Boeing B-29 Superfortress, “Bockscar”
Dayton, OH - The National Museum of the United States Air Force - Bockscar, sometimes called Bock's Car, is the name of the United States Army Air Forces B-29 bomber that dropped a Fat Man nuclear weapon over the Japanese city of Nagasaki during World War II in the second – and last – nuclear attack in history. One of 15 Silverplate B-29s used by the 509th, Bockscar was built at the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Plant at Bellevue, Nebraska, at what is now Offutt Air Force Base, and delivered to the United States Army Air Forces on 19 March 1945. It was assigned to the 393d Bombardment Squadron, 509th Composite Group to Wendover Army Air Field, Utah in April. Bockscar was used in 13 training and practice missions from Tinian, and three combat missions in which it dropped pumpkin bombs on industrial targets in Japan. On 9 August 1945, Bockscar, piloted by the 393d Bombardment Squadron's commander, Major Charles W. Sweeney, dropped a Fat Man nuclear bomb with a blast yield equivalent to 21 kilotons of TNT over the city of Nagasaki. About 44% of the city was destroyed; 35,000 people were killed and 60,000 injured. After the war, Bockscar returned to the United States in November 1945. In September 1946 it was given to the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The aircraft was flown to the Museum on 26 September 1961, and its original markings were restored (nose art was added after the mission). Bockscar is now on permanent display. Link to Photo Without Frame Thank You for Making this Daily Photo Tied for the # 2 Pick on 07-21-2017.
nelli
on July 29, 2017AN AMAZING PLANE WITH AMAZING HISTORY
BIRDS-WILDLIFE-AUSTRALIA
on July 23, 2017Very interesting markings. What a history this plane has, to say the least !
jimholmquist
on July 22, 2017Terrific shot and information!
Judith Sparhawk
on July 22, 2017A pretty whimsical image on a plane that delivered so much devastation.
Lgood
on July 21, 2017Very nice icon of the plane, and great information. Thanks for sharing.
Darlene Jansen
on July 21, 2017Great info & wonderful capture!
Byron Fair Photography
on July 21, 2017Very nice capture and info.
fotoeffects
on July 21, 2017Wonderful capture and info!
arctangent
on July 21, 2017I knew from the name what historic plane this was from. My housemate has a personal connection to it, having worked on the Manhattan Project helping to develop processes for separating plutonium isotopes that were used to produce 'Fat Man' (and the test bomb that was exploded at the Trinity site in New Mexico)
Terry Allen
on July 21, 2017Like the logo and the interesting write-up!