1945 Japan–Washington flight
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The 1945 Japan–Washington flight was a record-breaking air voyage made by three modified Boeing B-29 Superfortresses on September 18–19, 1945, from the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō nonstop to
William "Butch" Blanchard pictured in China one year before the record-breaking flight.
B-29 Number 2 at Sapporo Air Base. Gun turrets are absent, replaced by smooth fairings.
Dumbo rescue aircraft stood by on alert.
Greeted upon arrival in Washington: Curtis LeMay (far left), Emmett O'Donnell and Barney Giles (far right) pose with "Hap" Arnold (in tie).
Emmett O'Donnell Jr.
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General Emmett E. "Rosie" O'Donnell Jr. was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces from 1959 to 1963. He also led the first B-29 Superfortress
General Emmett "Rosie" O'Donnell Jr. in a 1962 portrait
1959 portrait