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Home , Leslie Groves, North Field (Tinian), Paul Tibbets, Silverplate, Straight Flush

The crew of the guessed—but had not been told— what the weapon in its bomb bay was.

Atomic MissionBy John T. Correll n Sunday morning, Aug. weapon was hoisted by hydraulic lift The crew of the Enola Gay. Paul Tib- 5, 1945, the clouds that into the bomb bay. bets, the pilot, is standing fourth from had hung over southern Among those who watched the loading left. for a week began was Col. Paul W. Tibbets, 30, commander was the world’s first atomic bomb, and Oto clear and the weather forecast said of the . He would Special Mission No. 13 would drop it on conditions would be right on Monday fly the B-29 on its mission to deliver Japan. The primary target was . for daylight visual bombing. That was the bomb. Up to then, the was Through the summer of 1945, the the news that a group of airmen on Tin- identified by side number 82 stenciled Japanese home islands were reeling from ian had been awaiting. Special Bombing on its aft fuselage, but it had not been massive firebomb attacks by B-29s flying Mission No. 13 was on. given a name. Tibbets sent for a painter, from , , and in the Shortly after noon, the weapon that who printed “Enola Gay”—Tibbets’ Marianas chain. Despite the certainty would be used was removed from a mother’s name—in neat block letters of defeat, Japan refused to surrender secure assembly hut at below the cockpit window on the left and the war dragged on with mounting on Tinian, covered with a tarpaulin, side of the nose. casualties on both sides. and hauled on a trailer to a loading The weapon had a name as well: “Little The 509th had been on Tinian a little pit. A B-29 Superfortress was towed Boy,” even though it was 12 feet long more than a month, operating from tightly into position straddling the pit and the and weighed more than 9,000 pounds. It guarded facilities at North Field. It was a AIR FORCE Magazine / October 2010 73 different kind of group in several ways. in the Combined Bomber Offensive in bets said. “This would put considerable It had only one bomb squadron, and was Europe and a test pilot for the B-29, the strain on the airplane and would require self-contained with its own transport air- biggest and best American bomber of the a degree of precision flying unfamiliar to craft, maintenance, military police, and war. In September 1944, almost a year bomber pilots.” Nevertheless, all of the engineers. Its crews did not fly regular before the atomic bomb was ready to use, 509th pilots would be trained to do it. bombing missions. When they did fly, Tibbets was chosen to organize and train Tibbets ordered that the group’s modi- they dropped practice munitions called a B-29 group to deliver it against targets fied B-29s be delivered stripped of guns, “pumpkins” because of their color (or- in Germany and Japan. turrets, and armor plate except for the ange, for visibility) and unusual shape The organization was named the 509th tail. “I quickly learned that the stripped (resembling an atomic bomb). The 509th, Composite Group to indicate that it was airplane could operate about 4,000 feet secretive and strange, was not popular self-contained, with all of its own sup- higher than one fully equipped, that it with the other groups on Tinian. port elements. It reached its authorized was faster and more maneuverable, and The mystery deepened July 26, when strength of 225 officers and 1,542 enlisted that I could turn inside a P-47 that was the cruiser Indianapolis arrived with a members at Wendover Field in an isolated flying against us,” he said. “Also, once special cargo. The ship’s captain did not part of northwestern where security the P-47 made an attack and turned to know what it was, only that if the ship could be maintained. The men were told come back again, he could not catch us.” went down, he must ensure that it was only that they would “take part in an ef- In May 1945, Tibbets picked out his loaded into one of the available lifeboats. fort that could end the war.” The atomic personal aircraft at the Martin plant in En route, it had been in the custody of bomb was not mentioned. Omaha. A foreman pointed to No. 82 two standoffish persons (supposedly on the assembly line and said it was the Army officers, but they wore their corps Outrunning the Shock Wave best airplane in the factory. “That’s the insignia upside down) who kept the crate The mission had the highest priority, one you want,” he said. “It was built at in their cabin, chained to the deck. What but recognizing that too many people midweek, not on a Monday.” Even the the Indianapolis carried was the main as- had heard that story before, screws in the toilet seat had been given sembly of the atomic bomb. The remain- gave Tibbets a code word, “,” an extra turn. ing parts were brought to Tinian by one which would be recognized and honored, The war in Europe ended May 8, of the 509th’s C-54 transports July 29. even by those who knew nothing of the before the atomic bomb was ready. All That same day, Gen. Carl A. Spaatz program. 