B-50 was introduced

While the B-29 was still considered useful in the post World War II inventory, the numerous problems with development, (i.e. including the freezing of the design in 1942) and the fear that the postwar US Congress would not fund the purchase of a design that still had significant quantity in storage, led to the radically redeveloped B-29D being re-designated the B-50A. While the B-50A looked similar to the B-29, Boeing had redeveloped the airframe with a new stronger alloy skin, redesigned main spar, taller vertical stabilizer, and improved engine cowlings. Additionally, the engines were changed to the R-4360, which produced higher power, had better cooling, and were less prone to failure.

Korean War and super bomber designs

In 1947, with the advent of the USAF, the B-29 was re-designated as a medium bomber. With the new heavy bombers in production such as the Convair B-36 Peacemaker and Northrop YB-49 and the planned production of both the Boeing B-47 Stratojet and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress becoming a reality, the Superfortress was quickly becoming eclipsed by newer technology. It was only the advent of the Korean War in 1950 which slowed down the retirement of the B-29. Once again, the Superfortress was pressed into combat; while for the first six months the B-29 was able to hold its own, the introduction of jet fighters such as the MiG-15 ended its usefulness; the B-29 was too slow and its defenses were inadequate against fast-moving jets. By 1953, except for some RB-29s, they were withdrawn from combat. The remaining B-29s in service were then re-designated as Training (TB-29), Photo Recon (RB-29/F-13), Air-Sea Rescue (SB-29), and refueling/tanker (KB-29M) aircraft. The last USAF flight was in September 1960.

Loaned to the UK

As a stop-gap measure between the Lancaster and Lincoln propeller-driven heavy bombers and new jet V bombers, the Royal Air Force operated 88 leased B-29s in the early 1950s.^{[citation needed]} These received the service name Washington Bomber Mark I. The Washingtons were largely replaced in service by English Electric Canberra bombers by 1955, the last leaving service in late 1958, when they were retired and returned to the United States. Two Washingtons were transferred to Australia, where the Royal Australian Air Force conducted trials for the British Ministry of Supply. The two aircraft were operated for about four years before they were retired and scrapped.^[2]

NACA and the X-planes

The B-29 did enjoy limited success postwar as a flying testbed, being used with NACA to carry the early rocket aircraft (X-1, X-1A, D-558-2, and other test aircraft), prototype jet engine testing, electronic test ships, and High Altitude Atmospheric tests. During the early 1970s, NASA (the redesignated NACA) sold their P2B-1S (Fertile Myrtle), and for numerous years this aircraft flew under civil registration until it was grounded by spar corrosion.

Museum acquisitions of B-29s

The majority of the surviving B-29s came from airframes that had either been designated (with the US Navy at NAWS China Lake), initially, as target-tow aircraft, then unmanned target aircraft, and finally as a ground target (the last B-29 destroyed was in 1981, more than six years after a ban had been placed on further using these aircraft as targets). Furthermore, B-29s were used at Aberdeen Proving Grounds as ground targets and survivability studies.

In 1966, the then fledgling Commemorative Air Force, in their quest to gather an example of all the remaining World War II bombers, attempted to track down a B-29. At this time, except for two noted museum aircraft, the B-29 was considered almost extinct. Rumors of B-29s existing at Aberdeen Proving Ground revealed several airframes, but due to the closeness of ocean, air these aircraft were corroded close to the point where they were unrestorable. Then, in 1970, came the discovery of the US Navy fleet of aircraft at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake – these aircraft being used/stored in the desert air were in much better shape. After a year of negotiation, the CAF was able to obtain their B-29 (Fifi). These same negotiations also allowed the Imperial War Museum to obtain an example as well (It's Hawg Wild). Since the early 1970s, numerous other B-29s have been recovered from Aberdeen as well as China Lake for museum displays – the last B-29 (Doc) removed from China Lake in 2000 was restored to flying condition. There are still two partial airframes and one wreck at the NAWS China Lake site. Several other aircraft were noted as late as 1980, but these aircraft have disappeared – four having been used in the Disney Picture Last Flight of Noah's Ark, in which two of the airframes were destroyed during production.

