Boeing Washington

Boeing Washington
Type	Strategic bomber
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Boeing
First flight	21 September 1942
Introduction	1944
Retired	1960 (Royal Air Force)
Primary users	Royal Air Force; United States Army Air Forces
Number built	88 (as Washington B.1)
Developed from	Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Boeing Washington was the designation applied by the Royal Air Force to eighty-eight examples of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber loaned from United States stocks in the early Cold War period. This interim measure was necessary to bridge a capability gap until British-designed V bombers like the Vickers Valiant entered service. The aircraft served with RAF Bomber Command from 1950 to 1958, providing the United Kingdom with its first operational strategic bomber capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

Design and development

The Washington's design was identical to the late-World War II and Korean War-era B-29 Superfortress, a pioneering aircraft featuring a pressurized cabin, a central fire-control system for its remote gun turrets, and powerful Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone engines. Its development was a direct result of the 1948 Berlin Blockade, which heightened tensions and demonstrated the Royal Air Force's lack of a modern, long-range strategic deterrent. Faced with the slow progress of the indigenous V bomber programs, the British government, under Prime Minister Clement Attlee, secured the loan of the aircraft through the United States Military Assistance Program. The agreement was formalized in 1948, with deliveries beginning in 1950 to units such as No. 115 Squadron RAF at RAF Marham.

Operational history

Operational service began in March 1950 with the formation of the first Washington squadron. The aircraft were operated exclusively by RAF Bomber Command, primarily from bases in Lincolnshire and Norfolk, including RAF Coningsby and RAF Marham. Their primary role was to train crews in the techniques of high-altitude, long-range strategic bombing and to maintain a credible nuclear deterrent against the Soviet Union during a critical period. While never used in combat, the Washingtons conducted extensive training exercises over the United Kingdom, the Mediterranean Sea, and North Africa. The type's service revealed significant maintenance challenges due to the complexity of its systems and the unfamiliarity of RAF ground crews, leading to a lower operational readiness rate compared to contemporary British aircraft. The arrival of the Vickers Valiant in 1955 began its phased replacement, with the last Washington flight occurring in 1958.

Variants

Only one major variant was used by the Royal Air Force, designated the Washington B.1. This corresponded to the standard B-29A and B-29 production models, with some aircraft being refurbished Boeing-Wichita-built examples. All defensive armament was retained initially, though the tail guns were often removed in later service. A small number of aircraft were converted for specialized roles; three were modified as Washington C.1 transports by removing all armament and installing seating, used by No. 90 Squadron RAF for crew ferry duties. Additionally, a single aircraft was used as a testbed for the Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire turbojet engine, and several served as aerial refueling tanker receivers during early trials of the Flight Refuelling Limited probe-and-drogue system.

Operators

The primary operator was the Royal Air Force. Key units included No. 15 Squadron RAF, No. 35 Squadron RAF, No. 44 Squadron RAF, No. 57 Squadron RAF, No. 90 Squadron RAF, No. 115 Squadron RAF, No. 149 Squadron RAF, No. 207 Squadron RAF, and No. 214 Squadron RAF. The Royal Australian Air Force also briefly operated a single Washington in 1952 for crew familiarization and evaluation purposes at RAF Marham, prior to the introduction of its own English Electric Canberra bombers. All aircraft were returned to the United States between 1954 and 1958, where most were subsequently scrapped.

Specifications (B-29)

General characteristics * **Crew:** 11 (Pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer, bombardier, navigator, radio operator, radar operator, four gunners) * **Length:** 99 ft 0 in (30.18 m) * **Wingspan:** 141 ft 3 in (43.05 m) * **Height:** 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m) * **Wing area:** 1,736 sq ft (161.3 m²) * **Empty weight:** 74,500 lb (33,793 kg) * **Gross weight:** 120,000 lb (54,431 kg) * **Max takeoff weight:** 133,500 lb (60,555 kg) * **Powerplant:** 4 × Wright R-3350-23 Duplex-Cyclone 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 2,200 hp (1,600 kW) each * **Propellers:** 4-bladed constant-speed propellers

Performance * **Maximum speed:** 357 mph (575 km/h, 310 kn) * **Cruise speed:** 220 mph (350 km/h, 190 kn) * **Range:** 3,250 mi (5,230 km, 2,820 nmi) * **Ferry range:** 5,600 mi (9,000 km, 4,900 nmi) * **Service ceiling:** 31,850 ft (9,710 m) * **Rate of climb:** 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)

Armament * **Guns:** 10 × .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in remote-controlled turrets, plus 2 × .50 in machine guns and 1 × 20 mm M2 cannon in tail position * **Bombs:** Up to 20,000 lb (9,100 kg) internally, including conventional bombs or a single nuclear weapon such as the Blue Danube

Category:Military aircraft of the United Kingdom Category:Cold War bombers of the United Kingdom Category:Boeing aircraft