Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 26, 2022 0:18:40 GMT 12
SUPERFORTRESS BOMBERS
Visit To Harewood For Air Race
TRANSPORT FOR TECHNICIANS
Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force will come to Harewood after the finish of the London-Christchurch air race in October. They will bring mechanics and engineers from Britain to service the three photographic reconnaissance Canberra aircraft entered in the race by the Royal Air Force during their New Zealand tour.
Bomber Command of the Royal Air Force has 70 Superfortresses, which were supplied by the United States under the terms of the North Atlantic Treaty and renamed Washingtons. The London correspondent of “The Press” says that the Washingtons will fly servicing crews to Perth, and follow the Canberras to Harewood after the finish of the race. As well as acting as transport aircraft the Washingtons will also be equipped as air-sea rescue aircraft to go to the assistance of any aircraft in trouble.
After the race is over the crews of the Canberras are expected to spend a fortnight in New Zealand. They have been invited by the Royal New Zealand Air Force to visit Ohakea and Whenuapai with their aircraft. On their return flight to England the Canberras will make the trip in easy stages. They will fly to Melbourne, Perth, Changi (Singapore), Shaibah, near Basra, Luga (Malta), and then to Wyton, their home base, near Cambridge.
B-29 Superfortresses are the standard medium bombers in the United States Air Force. During the Second World War 4221 were built. The first prototype flew in 1942, and the first bombing raids on Japan from bases in China were made in 1944. Later attacks on the Japanese mainland were made by 450 to 500 Superfortresses from bases in the Marianas and on Guam. A B-29 Superfortress dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.
After the war the Superfortresses were put in storage. Later they were brought back into service, being first modernised by the provision of improved electronic equipment, fuel injection systems, and modifications for refuelling in the air. One Superfortress—the Pacusan Dreamboat—flew 9500 miles non-stop from Pearl Harbour to Cairo in 39 hours 36 minutes in 1946.
With a wing span of 141 ft 3 in and a length of 99 ft, the Washingtons will be the largest military aircraft ever to visit Christchurch. A B-17 Flying Fortress visited the Royal New Zealand Air Force station at Wigram during the war, but no information could be published about it because of security restrictions.
Normally the Washingtons carry a crew of 10 to 14. Their maximum speed at 25,000 ft is 351 miles an hour, and their range at maximum continuous cruising speed is 2850 miles or 12.8 hours at 10,000 ft (3050 miles). They have four 2200 horse-power Wright 3350-57 radial air-cooled engines. Their weight when empty is 33 tons, and their normal loaded combat weight is 53 tons. The bomb load is nearly nine tons.
PRESS, 21 AUGUST 1953
Visit To Harewood For Air Race
TRANSPORT FOR TECHNICIANS
Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force will come to Harewood after the finish of the London-Christchurch air race in October. They will bring mechanics and engineers from Britain to service the three photographic reconnaissance Canberra aircraft entered in the race by the Royal Air Force during their New Zealand tour.
Bomber Command of the Royal Air Force has 70 Superfortresses, which were supplied by the United States under the terms of the North Atlantic Treaty and renamed Washingtons. The London correspondent of “The Press” says that the Washingtons will fly servicing crews to Perth, and follow the Canberras to Harewood after the finish of the race. As well as acting as transport aircraft the Washingtons will also be equipped as air-sea rescue aircraft to go to the assistance of any aircraft in trouble.
After the race is over the crews of the Canberras are expected to spend a fortnight in New Zealand. They have been invited by the Royal New Zealand Air Force to visit Ohakea and Whenuapai with their aircraft. On their return flight to England the Canberras will make the trip in easy stages. They will fly to Melbourne, Perth, Changi (Singapore), Shaibah, near Basra, Luga (Malta), and then to Wyton, their home base, near Cambridge.
B-29 Superfortresses are the standard medium bombers in the United States Air Force. During the Second World War 4221 were built. The first prototype flew in 1942, and the first bombing raids on Japan from bases in China were made in 1944. Later attacks on the Japanese mainland were made by 450 to 500 Superfortresses from bases in the Marianas and on Guam. A B-29 Superfortress dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.
After the war the Superfortresses were put in storage. Later they were brought back into service, being first modernised by the provision of improved electronic equipment, fuel injection systems, and modifications for refuelling in the air. One Superfortress—the Pacusan Dreamboat—flew 9500 miles non-stop from Pearl Harbour to Cairo in 39 hours 36 minutes in 1946.
With a wing span of 141 ft 3 in and a length of 99 ft, the Washingtons will be the largest military aircraft ever to visit Christchurch. A B-17 Flying Fortress visited the Royal New Zealand Air Force station at Wigram during the war, but no information could be published about it because of security restrictions.
Normally the Washingtons carry a crew of 10 to 14. Their maximum speed at 25,000 ft is 351 miles an hour, and their range at maximum continuous cruising speed is 2850 miles or 12.8 hours at 10,000 ft (3050 miles). They have four 2200 horse-power Wright 3350-57 radial air-cooled engines. Their weight when empty is 33 tons, and their normal loaded combat weight is 53 tons. The bomb load is nearly nine tons.
PRESS, 21 AUGUST 1953
