Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque in Bernalillo County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

B-29 Superfortress

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 23, 2021

1. B-29 Superfortress Marker

Inscription.

Designed in 1940 by The Boeing Company, the first B-29 made its maiden flight on Sept. 21, 1942. In December 1943, U.S. Army Air Forces leadership committed the Superfortress to Asia. Its great range made it particularly suited for the long over-water flights against the Japanese homeland from bases in China. During the last two months of 1944, B-29s began operating against Japan from the islands of Saipan, Guam, and Tinian. By the end of WWII, a total of 3,970 B-29s were built.

With the start of the conflict in Korea in June 1950, the B-29 returned to combat. Although vulnerable to MiG-15 jet fighter attacks, the Superfortress remained effective against several types of targets throughout the Korean War.

Advanced Technology
The B-29 was, at the time of its introduction, the most advanced bomber aircraft in the world. It featured pressurization with heating and air conditioning and a radically new and efficient wing. It featured the first use of remote gun turrets with computer assisted aiming and was equipped with airborne radar. The aircraft could fly higher, faster, and longer than any other bomber and do it while carrying a larger bomb load.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Korean • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1950.

Location.

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35° 3.924′ N, 106° 32.058′ W. Marker is in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in Bernalillo County. It is in Kirtland Air Force Base. Marker is at the intersection of Eubank Boulevard SE and Southern Boulevard SE, on the right when traveling south on Eubank Boulevard SE. The marker is on the grounds of the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. A fee is necessary to access the marker. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 601 Eubank Blvd SE, Albuquerque NM 87123, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Silverplate and Saddletree Bombers (here, next to this marker); The 100 Foot Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Trinity Test (within shouting distance of this marker); USS James K. Polk (within shouting distance of this marker); B-52 Stratofortress (within shouting distance of this marker); New Mexico Air Guard, "The Tacos" (within shouting distance of this marker); B-52B Stratofortress 52-0013 (within shouting distance of this marker); 280 mm Atomic Cannon (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albuquerque.

Also see . . . B-20 Superfortress at Wikipedia. (Submitted on September 5, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.)

B-29 Superfortress Donors Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 23, 2021

2. B-29 Superfortress Donors Marker

B-29 Superfortress and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 23, 2021

3. B-29 Superfortress and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 156 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 5, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.