Additional aircraft have been discovered at both post-war crash sites and near World War II Pacific airfields. There is a search for the first B-29 to bomb Japan, Dauntless Dotty^[3] which crashed into the Pacific Ocean on take-off during her return flight to the United States. If the airplane is found, there are plans to recover and restore it for display. In 1995, an attempt to recover the Kee Bird, which had crashed in 1947 in northern Greenland, resulted in the almost complete destruction of the plane's fuselage by fire, allegedly started by a malfunctioning Auxiliary power unit in the tail.^[4]

Surviving aircraft by manufacturers

Surviving aircraft

More information Serial, Geographic location ...

Serial	Geographic location	Institutional location	Status	History	Photo
42-24791	College Park, Maryland	QuestMasters Museum	Undergoing restoration	Built at Boeing Wichita as a B-29. Delivered on 17 October 1944, it was assigned to the 1st Bomb Squadron, 9th Bomb Group. Nicknamed "The Big Time Operator". It flew 46 combat missions from North Field, Tinian over Japan. Stricken in 1950 and sent to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. Its nose section was recovered and placed at Edward F. Beale Museum until 2001. The Museum of Flight used it as a parts source for the restoration of 44-69729, and later the New England Air Museum scavenged parts from it to restore Jack’s Hack. QuestMasters Museum acquired the nose section of the aircraft in November 2012.[5]
42-65281	Fairfield, California	Travis Air Force Base Aviation Museum	Static display	Built at Martin Omaha as B-29. Delivered to USAAF on 11 December 1944. Assigned to 24th Bombardment Squadron, 6th Bombardment Group, 313th Bombardment Wing. Piloted by Bruce R. Alger who named the plane "Miss America '62" after his newborn daughter, who would be 18 years old in 1962. Flew 30 combat missions from North Field, Tinian. Returned to US in October 1945. Used at various bases until the late 1950s. Used as target at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake from 1960 to 1985. Removed in 1986 and sent to Travis AFB for restoration, which was completed in 1994. At unveiling on 18 June 1994, Alger's wife Linda spoke.[6]
42-93967	Cordele, Georgia	Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park	Static display	Built at Boeing Renton as B-29A. Subsequently converted to RB-29A. Flown on combat reconnaissance missions with the 19th Bombardment Group from North Field, Guam. Carried name "City of Lansford, PA".
44-27297	Dayton, Ohio	National Museum of the United States Air Force	Static display	Built at Martin Omaha as B-29 and modified to a Silverplate during production. Delivered to USAAF on 19 March 1945 and assigned to Frederick C. Bock at Wendover AAF in April. Given the name "Bockscar" by her crew. Arrived in Tinian 16 June for service with the 393d Bombardment Squadron, 509th Composite Group. On 9 August was flown by Charles W. Sweeney and dropped the Fat Man atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Returned to the US in November and sent to Roswell AAF. Placed in storage at Davis-Monthan AAF in 1946. In September 1961 flown to National Museum, where it has been on display since.
44-27343	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Tinker Air Force Base	Static display	Built at Martin Omaha as B-29. Later converted to WB-29, she operated in the 57th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron in the early to mid 1950s. In 1955 sent to Aberdeen Proving Ground for use as a target. Recovered in 1985, restored, and placed on display.[7]
44-61535	Atwater, California	Castle Air Museum	Static display	Built at Boeing Renton as B-29A. During the Korean War was part of the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group and flew from Kadena Airbase. Given the name "Raz'n Hell" by her crew. Flew roughly 50 combat missions. Returned to US after war. In 1958 sent to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake for use as a target. Recovered in 1980 and put on display. Uses tail of 44–61535, outer wings of 44–84084, and fuselage and inner wings of 44–70064.
44-61669	Riverside, California	March Field Air Museum	Static display	Built at Boeing Renton as B-29A. Delivered to USAAF 5 May 1945. Flew with 457th Bombardment Squadron, 330th Bombardment Group, 314th Bombardment Wing from North Field, Guam. Coded as "K 15". During the Korean War assigned to 581st Air Resupply Group at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. Sent to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in 1956 for use as a target. Recovered in 1975 by David Tallichet and Yesterday's Air Force. Transferred to March Field in 1981. From 1981 to 2003 wore the livery of 44-27263 "Mission Inn." From 2003 to 2022, it wore the markings of 44-61668 "Flagship 500" and "Three Feathers". Now restored in its original 457th Bomb Squadron markings of K 15.