18 of the group’s B-29s soon deployed landed on Guam to take command of Tibbets pulled in men he knew and to the Pacific. strategic air forces in the Pacific. He trusted, including four who had flown Tinian was just 12 miles long and six brought with him a special order from with him in Europe: Maj. Thomas W. miles wide, crowded with B-29 hard- the War Department directing that the Ferebee, bombardier; Capt. Theodore stands, Quonset huts, and docks. There 509th “deliver its first special bomb J. “Dutch” Van Kirk, navigator; SSgt. were two airfields, each with two 8,500- as soon as weather will permit visual George R. Caron, tail gunner; and SSgt. foot runways, the longest operational bombing after about 3 , on Wyatt E. Duzenbury, flight engineer. runways in the world. one of the targets: Hiroshima, Kokura, Ferebee and Van Kirk had a special re- On July 16, the atomic bomb was , and .” lationship with Tibbets. He named them tested successfully at site in the The target committee in group bombardier and group navigator desert. Only one operational used several criteria. The target would for the 509th. bomb was immediately available, and it be a large urban area of importance The long training period was neces- was on its way to Tinian. By the end of where the damage could convince the sary for several reasons. Elsewhere in the July, everything was in place. Japanese of the destructive force. To war, lead crews took bomber formations On Saturday, Aug. 4, radio reports from make it clear the damage was not from to the release point and brought them Mao Zedong’s partisan forces in previous incendiary attacks, the target home again. The circular error prob- said the skies were clearing and good would be a city not previously bombed. able—the standard measure of bombing weather was moving eastward toward Several cities had thus been “saved” as accuracy—was about 1,000 feet. Tibbets Japan. That was sufficient indication to potential targets for the atomic bomb. announced that every crew would be able gather the crews for their first mission Hiroshima fit the criteria. The head- to navigate precisely over land or water briefing. quarters for the Japanese Second Army, and bomb from 30,000 feet with a CEP There would be seven B-29s in all, with a garrison of more than 25,000 of 200 feet. Van Kirk and Ferebee would including the Enola Gay. Three weather troops, was there. So were arma- show them how. airplanes would take off an hour ahead ment plants, including Mitsubishi Electric The big requirement was outrunning of time to visually check conditions over Corp. and Japan Steel Co., an ordnance the shock wave of the atomic bomb. To Hiroshima and the two alternate targets. supply depot, an infantry training school, survive, a B-29 needed to be at least eight One B-29, a spare, would accompany and a factory that turned out 6,000 rifles miles from the explosion. If the aircraft the mission as far as , where it a week. The port was a major assembly was at an altitude of 31,000 feet, the slant would take the bomb on board in case point for naval convoys. US planners range distance from the target would be the Enola Gay had to abort. A bomb- believed that Hiroshima was the only one six miles. The bomb would fall for 43 loading pit had been dug and was ready of the target cities where there were no seconds before detonation, after which at Iwo Jima. allied POWs. In fact, 23 American prison- the shock wave would take another 40 Two B-29s would go along with ers were held in 400-year-old Hiroshima seconds to travel eight miles. It would Tibbets to the target. Maj. Charles W. castle, now occupied by the army. be a close call. Sweeney in The Great Artiste would drop had been an outstanding “The most effective maneuver would instruments to measure the shock wave, B-17 pilot and squadron commander be a sharp turn of 155 degrees,” Tib- radioactivity, and other factors of the 74 AIR FORCE Magazine / October 2010 detonation. Capt. George W. Marquardt are going on a mission to drop a bomb The Enola Gay touches down on the would fly the yet-unnamed No. 91 as the different from any you have ever seen runway at Tinian on Aug. 6, 1945. Its crew had just dropped the atomic photo airplane. or heard about. This bomb contains a bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The Saturday briefing was conducted destructive force equivalent to 20 thou- by Navy Capt. William S. “Deak” sand tons of TNT.” the photography go on for a while, Parsons, the senior ordnance official then ordered the floodlights cut off, and for the , which had A Long Trip Duzenbury started the engines. Ground developed the atomic bomb. Parsons There would be 12 people aboard the crews pulled the chocks at 2:30 a.m., would be aboard the Enola Gay as Enola Gay: the nine regular members of and the Enola Gay taxied more than a weaponeer, and had been at Trinity the aircrew, plus Parsons and two other mile to the southwest end of the runway site for the test. Manhattan Project specialists. After the for takeoff. Parsons told the crews that the bomb final briefing, the flight surgeon gave Tibbets had already decided to make was the “most destructive weapon ever Tibbets a small cardboard