Boeing B-29 wing deicers

Sat Jul 12, 2008 5:36 pm

Did B-29s have wing deicers? If so what kind? Most of the survivors in museums do not appear to have them. Thanks for any info.
bill word

Sat Jul 12, 2008 5:53 pm

The B-29, as did most WWII bombers, had rubber inflatable de-ice boots that were removed before going into combat. I'm guessing they were not needed since the combat crews didn't, or rarely flew in icing conditions. With the weight removed they could carry more fuel or more bombs. Some of the photos of camo B-17s look as though they have bare metal wing and stabilizer leading edges. This is where the rubber boots were removed.

Sat Jul 12, 2008 6:25 pm

Look closely at pictures of Kee Bird. You can see remnants of the boots flapping in the wind, especially on the vertical stab.

Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:52 pm

I think the main reason the boots were removed was battle damage. Torn up boots were causing big problems during early operations with the B-17s and '24s in the ETO, and they weren't of much use at high altitude, so off they came.

I'd have to find my manual, but I think later production Superforts were built without the boots but retained the plumbing to the wings and tail in case the boots were installed later. I know the B-29Bs were delivered from Marietta without boots.

A lot of B-29s had boots in the postwar years, including the recon and tanker versions to name only a couple of applications.

Scott