44-61671	Knob Noster, Missouri	Whiteman AFB	Static display	Built at Boeing Renton as B-29A. Wears livery of 44–27353, "The Great Artiste", which flew as an observation aircraft during the bombing of Hiroshima and the bombing of Nagasaki.
44-61739	Warner Robins, Georgia	Museum of Aviation	Static display	Built at Boeing Renton as B-29A. This aircraft survives only as a nose section, recovered from the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.[8]
44-61748	Duxford, Cambridgeshire	Imperial War Museum Duxford	Static display	Built at Boeing Renton as B-29A. Assigned to 371st Bombardment Squadron, 307th Bombardment Group, 307th Bombardment Wing at Kadena AB, Okinawa in March 1952. Named "It's Hawg Wild" by her crew. Flew 105 missions over North Korea. Sent to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in November 1956 to be used as a target. Recovered from China Lake in 1979 and donated to Imperial War Museum. Arrived in Duxford 2 March 1980.
44-61975	Windsor Locks, Connecticut	New England Air Museum	Static display	Built at Boeing Renton as B-29A. In 1956 sent to Aberdeen Proving Ground for use as a target. Recovered in 1973 by Bradley Air Museum. Damaged by a tornado in 1979. Wears livery of "Jack's Hack" (serial unknown).
44-62022	Pueblo, Colorado	Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum	Static display	Built at Boeing Renton as B-29A. Later sent to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake for use as a target. Recovered in 1972. Wears livery of a B-29 piloted by Lt. Robert T. Haver and named "Peachy" (serial 44-62022[9]).
44-62070	Addison, Texas	Commemorative Air Force	Airworthy[10]	Built at Boeing Renton as B-29A. Served as an administrative aircraft before being stored. Returned to service in 1953. Used until 1958, at which point it was sent to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake for use as a ballistic missile target. Acquired by the Commemorative Air Force in 1971, then known as the Confederate Air Force, and flown to Harlingen, Texas that August. A restoration was completed in 1974 and the plane was named "FIFI " after Josephine O'Connor (1919-2007),[11] the wife of Victor Neils Agather (1912-2000),[12] who was instrumental in acquiring the plane. After being grounded in 2006, she returned to the air in 2010. Registered with the FAA as N529B.
44-62112	Chino, California	Aero Trader	In storage	Built at Boeing Renton as B-29A. One of four B-29's obtained by Disney from China Lake for use in the movie The Last Flight of Noah's Ark. The other three were: 44-62222 (reported destroyed off the coast of Hawaii), 44-70049 and 44–84084. Nose section only, now owned by Kermit Weeks and in storage at Aero Trader, Chino, California.
44-62139	Dayton, Ohio	National Museum of the United States Air Force	Static display	Built at Boeing Renton as B-29A. The walk-through B-29 fuselage is painted to represent 44-87657 "Command Decision" from 28th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group. The original "Command Decision" was named after a popular 1948 film about the difficult decisions and heavy casualties of bomber operations over Europe in World War II. It became famous for shooting down five MiG-15s, unofficially making it a bomber "Ace," and flew in 121 missions during the Korean War. It was . .[13]
44-62220	San Antonio, Texas	Lackland AFB	Static display	Built at Boeing Renton as B-29A. Sent to Aberdeen Proving Ground in 1960 for use as a target. Recovered in 1985 and put on display at Kelly AFB. After Kelly's closure, moved to Lackland AFB. Wears livery of "Joltin' Josie the Pacific Pioneer".
44-69729	Seattle, Washington	Museum of Flight	Static display	Built at Boeing Wichita as B-29. Assigned to the 875th Bomb Squadron, 498th Bomb Group, 73d Bomb Wing and completed 37 bombing missions before it was converted to a KB-29 aerial refueling tanker in June 1949. In 1986 it was removed from the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California and transported to the Lowry Heritage Museum at the then-Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado; now the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. No. 54 went through its initial level of restoration in 1987 with museum volunteers and was readied for Lowry AFB's 50th anniversary and the 40th anniversary of the USAF on 2 October 1987. It was restored to its 1944 markings with the "T Square 54" on its vertical stabilizer. In 1995, the USAF Museum transferred T-Sq-54 to the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington. After another level of restoration and change in its markings, it was displayed again in 1996. She was shrink wrapped, 2011, in white plastic for 5 years and unwrapped on 6 Apr 2016 under the new open-side outdoor Pavilion.
