boeingb29superfortress

B -29 being scrapped, tail-gunners pressurised crawl-tube visible?

Boeing B-29A Superfortress, USAAF (later USAF) Ser. No. 44-61967, shot down during the Korean War. See: aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=85745 Boeing B-29A-55-BN Superfortress 44-61967 Assigned to 30th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group, Andersen AFB, Guam. Deployed to Kadena AB, Okinawa. Named ‘Miss Jackie The Rebel’ and operated by the 19th BW, 30th BS. The aircraft was shot down by Soviet pilot Studilin in the region of Seoncheon while completing a bombing mission on a railroad bridge at Gwaksan, North Korea. The Soviet aircraft attacked 'Miss Jackie' four times. The first attack was unsuccessful due to distance. On the second attack the engine on the left wing caught fire. After the fourth attack an engine on the right wing caught fire. Then the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed into the sea about 15-20 kilometers south-east of the Tetsyuzan Peninsula. Last positive radio transmission made on VHF at control point 38°15' N. 124°51' E. There were no distress signals or further transmissions of any sort. No further sightings of the aircraft were made and when reported overdue at 03:15 hours (local time) 11 June 1952. A search of the area was instituted with negative result. All 14 crew members were killed. . . .

The psychological impact might have been greater, with less loss of civilian noncombatants, if Little Boy was dropped right down the throat of Mount Fuji -a strong religious icon, in their culture. I flew past Mt. Fuji in a Lockheed Hercules more than 25 years ago.