Mulligan, ( owner of the web page, Flak Alley)and Mr. Scott Burris, owmer of Heavy Bombers. Thanks a bunch!
Click here to go to the site for the Memphis Belle memorial.
Click here to learn about my self
Click here to view my B-17 GalleryI Know that it is not a B-29 gallery, but the 17 is still one of my favorites.
