Exploded view, Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, Boeing Airplane Company, Wichita, Kansas

Exploded view of Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber aircraft at the Boeing Airplane Company's Wichita, Kansas plant. Label on back: "Assembly of the Boeing B-29. This 'exploded' view of a Superfortress taken in Boeing Airplane Company's Wichita Division plants illustrates graphically the Boeing multiline system of production in which major units of the giant bombers are brought together in the final assembly stages, each pre-completed, including installation of electrical apparatus, wiring, tubing, instruments, upholstery, etc., and much of the flying and fighting equipment. This makes final assembly a matter of joining and connecting. To facilitate the fabrication of such a huge airplane, Boeing engineers teamed up with Boeing production experts in a program of 'breaking down' the design into major units so that the multiline system used so successfully in production of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress could be adapted to the big Superfortress. This plan enabled the Wichita Division to get into B-29 production more than a year ago, and in succeeding months to meet--even exceed--the urgent delivery schedules set up by the Army Air Forces. B-29 sections are shown ready to 'fall' into position for a completed Superfortress in the photograph which was 'staged' with the units mounted on dollies and suspended from cranes. In the actual assembly procedure these parts come together at various scheduled points along the production lines. Dual wheels of the right main landing gear may be seen on the floor between the two engine nacelles in the foreground. Two workmen between nacelles are dwarfed by huge 16-foot 7-inch four-bladed propellers. Visible in fuselage section at center of main wings is part of tunnel used by crew members in passing over bomb bays between fore and aft pressurized cabins of plane." Stamped on back: "Photo courtesy of Boeing Airplane Co., Wichita Division, Wichita, Kans. Please credit Boeing-Wichita photo." Handwritten on back: "Aircraft--Bombers (Parts & assembly)."