pillbox with use of every inch of the runway. The produced” and that the 12 cyanide capsules. Tibbets gave one to aircraft was heavily loaded with fuel would rise to 30,000 feet, preceded by Parsons and kept the others. He intended and the 9,000-pound bomb, and was a flash of light brighter than the sun. He to offer them to the crew if the airplane 15,000 pounds over the usual takeoff passed out protective goggles for the went down over Japan and they faced weight. He released the brakes, advanced crews to wear. The word “atom” was torture and slow death by angry mobs. the throttles, and rolled down the long not uttered. If the aircraft cleared the Japanese runway, gathering speed. Tibbets resisted That weekend, Tibbets made two coastline, the rest of the distance was the urge to attempt takeoff before the changes for security reasons. patrolled by Navy “Dumbo” flying boats, aircraft reached its best speed possible. Rose—perhaps informed by Japanese cruisers, destroyers, and submarines that “I held firm until we were a little stragglers in the hills—had twice referred would pick up the crew if they had to more than 100 feet from the end of the to the distinctive insignia, an arrow in a ditch at sea. pavement,” Tibbets said. “Thanks to circle, on the tails of the 509th aircraft. The three weather airplanes went first, our extra speed—we were at 155 miles Tibbets had it painted out on the seven and were away at 1:37 a.m. an hour—the plane lifted off easily and B-29s and replaced with a large R, the The mission almost took a fateful turn climbed steadily.” tail insignia of neighboring unit, the when Duzenbury, the flight engineer, It was 1,700 miles from Tinian to the 313th Bomb Group. He also changed made his pre-takeoff inspection and south coast of Japan. Eight minutes after the group’s call sign from “Victor” to found two containers on the catwalk in takeoff, Parsons and his assistant, Lt. “Dimples.” The Enola Gay would fly as the bomb bay. They contained the tools Morris R. Jeppson, lowered themselves Dimples Eight-Two. and explosive charge Parsons would into the bomb bay. Jeppson held a flash- On Saturday evening, Parsons watched use to arm the bomb, but Duzenbury light while Parsons armed the bomb. It as bombs and ammunition exploded when did not know that. Before he could re- took 25 minutes. a B-29 crashed on takeoff. Concerned that move the containers, he was distracted About 4:30 a.m., Tibbets crawled back the Enola Gay might crash and cook off by bright lights and went to check. It through the access tunnel to visit with the atomic bomb, Parsons decided to arm was the klieg lights for motion picture the crew in the waist. Tail gunner Caron the bomb in flight. As soon as the weapon cameras. Duzenbury never got back to had also come up from his turret in the was in place on Sunday, he climbed into the boxes. rear of the aircraft. Caron asked, “Are we the bomb bay and practiced until he was When Tibbets and the rest of the crew splitting atoms today, ?” Tibbets confident that he could perform the 11 got there, the Enola Gay was bathed in replied, “That’s about it.” necessary actions in the air. floodlights for motion picture filming When they reached Iwo Jima, the At the final crew briefing just before ordered by Gen. , head backup aircraft landed, and Sweeney and midnight on Sunday, Tibbets said, “We of the Manhattan Project. Tibbets let Marquardt, who had been flying around AIR FORCE Magazine / October 2010 75 10 miles behind, tightened up on the out the instrument panel, so they pushed Nagasaki put together—would not be Enola Gay. At 6:07 a.m., they turned the goggles back on their foreheads. Fe- necessary. northwest toward Japan. They crossed rebee, watching the bomb’s fall, forgot The Japanese surrender on Aug. 15 the Japanese shoreline at 8:30 a.m. at to put his glasses on. was formally confirmed on V-J Day, their bombing altitude of 30,700 feet Sept. 2. and received a coded message from Maj. Recognition Long Delayed With few exceptions, Americans at Claude R. Eatherly, flying the weather At 8:16 a.m., Hiroshima time, after the time approved of using the atomic plane . The cloud cover a 43-second drop, the atomic bomb bombs to end the war. Gradually, opinion over Hiroshima was less than three- exploded at the preset altitude of 1,890 began to shift. On Aug. 31, 1946, The tenths at all altitudes. They would strike feet. More than half of the city was New Yorker devoted its entire editorial the primary target as briefed. destroyed in a flash and about 80,000 space to “Hiroshima,” a treatise by Hiroshima came into view at 9:07 a.m. Japanese were killed instantly. A bril- John Hershey that began the tradition When they reached the initial point for liant flash of light swept the aircraft, of emphasizing Japanese suffering in- their bomb run, 152 miles east of the and the mushroom cloud rose more stead of Japan’s aggression and refusal center of Hiroshima, they took a heading than three miles above the devastation to end the war. almost due west toward the target. They of Hiroshima. In the years that followed, Tibbets and could see eight large ships anchored in Tail gunner