WICHITA WITCH

WICHITA WITCH 16X20.jpg
WICHITA WITCH 16X20.jpg

WICHITA WITCH

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T Square 30, SN 42-42654., otherwise nicknamed 'WICHITA WITCH' flew with the 20th Air Force, 498th BG, 874th BS out of Saipan in the Pacific campaign of World War Two. The aircraft flew over forty missions but was destroyed on the ground during a Japanese air raid on the island of Saipan on Christmas day of 1944.

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The B-29 'Superfortress' was the most advanced aircraft, let alone bomber of the war.  It was fast, large, and had great range.  The bombers operated from island bases that were captured at great human cost on the slow island campaign that marched across the Pacific toward the Island nation of Japan.  The airplane was the first to be pressurized which allowed the crew to work and fight in a climate controlled environment which reduced work load immensely.  This advancement also allowed the plane to fly at much higher altitudes and to bomb from much higher altitudes that provided some measure of safety from ground attack.  It was in fact during missions to Japan that the 'Jet Stream' that we are now fully aware of was discovered.  Because of the Jet stream, the bombers were forced to fly at lower altitudes to provide better accuracy.  

It was a B-29 name Enola Gay, specially configured for the mission, that eventually would drop the first of two atomic weapons that would lead to the long sought victory in the Pacific.  

Two B-29's are now airworthy, one named 'FIFI' was joined by a second aircraft restored in Wichita, Kansas named 'DOC'.   

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