Comparing B-29s’ Air-to-Air Kill Ratios: Korea vs. WWII

The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is remembered for its advanced design and firepower, making it a dominant bomber during World War II. While it held a high air-to-air kill ratio during WWII, the aircraft faced significantly different challenges in the Korean War, leading to a much lower kill ratio. Examining these kill ratios highlights the contrasting combat environments and advancements in enemy aircraft between the two wars.

During World War II, the B-29 was a groundbreaking bomber with extensive firepower, equipped with 12 .50-caliber machine guns and an advanced gun control system. This remote-controlled system allowed multiple gunners to target and track enemy aircraft efficiently. Each B-29 carried five gunners stationed at different points: two in side blisters, one at the nose, another in a central position, and one in the tail. These gunners used an early analog computer system to make real-time adjustments, factoring in variables like bullet drop, range, and wind. This system extended the B-29’s effective firing range to 900 yards, surpassing even the B-17’s range of 600 yards and far outmatching the 400-yard effective range of most enemy fighters.

The B-29 Bomber: From WWII Dominance to Korean War Challenges

According to declassified wartime documents, B-29 gunners destroyed 969 Japanese aircraft during WWII air-to-air engagements. The total loss of B-29s in these engagements was recorded at 83, translating to a remarkable kill ratio of approximately 11.7 to 1. While over-reporting of kill numbers was common, the B-29’s camera footage allowed verification, meaning its claims were relatively accurate. This high kill ratio placed the B-29 alongside notable fighter planes like the F6F Hellcat, which achieved a 19 to 1 kill ratio, and the F4U Corsair, at 11.3 to 1. The B-29’s capabilities made it one of the most self-reliant bombers of the era, able to protect itself against fighter threats even during solo missions.

However, in the Korean War, the B-29 faced a vastly different air threat environment. Early in the conflict, the North Korean Air Force primarily used older Yak-7 and Yak-9 aircraft, which posed little threat to the high-flying B-29s. The balance shifted when Soviet MiG-15 jets were introduced in late 1950. The MiG-15, a fast, maneuverable jet, was specifically designed as a bomber interceptor, capable of reaching altitudes and speeds beyond the capabilities of most WWII aircraft. Equipped with powerful 23 mm and 37 mm cannons, the MiG-15 was a deadly opponent for the aging B-29, whose WWII-era gun system struggled to keep pace with such fast-moving jets.

The B-29’s Transition: From Dominance to Vulnerability in the Jet Age

As the MiG threat intensified, the B-29 began operating primarily as a night bomber to avoid MiG attacks. During the six-day air battle that became known as “Black Thursday,” five B-29s were downed by MiGs in a single week, prompting the U.S. to suspend daylight bombing missions with the Superfortress. By the end of the Korean War, the B-29’s kill ratio had fallen sharply to just 1.12 to 1, with only 19 MiGs destroyed by B-29 gunners compared to 17 B-29s lost in combat. Even with jet fighter escorts like the F-86 Sabres, the B-29 was vulnerable to the rapid advancements in jet technology that had emerged since WWII.

The B-29’s steep decline in kill ratio between WWII and the Korean War can be attributed to advancements in enemy aircraft design, particularly the development of high-speed, heavily armed jets like the MiG-15. While the B-29’s innovative defensive armament system was effective against WWII-era fighters, it was not equipped to contend with the speed and firepower of postwar jet interceptors, which marked a new era in aerial warfare.