Among the B-29's design innovations was a long, narrow, high-aspect ratio wing equipped with large Fowler-type flaps. This wing design allowed the B-29 to cruise at high speeds at high altitudes but maintained comfortable handling characteristics during slower airspeeds necessary during takeoff and landing.
Boeing
B-29-45-MO
Superfortress
The XB-29 first flew on 21 September 1942, at Boeing
Field in Seattle. By 8 May 1944, 130
B-29s were operational. The first
bombing mission against the Japanese main islands, since Doolittle's Raid
in April 1942, occurred on 15 June 1944.