07 Boeing B-29 Superfortress
The logistical problems associated with operations from China and the fact that the B-29s could only reach a limited part of Japan called for another solution. The US Joint Chiefs of Staff agreed that capturing the Marianas Islands would put targets such as Tokyo within range of the Superfortress. US forces invaded Saipan on 15 June 1994 with Guam and Tinian falling by August. Naval construction battalions (Seabees) began constructing five airfields suitable for B-29 operations. Each was large enough to eventually accommodate a bomb wing consisting of four bomb groups, giving a total of 180 B-29s per field. The first B-29 arrived on Saipan on 12 October 1944 and the first combat mission was launched on 28 October 1944, with 14 B-29s attacking the Truk Atoll.
In this image, a B-29 of the 873d Bombardment Squadron of the 498th Bombardment Group comes in for a landing at Isley Field on Saipan in the Northern Marianas Islands. The 873d was one of the four original squadrons of the 498th BG and arrived in the Pacific in September 1944. The squadron’s first missions were flown against targets on Iwo Jima and Truk Island and on 24 November 1944 participated in the first raid on Japan by bombers based in the Marianas Islands. This particular Superfortress, serial number 42-24614 but known as “Joltin’ Josie, the Pacific Pioneer,” is the first B-29 to enter the Pacific Theatre in World War II. Josie flew over 400 hours and 24 missions over Japan before 1 April 1945 when it crashed into Magicienne Bay (known as Laulau Bay) and exploded on impact. There were no survivors.
The underside of the fuselage is now smoother than the previous model. I used curved plates and angles bricks to complete the cylindrical fuselage shape. By mirroring the top and bottom, the circular shape is maintained. In this view, you can also see the hinge points for the bomb bay doors and the nose landing gear. The same configuration was used for the wing landing gear doors as well.
07 Boeing B-29 Superfortress
The logistical problems associated with operations from China and the fact that the B-29s could only reach a limited part of Japan called for another solution. The US Joint Chiefs of Staff agreed that capturing the Marianas Islands would put targets such as Tokyo within range of the Superfortress. US forces invaded Saipan on 15 June 1994 with Guam and Tinian falling by August. Naval construction battalions (Seabees) began constructing five airfields suitable for B-29 operations. Each was large enough to eventually accommodate a bomb wing consisting of four bomb groups, giving a total of 180 B-29s per field. The first B-29 arrived on Saipan on 12 October 1944 and the first combat mission was launched on 28 October 1944, with 14 B-29s attacking the Truk Atoll.
In this image, a B-29 of the 873d Bombardment Squadron of the 498th Bombardment Group comes in for a landing at Isley Field on Saipan in the Northern Marianas Islands. The 873d was one of the four original squadrons of the 498th BG and arrived in the Pacific in September 1944. The squadron’s first missions were flown against targets on Iwo Jima and Truk Island and on 24 November 1944 participated in the first raid on Japan by bombers based in the Marianas Islands. This particular Superfortress, serial number 42-24614 but known as “Joltin’ Josie, the Pacific Pioneer,” is the first B-29 to enter the Pacific Theatre in World War II. Josie flew over 400 hours and 24 missions over Japan before 1 April 1945 when it crashed into Magicienne Bay (known as Laulau Bay) and exploded on impact. There were no survivors.
The underside of the fuselage is now smoother than the previous model. I used curved plates and angles bricks to complete the cylindrical fuselage shape. By mirroring the top and bottom, the circular shape is maintained. In this view, you can also see the hinge points for the bomb bay doors and the nose landing gear. The same configuration was used for the wing landing gear doors as well.