audiobook Boeing B-29 Superfortress (Crowood Aviation Series) by Steve Pace in History

Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Comprehensive Account of a War-Winning Bomber!By Mike O'ConnorBoeing's B-29 is the subject of this 2003 Crowood Press release by author Steve Pace. Credited with ending the war in the Pacific; the Superfortress was a groundbreaking design that overcame initial shortcomings to become an effective warbird; seeing combat in the Pacific and later Korea. Superfort fans will want to add Pace's comprehensive volume to their collection.Conceived as a long-range; high-altitude; high-speed 'super bomber;' the B-29's initial development was dogged by powerplant and other problems that resulted in the loss of a B-29; ace Boeing pilot Eddie Allen and a test crew. In time; design problems were resolved and B-29 units; initially based in China and then on Tinian and Guam; burned the heart out of Japanese cities. Service in Korea followed. The design was so successful the Soviets copied it bolt-for-bolt to produce their Tu-4 bomber!Pace does a workmanlike job of tracing the B-29's development; wartime service; variants such as tankers; dumbos; weather recce and atom bomb testers; service with SAC and the RAF; Soviet copies; and so on. There is a tremendous amount of information - and photos; both color and bw - crammed in the book's 208 pages.Much of the material is pretty dry but Pace includes a number of first-person reminiscences that bring some sparkle to the text. Among those reminiscences are a lengthy account of the B-29's early days by XB-29 test pilot Bob Robbins; several 'combat over Japan' stories by 20th AF vets; details on the 'Lucky Lady II' non-stop around-the-world flight; an RAF navigator's comments on flying 'Washingtons' and so on.As a comprehensive; wide-ranging summary of the B-29 aircraft; BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS is right on the mark. It has facts; stats; specs and photos galore. For $49.95; I would have liked more combat stories but that's just me. Recommended.*****If you desire more details on the B-29 in action; check out Steve Birdsall's SAGA OF THE SUPERFORTRESS.