B-29 Impact on the Pacific

[Shay]

With first operational B-29 raids taking place days after D-Day. I'm curious to know, with the Super Fortress coming up on station, what affect did the B-29 have on B-17 and B-24 operations?

Business as usual or were they relegated to other tasks?

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[Robbie Roberts]

The B-17 and B-24 in the Pacific did not have near the range of the B-29. The B-29's main mission was the bombing of the Japanese mainland(island?) So I doubt it actually had much effect on the B-17 and B-24 employment, as there were still many missions/targets within their range. And B-29s were not Theatre commanded- they were under the direct command of Hap Arnold, so the theatre commanders could not use them to replace B-24s and B-17s, although from time to time B-29 missions would be allotted to keep the theatre commander placated- as he was supplying them with bases and materiels...

Read Curtis LeMay's "Superfortress- The story of the B-29" for more in depth discussion of the employment of the Heavy Bomber in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre.

Robbie

[tom d. friedman]

in contrast b-17's saw very little service in the pacific, mostly at the early stage of the war. as to the b-24, it saw heavy service due to superior fuel range. i don't think the arrival of the b-29 curtailed b-24 use at all, not to mention the navy used them as pb4y's

[PbyCat-Guy]

All I know is that the -29ers did a hell uv a job, and many aircrew lost their lives, including my uncle who was a Navigator out of Saipan with the 497th. Thanks guys, and Lt.