44-69972	Wichita, Kansas	Doc's Friends	Airworthy[14]	Built at Boeing Wichita as B-29. In 1951 converted to a radar calibration plane and was based at Griffiss Air Force Base with the 4713th Radar Evaluation Squadron. Squadron named planes after characters from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and this plane acquired the name "Doc." B-29 number 44-70016 was also in this squadron. Struck off in 1956 and sent to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake for use as a target. Removed in 1998 and restored at the Boeing plant in Wichita, Kansas where it was originally built. Moved in March 2007 to the Kansas Aviation Museum. In February 2013, the aircraft was acquired by the non-profit organization Doc's Friends. On 11 May 2016, the restoration crew performed the first of many low-speed taxi tests as the final preparations were underway before first flight. The plane received a certificate of airworthiness from the Federal Aviation Administration on May 20, 2016 allowing it be flown. On 17 July 2016, "Doc" flew for the first time since 1956, flown by members of "Fifi" flight crews. It is registered with FAA as N69972.
44-70016	Tucson, Arizona	Pima Air and Space Museum	Static display	Built at Boeing Wichita as B-29. Delivered to the USAAF 6 April 1945, and later assigned to the 330th Bombardment Group based out of North Field, Guam, for combat service. Assigned to the 330th's 458th Bombardment Squadron, it began to regularly fly on combat missions, and was later dubbed "Sentimental Journey." By the war's end, "Sentimental Journey" had flown a total of 30 Missions with the 458th, and was placed into storage. In March 1954, it was renamed "Dopey" and assigned to 4713th Radar Evaluation Squadron, at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York, flying radar defense evaluation flights until 1959. In June 1959, S/N 44-70016 was finally retired from the air force, and sent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona for storage. Then, in 1969 the B-29 was donated to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (then the U.S. Air Force Museum), and later placed on loan to the Pima Air and Space Museum (then the Tucson Air Museum Foundation of Pima County).
44-70049	Ocotillo Wells, California	Aero Trader	In storage	Built at Boeing Wichita as B-29. One of four B-29's obtained by Disney from China Lake for use in the movie The Last Flight of Noah's Ark. The other three were: 44–62112, 44-62222 (reported destroyed off the coast of Hawaii) and 44–84084. Now owned by Kermit Weeks and in storage at Aero Trader, Ocotillo Wells, California.
44-70102	Ridgecrest, California	Naval Museum of Armament & Technology	In storage	"Here's Hopin" was built at Boeing Wichita and flew in 25 combat missions while assigned with the 678th Bombardment Squadron of the 444th Bombardment Group out of West Field, Tinian. It was transferred to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in 1960. It is currently on hold awaiting restoration by Naval Museum of Armament & Technology. This aircraft is not complete, having been stripped for parts to restore other B-29s recovered from China Lake.
44-70113	Marietta, Georgia	Dobbins ARB	Static display	Built at Boeing Wichita as B-29. Flew with the 883rd Bomb Squadron of the 500th Bombardment Group in the 73d Bombardment Wing of the 20th Air Force, and flew 27 bombing missions before the end of World War II, carrying the name "Marilyn Gay." This B-29 is credited with shooting down a confirmed three Japanese fighter planes, with 3 more probable fighter kills. After the end of the war, this B-29 was renamed "Hoof Hearted," and served in Great Britain before it was decommissioned in 1956 and sent to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. In 1973, the B-29 was recovered by the now defunct Florence Air & Missile Museum in Florence, South Carolina for restoration. In 1994, the Marietta B-29 Association sponsored restoration and put it on display at Dobbins ARB, Georgia as "Sweet Eloise."
44-84053	Warner Robins, Georgia	Museum of Aviation	Static display	Built at Bell Atlanta as B-29B. In 1956 sent to Aberdeen Proving Ground for use as a target. Recovered in 1983 and put on display.[15]
