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Which World War II bomber was the first to have pressurized crew compartments?

The B-29 was the first bomber with pressurized crew areas.

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  1. B-17 Flying Fortress
  2. B-24 Liberator
  3. B-29 Superfortress ✔

Why: Air gets thin and cold high up. The B-29 kept its crew areas pressurized, so the crew could fly high without wearing oxygen masks the whole time. Airliners use the same idea today.

Huh, didn't know that: A B-29 later carried the Bell X-1 rocket plane aloft before dropping it for test flights.

The dad joke
Why was the B-29 crew so calm? They never felt under too much pressure.
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References

Answer: B-29 Superfortress. Air gets thin and cold high up. The B-29 kept its crew areas pressurized, so the crew could fly high without wearing oxygen masks the whole time. Airliners use the same idea today.

  1. Aerospace: The Journey of Flight, Teacher's Guide (Civil Air Patrol) www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/2nd_edition_Teachers_Guide_5D3166D76F9B1.pdf
    B-29 was the first to have pressurized crew compartments.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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