More Expensive Than the Bomb: The Economics of the B-29 Superfortress

Описание: More Expensive Than the Bomb: The Economics of the B-29 Superfortress

The atomic bomb is often remembered as the most expensive weapon of World War II. Yet the aircraft that delivered it — the B-29 Superfortress — consumed more resources, labor, and industrial capacity than the bomb itself. Long before Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the B-29 had already become one of the most ambitious and costly military programs in history.

This documentary examines the true economic scale of the B-29 Superfortress. Designed to fly higher, farther, and faster than any bomber before it, the B-29 pushed American industry to its limits. Pressurized cabins, remote-controlled gun turrets, advanced fire-control systems, and massive Wright R-3350 engines turned the aircraft into a technological leap — and a logistical nightmare.

Through a structured analysis, this film explores how the B-29 program reshaped the American war economy. Entire factories were built from scratch. New aluminum production lines were created. Specialized training programs were established for pilots, engineers, and mechanics. The bomber required not only unprecedented manufacturing effort, but also an enormous global infrastructure of airfields, supply depots, and maintenance units stretching from the United States to the Pacific.

The documentary also highlights the hidden costs behind the aircraft’s deployment. Early mechanical failures grounded fleets. Engine fires destroyed planes before they ever saw combat. Maintaining the B-29 demanded more spare parts, fuel, and skilled labor than any previous bomber. In many cases, keeping the aircraft operational cost more than replacing it.

By focusing on economics rather than combat missions, this film reveals why the B-29 was as much an industrial weapon as a military one. It was not simply a bomber, but a system — a fusion of technology, logistics, and mass production. In the end, the B-29 demonstrated that modern war was decided not only by weapons themselves, but by the economic power required to build, sustain, and deploy them.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 PART 1: THE MOST AMBITIOUS GAMBLE
16:26 PART 2: THE PRICE OF WARFARE
32:48 PART 3: THE TECHNOLOGICAL COMPROMISE
49:22 PART 4: THE LEGACY OF EXPENSE

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

General Works:
Overy, Richard. Why the Allies Won. W.W. Norton, 1995.
Harrison, Mark (ed.). The Economics of World War II. Cambridge University Press, 1998.

Air Power and Industry:
Craven, Wesley & Cate, James (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II. U.S. Government Printing Office.
Kennett, Lee. A History of Strategic Bombing. Scribner, 1982.

Technology and Production:
Tooze, Adam. The Wages of Destruction. Viking, 2006.
Wilson, Mark. Destructive Creation. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016.

Primary Sources:
United States Army Air Forces Production Reports
Boeing Aircraft Company Wartime Records
Manhattan Engineer District Summaries

KEYWORDS

World War II, B-29 Superfortress, strategic bombing, war economics, military industry, aircraft production, Pacific War, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, American industry, air power, total war, WWII technology

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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

This documentary reflects current historical scholarship on the B-29 program and wartime production. Cost estimates vary depending on accounting methods and wartime valuation.

FAIR USE DISCLAIMER

This video is created for educational purposes under Fair Use (Section 107 of the Copyright Act). All archival footage, photographs, maps, and materials are used for commentary, research, teaching, and scholarship. This content is non-commercial and transformative in nature.

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