Caron was the only mem- the crew of the Enola Gay fared poorly the nearby harbor. Tibbets reminded the ber of the crew with a direct view. He in historical and popular remembrance. crew to put on their protective goggles. could see the shock wave approaching at At the end of World War II, all of the Van Kirk’s navigation had brought almost 1,100 feet per second, the lead- B-29 groups on Tinian—except one— them to the target precisely on time. ing edge made visible by condensing were awarded the Distinguished Unit Now it was up to the bombardier, Tom moisture. The Enola Gay, according to Citation. The 509th Composite Group Ferebee, crouched over the Norden Tibbets, was nine miles from the point of never received an official decoration or bombsight in the forward-most position detonation when it was rocked violently recognition, and neither did any of its of the B-29’s Plexiglas nose canopy. by the shock wave. component squadrons. His aiming point, selected ahead of According to enduring myth, co-pilot In 1990, surviving members of the time, was the T-shaped Aloi Bridge on Lewis said, “My God, what have we group requested that some award be Ota River. done?” In reality, he said nothing of the approved retroactively, but they were Ten miles out, Ferebee said, “OK, sort. Tibbets announced over the inter- rebuffed by the Pentagon bureaucracy. I’ve got the bridge.” He adjusted the com, “Fellows, you have just dropped It was not until 50 years after the mis- bomb sight—which was linked to the the first atomic bomb in history.” sion that Enola Gay’s crew received the autopilot—for wind drift and synchro- Tibbets gave the radio operator, national acclaim that had eluded them nized it with movement of the aircraft Pfc. Richard H. Nelson, a message to before. Ironically, it happened as the relative to the target. Ninety seconds transmit to Tinian, reporting that the result of a plan in 1994 by the Smithson- before release, Tibbets took his hands primary target had been bombed visu- ian Institution to use the restored Enola from controls and told Ferebee, “It’s ally, with good results, no opposition Gay as a prop in a political horror show all yours.” Sixty seconds before drop, by fighters or anti-aircraft fire. Parsons presenting the Japanese in World War Ferebee flipped a toggle switch for made a more detailed report in code. II as victims rather than aggressors. automatic release. It activated a high- The mushroom cloud was visible to The radical program was canceled pitched tone, which would sound in the the crew for another hour and a half when the public, Congress, and even headphones of the crew until it stopped as they flew southward. much of the news media rallied to the abruptly with release of the bomb. Sweeney and Marquardt reduced support of the mission and the crew. In The bomb fell at 9:15 a.m.—crew speed so the Enola Gay could land first, the process, the nation came to a more time plus 17 seconds, exactly 17 seconds touching down at 2:58 p.m. Spaatz met balanced understanding and regard for behind planned release time. It was 8:15 Tibbets on the ramp and pinned the the atomic missions. local time in Hiroshima. Distinguished Service Cross on his In 1999, the crew asked the Air Force The aircraft was instantly 9,000 flight coveralls. Association to help. AFA, working with pounds lighter and the nose leapt up The death toll from Hiroshima and various USAF agencies and directly with sharply. Tibbets made a hard, 155-degree Nagasaki, where the second atomic Air Force Secretary F. Whitten Peters, diving turn to right. He lost 1,700 feet bomb fell Aug. 9, was staggering, but earned the crew reconsideration. of altitude in the turn and was heading these two missions finally brought an The Air Force approved the Outstand- away from target at full power. Swee- end to the war in the Pacific, where more ing Unit Award with device for valor ney in The Great Artiste dropped three than 17 million people had died at the for the 509th Composite Group for the instrument packages, suspended by hands of Imperial Japan. The war’s end period July 1 to Aug. 14, 1945. parachutes, and made a corresponding also meant that the planned invasion of The award was presented Oct. 16, diving turn to the left. The centrifugal the Japanese home islands—an opera- 1999, at a 509th reunion at Andrews force pinned the crews to their seats. tion several times larger than the D-Day AFB, Md. Among the veterans present Marquardt’s photo airplane had re- landings at Normandy, with expected for the ceremony was Paul Tibbets, mained 15 miles from Hiroshima and casualties exceeding Hiroshima and then 84. n did not need escape measures. Tibbets and the co-pilot, Capt. Robert John T. Correll was editor in chief of Air Force Magazine for 18 years and is now a A. Lewis, found they could not fly the contributing editor. Two of his previous articles, “The Decision That Launched the airplane through this difficult maneuver Enola Gay” in April 1994 and “The Invasion That Didn’t Happen” in June 2009, ad- with the goggles. Dark glasses blacked dress the broader issues about the Hiroshima mission. 76 AIR FORCE Magazine / October 2010