P2B-2S Superfortress

The Boeing P2B-2S Superfortress was a naval adaptation of the World War II B‑29 bomber, introduced in the late 1940s for long‑range maritime patrol, anti‑submarine warfare, and early airborne early‑warning missions. After the Army Air Forces retired the B‑29 from front‑line bombing, the United States Navy acquired 57 airframes, redesignating them P2B‑1 and later P2B‑2. The “S” modification, implemented in 1949, added a sophisticated AN/APS‑1 radar suite, upgraded radar‑altimeter and magnetic anomaly detector, and extra fuel tanks that extended endurance to over 30 hours. The aircraft retained its four Wright R‑3350‑26DC radial engines, pressurized cabin, and defensive armament of ten .50‑caliber machine guns, while the bombardier’s nose was replaced with a plexiglass bubble for better visual scanning. Its 141‑ft wingspan and robust airframe allowed operation from large carriers and forward bases, providing the Navy with a strategic platform capable of covering vast oceanic sectors during the early Cold War. The P2B‑2S demonstrated the versatility of the Superfortress design, bridging the gap between piston‑engine bombers and the emerging jet‑powered patrol aircraft, and it set operational standards that influenced later platforms such as the P‑2 Neptune and P‑3 Orion.