He didn't have the option to say he didn't care for something he was asked to do," Kia Tibbets said. Tibbets simply did his duty, his granddaughter said. "It's a horrible weapon, but war is pretty horrible, too." It was a presidential decision, and he was an officer that carried out his duty," Glenn said. John Glenn, a former Marine fighter pilot, said people who criticized Tibbets for piloting the plane that dropped the bomb failed to recognize that an allied invasion of Japan, which the bomb helped avert, would have resulted in the deaths of several million people. "He said, 'What they needed was someone who could do this and not flinch - and that was me,"' said journalist Bob Greene, who wrote the Tibbets biography, "Duty: A Father, His Son, and the Man Who Won the War."įormer U.S. The Japanese surrendered a few days later, ending the war. Three days later, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing at least 60,000 people. Tibbets and his crew of 13, flying a bomber named for his mother, dropped the five-ton "Little Boy" bomb over Hiroshima on Aug. What did they did for their country," said Flynn. "It's important to know they sacrificed for this country. As a kid, it always seemed a whole lot bigger," said Flynn.įor the Flynns, the death of Tibbetts and their dear friend have signified the final chapter in an era. "It was a real kick to see the small quarters he was in. Flynn even had a chance to go through the Enola Gay when it was partially rebuilt and on display in the Smithsonian Museum. Today you can visit the museum, see the bomber, and watch history come alive before your eyes.Walter Flynn said that, ever since the war, he has had a fascination with the Enola Gay and planes like it. However, by 2003 the aircraft was restored and put on display at the Steven F. In 1949, the plane was given to the Smithsonian institute only to be disassembled in 1984. The latter choice was taken, and history would forever be changed.Īfter the Enola Gays memorable flight, the aircraft would remain in service for a few more years. With two options, an invasion of mainland Japan or the use of the atomic bombs, the United States had to choose. With Hitler defeated in Europe, Japan was the last target. Many historians today question whether the dropping of the atomic bomb was necessary.Įither way, the dropping of this bomb helped to speed up the end of the war. This mission would become controversial, as the dropping of the atomic bomb would cause problems for Hiroshima people for decades to come. Nothing on the plane was harmed, and their trip was relatively safe. The Enola Gay and its crew would make it safely back to base. This was the first and only time thus far that an atomic bomb would be used in war. Everything within three miles of the blast radius was obliterated. On this day in the early morning, the first atomic bomb detonated on Hiroshima.
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With the crew assembled and the bomber modified, it was time for the Enola Gay to embark on her journey.Īugust 6, 1945, was a day that would live in infamy. This would change for the Enola Gay, as the atomic bomb itself weighed around 10,000 pounds! The armor had to be stripped for the plane to fly correctly, thus making her lighter and easier to shoot down. It has a lot of armor strapped on to protect the crew. The Enola Gay had to go through modifications itself to be ready for her task.Ī B-29 bomber is heavy. Tasked with rounding up a crew, the colonel had his work cut out for him. Colonel Paul Tibbits was in charge of this soon to be infamous mission. In 1944, the Enola Gay was tasked with carrying and dropping an atomic bomb. However, by 1944 the aircraft was given its most extraordinary task. Built by Boeing, the Enola Gay first saw action in 1942, flying numerous bombing missions through the Pacific Ocean. These planes were nicknamed Superfortress because of their size, weight, and the load they carried. The Enola Gay is a B-29 bomber, a top-rated aircraft used frequently in the pacific theater during World War II. So without further ado, let's get into the history behind this legendary aircraft. This article will discuss the history behind the bomber plane, its mission, and any other significant facts about the Enola Gay. Its essential mission helped to end the war on the pacific front during World War II, and at the same time, change the course of history. One of the most well-known and infamous bomber planes of the 20th century, the Enola Gay will forever live in the annals of history.