In the 1900s, transportation and weapons became important to the various wars in which the United States was involved. Airplanes were one of the most important inventions of the 20th century. Being able to fly from place to place was a new way of life for the American military. During World War II, military aircraft played an important role in the war, and without them, many of the things that happened would not have happened. As America became involved with Japan, it needed a more powerful aircraft. The plane they needed was known as the B-29 Superfortress. The B-29 had a greater impact on Japan than any other aircraft due to the amount of resources destroyed in Japan, the most destructive incendiary bomb in history, and the dropping of the first atomic bomb. The United States needed a huge bomber capable of carrying out the plans the Air Force wanted. There were two main purposes for sending the B-29s to the Pacific. Author James Lee Cate said: "...the plan had two goals currently sponsored by President Roosevelt: speeding up the war against Japan and boosting Chinese morale." » The airline, Boeing and the American Air Force designed the B-29 Superfortress in 1939. Boeing had launched a huge project to manufacture these large bombers. The new bomber was unlike any aircraft at the time. Measuring 99 feet long and with a wingspan of 141 feet, the B-29 had a top speed of 365 miles per hour. Its range was approximately 5,830 miles and it could hold a crew of ten men. The B-29 had fast speed, good range and carried large bombs. The Air Corps needed a plane exactly like this. This bomber was also the heaviest aircraft to date as it was equipped with bombs and defensive weapons. Being able to contain many bombs thanks to its...... middle of paper...... October 2010. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/pages/2010/ October %202010/1010atomic.aspx.Keith, Wheeler. Bomber on Japan. Alexandria: Time Life Books, nd Kennedy, Hickman “World War II: Boeing B-29 Superfortress.” Military history. Accessed May 18, 2014. http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/militaryaircraft/p/b29.htm.The History Channel. “Tokyo firebombing. » Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/firebombing-of-tokyo. “The Story of the “Billy Mitchell Group” 468 H-Bomb Group – from the CBI to the Marianas. Accessed May 18, 2014. http://www.468thbombgroup.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=6E13hH%2B%2Bd2E%3D&tabid=95&mid=490.Thomas, Searle. "'It Made a Lot of Sense to Kill Skilled Workers': The Firebombing of Tokyo in March 1945." The Journal of Military History 66, no. 1 (January. 2002): 113,114.