44-84076	Ashland, Nebraska	Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum	Static display	Built at Bell Atlanta as B-29. Delivered 4 August 1945 to Walker AAF. Used by multiple units throughout the United States until 1959. Struck off command in July 1959 and transferred to SAC Museum. Formerly displayed as "Man o' War." Recently restored and painted as "Lucky Lady."
44-84084	Ocotillo Wells, California	Aero Trader	In storage	Built at Bell Atlanta as B-29. Acquired by USAAF on 31 July 1945. In January 1950, it was assigned to Tinker AFB. Removed from service on 15 September 1954 and transferred to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. One of four B-29's obtained by Disney from China Lake for use in the movie The Last Flight of Noah's Ark. The other three were: 44–62112, 44-62222 (reported destroyed off the coast of Hawaii) and 44–70049. Parts of this aircraft were used to restore Raz'n Hell in the 1980s. The rest of this aircraft now sits in storage, owned by Aero Trader.
44-86292	Chantilly, Virginia	Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center	Static display	Built at Martin Omaha as B-29 and modified to a Silverplate during production. While still on the assembly line, personally selected on 9 May 1945 by Colonel Paul W. Tibbets Jr. for use with the 509th Composite Group. Taken on strength 18 May, assigned to the 393d Bombardment Squadron and on 14 June flown by Robert A. Lewis to Wendover AAF. On 31 May flown to Guam for bomb-bay modification. On 6 July flown to North Field, Tinian. Flew training and combat missions during July. On 5 August Tibbets took command of the plane, and named it "Enola Gay" after his mother. The name was painted on that same day. On 6 August, accompanied by "The Great Artiste" and "Necessary Evil," "Enola Gay" dropped the Little Boy atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Returned to the US on 6 November and kept at Roswell AAF. In May 1946 sent to Kwajalein Atoll for atomic tests, but was not used. Returned to Fairfield-Suisin AAF. In August 1946 given to Smithsonian Institution. After being left outside for some time, dismantled and put in storage at Suitland, Maryland in 1961. Restoration began in December 1984 and was completed in December 2003.
44-86408	Ogden, Utah	Hill Aerospace Museum	Static display	Built at Martin Omaha as B-29. Used for air sampling during atomic tests in the Pacific. After being stationed at various bases across the US, sent to Dugway Proving Ground for chemical testing, and then abandoned. Recovered in 1983 and placed on display at Hill AFB. Originally displayed as "Hagarty's Hag", it is currently painted to resemble "Straight Flush".[16]
44-87627	Bossier City, Louisiana	Barksdale Global Power Museum	Static display	Built at Boeing Wichita as TB-29. In 1956 sent to Aberdeen Proving Ground for use as a target. Recovered in 1985 and put on display.
44-87779	Rapid City, South Dakota	South Dakota Air and Space Museum	Static display	Built at Boeing Wichita as B-29. Sent to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in 1956 for use as a target. Recovered in 1985. Wears livery of "Legal Eagle II."
45-21739	Sachon, South Gyeongsang	KAI Aerospace Museum	Static display	Built at Boeing Wichita as B-29. Sent to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. Recovered in 1972 and sent to Seoul. Museum named the plane "Unification."
45-21748	Albuquerque, New Mexico	National Museum of Nuclear Science and History	Static display	"Duke of Albuquerque" was built at Boeing Wichita as TB-29. Served with 509th Bombardment Group from 1946 to 1947. Later used as a ground training aircraft at Chanute AFB. Put on display wearing livery of Enola Gay.
45-21787	Polk City, Florida	Fantasy of Flight	Dismantled and in storage	Built at Boeing Wichita as B-29. Delivered to USAAF in September 1945. Sold to USN in 1947. Later transferred to National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics where it acquired the name "Fertile Myrtle." Used to carry the Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket research aircraft. Donated to the American Air Museum in Oakland, California in 1969. Used in the flying sequences of the 1980 Walt Disney film The Last Flight of Noah's Ark. Sold to Kermit Weeks in 1984. In 1992 the plane was severely damaged when the Weeks Air Museum was wrecked during Hurricane Andrew. The forward fuselage has subsequently been restored and was on static display. Other parts in storage. Although not presently airworthy, it is registered with FAA as N29KW.[17]

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