On April 7, 2018, I journeyed down to Windsor Locks, CT to visit the New England Air Museum.
The trip was mostly in celebration of my dad's Birthday and his great interest in military fighter jets.
I, as well as he, found the museum to be extremely interesting and very educational. Alongside
helicopters, blimps, original aircraft engine designs, and other artifacts, the facilities housed
many airplanes including the first mass-produced one, the Blériot XI which dates back to 1911.
The Most notable of the planes for me, though, was the Boeing B-29A 'Superfortress'.
The trip was mostly in celebration of my dad's Birthday and his great interest in military fighter jets.
I, as well as he, found the museum to be extremely interesting and very educational. Alongside
helicopters, blimps, original aircraft engine designs, and other artifacts, the facilities housed
many airplanes including the first mass-produced one, the Blériot XI which dates back to 1911.
The Most notable of the planes for me, though, was the Boeing B-29A 'Superfortress'.
When I entered the Hanger at the New England Air Museum that housed the B29 'Superfortress',
I was immediately amazed by this enormous plane boasting a wingspan of over 140ft. It is amazing
that such an enormous plane weighing in at over 100,000lbs can travel between speeds of 220 and
365mph. I was able to walk around the plane, look into it (but not enter or touch) and travel to a
mezzanine where I took a birds-eye-view picture of it.
I was immediately amazed by this enormous plane boasting a wingspan of over 140ft. It is amazing
that such an enormous plane weighing in at over 100,000lbs can travel between speeds of 220 and
365mph. I was able to walk around the plane, look into it (but not enter or touch) and travel to a
mezzanine where I took a birds-eye-view picture of it.
B29 'Superfortress'
M56 LC Demolition Bomb
The Sign says "This Type of light case 4000 pound bomb was used in the Pacific Theater in World War II. Its primary targets were factories and dock yards. They were mostly dropped from B-29 Superforts. - Courtesy of Mark Boudreau
"The 'Superfortress' was primarily used in the Pacific War, culminating in its use in the dropping of
the world's first atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August, 1945 which led to the surrender
of Japan and the end of World War II" (1) This wasn't the exact plane that dropped the world's first
atomic bomb but it is one of the same kind. It is one of just under Four thousand of the same model
produced between 1943 and 1946 (2). The actual plane that dropped the atomic bomb was flown by
Enola Gay and is currently housed and on display at the "World War II Aviation (UH) exhibition at the
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA." (3)
the world's first atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August, 1945 which led to the surrender
of Japan and the end of World War II" (1) This wasn't the exact plane that dropped the world's first
atomic bomb but it is one of the same kind. It is one of just under Four thousand of the same model
produced between 1943 and 1946 (2). The actual plane that dropped the atomic bomb was flown by
Enola Gay and is currently housed and on display at the "World War II Aviation (UH) exhibition at the
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA." (3)
The plane that was right before my own very eyes was flown by the 58th bomb wing and within the
same hanger, the museum houses a memorial dedicated to them. "The 58th Bomb Wing Memorial
pays tribute to the thousands of men in the first unit to introduce the Boeing B-29 Superfortress into
combat in World War II" (4)
same hanger, the museum houses a memorial dedicated to them. "The 58th Bomb Wing Memorial
pays tribute to the thousands of men in the first unit to introduce the Boeing B-29 Superfortress into
combat in World War II" (4)
I found the New England Air Museum to be a really awesome and (relatively) local museum. I am
surprised that I never knew it existed but am happy to have visited it. The day that I went happened
to be their "Space Expo 2018" which highlighted many past, present and future space expedition
programs and topics.(5)
surprised that I never knew it existed but am happy to have visited it. The day that I went happened
to be their "Space Expo 2018" which highlighted many past, present and future space expedition
programs and topics.(5)
Good work with nice links to sources. The Enola Gay used to be in the main foyer of the Air & Space Museum in Washington DC. It was interesting to learn that it has moved to Virginia.
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