A Prank Led to America’s First Nominated Female to Office, and Other Lesser Known American History Facts

18. The Super Fortress’ Shaky Start

B-29 prototypes first flew in 1942, and the plane was introduced to service in May, 1944. Super Fortresses initially bombed Japan from bases in China, but getting the most out of the revolutionary bomber’s potential proved difficult at first. Shaky logistics, with all fuel, supplies, and bombs needing to be flown from India over the Himalayas, coupled with the airbases’ vulnerability to Japanese attack, rendered a sustained bombing campaign from China impractical.

The Mariana Islands, located about 1500 miles south of Tokyo and thus within B-29 range, were a better option: they could be supplied limitlessly by ship, and were beyond Japanese reach. Once they were captured and the necessary airbases and facilities built, B-29s were rebased there and began bombing Japan in October, 1944, from the Mariana islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam.