P2B-1S Superfortress

The Boeing P2B‑1S Superfortress, a maritime‑patrol conversion of the World War II B‑29 bomber, entered service with the United States Navy in 1946. Developed to meet post‑war antisubmarine and long‑range reconnaissance needs, 130 B‑29 airframes were modified at Boeing’s Seattle plant, receiving strengthened air‑frames, enlarged fuel tanks, and a new tail‑cone housing a suite of radar, magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) equipment, and photographic cameras. The “S” suffix denoted the addition of the latest AN/APS‑15 radar and upgraded weapon stations that could carry depth charges, torpedoes, and later, nuclear depth bombs. Powered by four Wright R‑3350‑26WA radial engines delivering 2,200 hp each, the P2B‑1S retained the Superfortress’s 3,250‑mile range and cruising speed of 300 mph, allowing it to patrol vast ocean expanses from Pacific bases such as NAS Whidbey Island and NAS Kaneohe Bay. Its endurance and sensor suite made the aircraft a cornerstone of early Cold‑War maritime surveillance, famously detecting Soviet submarines during the Korean conflict and contributing valuable oceanographic data. Though retired by the late 1950s, the P2B‑1S demonstrated the adaptability of strategic bombers to peacetime roles and paved the way for later dedicated patrol aircraft such as the P‑3 Orion, cementing its place in aviation history.