President Roosevelt Gets First Look At B-29

Sixty four years ago, February 20 - 23, 1944:

"LUCAS & CREW SHOW A B-29 TO THE PRESIDENT

Editor's Introduction: On February 20, 1944, Col. Walter Lucas and his crew plus two crew chiefs were dispatched to Washington, D.C. in B-29 #42-6303. They were to land at Bolling Field. As far as can be determined, no reason was given to the crew for making the flight. Bolling AFB at that time had four runways, the longest being 6,000 feet. Lucas landed the plane and was met by Gen. H.H."Hap" Arnold. It was learned then that the purpose of the flight was to show the B-29 to President Roosevelt. It is believed that his was the first --and possibly the only -- time the President saw a B-29. (Considering that the B-29 project cost more than the atomic bomb project -- $3 billion to $2 billion this
was a significant occasion.)"...

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