Air Force the Official Service Journal - Air Force Historical Studies ...
Air Force the Official Service Journal - Air Force Historical Studies ...
Air Force the Official Service Journal - Air Force Historical Studies ...
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<strong>the</strong> • and<br />
THE gunner had completed 85 missions in B-25s and he<br />
was being interviewed at an AAF redistribution center.<br />
"If you had your choice," said <strong>the</strong> interviewer, "what<br />
would you want to do next?"<br />
Loud and clear came <strong>the</strong> sergeant's answer. . "I want to<br />
be assigned to <strong>the</strong> B-29."<br />
At this particular moment it can be said safely that casual<br />
aircrew members with combat experience in four-engined<br />
planes who get back to <strong>the</strong> States and request B-29 training<br />
have a good chance of getting it. O<strong>the</strong>rs with combat<br />
behind <strong>the</strong>m may gct into <strong>the</strong> Vcry Heavy program upon<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir own request if thcir particular experience isn't more<br />
urgently needed elsewhere. Newly graduated aircrew mem-<br />
.bcrs take <strong>the</strong> same chances with probabilities, rosters, and<br />
just plain luck that <strong>the</strong>y always have.<br />
Let's assume that you have been tapped for <strong>the</strong> B-29.<br />
This means, first of all, that you go to <strong>the</strong> 2nd <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong><br />
which. is commanded by Major Gcneral Uzal G. Ent with<br />
headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo. For transition<br />
training, individual combat crew member training, and replacement<br />
training, some may go to Brig. Gen. Newton D.<br />
Longfellow's 16th Wing. There many of you will see your<br />
first Supcrfortress.<br />
Many novitiates to <strong>the</strong> Boeing Superfortress admit to<br />
being disappointed at finding that <strong>the</strong> thing is just an airplane,<br />
despite all <strong>the</strong> publicity, and not a magic carpet at all.<br />
It smells of gasoline and hot metal, requires constant attention<br />
and <strong>the</strong> same continual application of common sense<br />
as any o<strong>the</strong>r plane.<br />
However, given <strong>the</strong> fact that it is an airplane, it's <strong>the</strong><br />
most complete, <strong>the</strong> most advanced, and in many ways <strong>the</strong><br />
most efficient in <strong>the</strong> world. On your first ride you'll notice<br />
that, for <strong>the</strong> crew members forward particularly, it is<br />
astonishingly quiet. The pilot, copilot, bombardier sit well<br />
'ahead of <strong>the</strong> engines; <strong>the</strong> interior is sound-proofed so that<br />
The 8-29 program is ex-<br />
panding all <strong>the</strong> time. If you<br />
should find yourself part<br />
of it. here is a preview<br />
of what you can expect<br />
16<br />
By MAJ. LUTHER DAVIS<br />
AIR FORCE Staff<br />
those in command of <strong>the</strong> plane can talk to each o<strong>the</strong>r without<br />
benefit of intercom.<br />
The pilot and copilot have fewer instruments than <strong>the</strong>y<br />
have in any o<strong>the</strong>r four-engined plane-because most of <strong>the</strong><br />
purely engineering instruments are given to <strong>the</strong> flight engineer,<br />
who has his place of business nearby. The navigator<br />
has a good place to work and a very complete set of selfcomputing,<br />
handy gadgets; an astrodome he can really get<br />
a sight from. The bombardier sits where he may signal or<br />
speak to <strong>the</strong> pilot and copilot without any time-lag. The<br />
radioman has lousy visibility but more equipment than<br />
KDKA, Pittsburgh. The gunners-thcy enter <strong>the</strong> ernancipatcd<br />
life.<br />
There's a system of remote fire control based on <strong>the</strong> fact<br />
that all B-29'gunners, except <strong>the</strong> tail gunner, are removed<br />
from any manual contact with <strong>the</strong>ir guns and fire <strong>the</strong>m<br />
from remote stations. The tail gunner, unlike <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs, is<br />
near his guns-he can at least sec <strong>the</strong>m-but he doesn't<br />
actually touch <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
Sighting is by automatic computers which correct for<br />
range, altitude, temperature, and airspeed. This means that<br />
gunners, removed from <strong>the</strong>ir guns, are spared <strong>the</strong> jar and<br />
vibration of rceoil making it much easier to track and hold<br />
a target. The gunner's personal comfort is greatly increased<br />
as he doesn't have to crowd himself in behind his guns and<br />
ammunition. They have comfortable seats, room to stretch<br />
and move around, and more armor protection than in any<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r combat plane.<br />
The B-29 handles more easily than any o<strong>the</strong>r four-engined<br />
airplane due to <strong>the</strong> perfcetly balanced controls. It takes off<br />
easily with partial flaps at between 20 and 30 degrees but docs<br />
not gain altitude or speed very quickly immediately after.<br />
take-off. Because of <strong>the</strong> slim and aerodynamically perfect<br />
design of <strong>the</strong> engine nacelles, cowls must be handled carefully<br />
and cruisinlj speed reached as quickly as possible.<br />
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