Did the Pilot Who Dropped the Atomic Bomb Kill Himself?
The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively, were two of the most significant events of World War II. The bombings killed hundreds of thousands of people instantly, and many more died in the following months and years from injuries and radiation sickness. The planes that dropped the atomic bombs were piloted by U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) Maj. Charles Sweeney and Maj. Thomas Ferebee. But did one of these pilots, Maj. Ferebee, kill himself in the aftermath of the bombings?
Background
Maj. Thomas Ferebee was the bombardier on the Bockscar, a B-29 Superfortress bomber that dropped the atomic bomb "Fat Man" on Nagasaki. Ferebee was a seasoned pilot with over 1,000 hours of flight experience and had already completed several missions over Japan. On August 9, 1945, Ferebee and his crew took off from the U.S. base on the island of Tinian, carrying the atomic bomb to its target.
The Bombing of Nagasaki
The bombing of Nagasaki was a precision strike, with Ferebee’s crew dropping the bomb from an altitude of 29,000 feet. The bomb exploded with a force equivalent to 21,000 tons of TNT, killing an estimated 39,000 people instantly. The city was destroyed, and many more people died in the following days and weeks from injuries and radiation sickness.
The Investigation
In the aftermath of the bombing, the USAAF conducted an investigation into the mission, including interviews with the crew members. Maj. Ferebee was questioned about his actions during the mission, including whether he had intentionally diverted the bomb from its target.
The Controversy
In the 1980s, rumors began to circulate that Maj. Ferebee had killed himself in a hotel room in the Philippines in 1946, allegedly due to guilt and remorse over the bombing. The rumors were fueled by a book written by journalist and author, Robert W. Clark, titled "The Deadly Dream", which claimed that Ferebee had taken his own life.
Debunking the Rumors
However, the USAAF investigation, conducted in 1945, found no evidence to support the claim that Maj. Ferebee had intentionally diverted the bomb from its target. The investigation also found no evidence to support the claim that Ferebee had killed himself. In fact, Ferebee was still alive when the book "The Deadly Dream" was published, and he denied the rumors of his own death.
Ferebee’s Later Life
Maj. Thomas Ferebee continued to serve in the USAAF until his retirement in 1958. He later worked as a salesman and a consultant, and died in 2000 at the age of 81.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is no credible evidence to support the claim that Maj. Thomas Ferebee, the bombardier on the Bockscar, killed himself in the aftermath of the bombing of Nagasaki. The USAAF investigation found no evidence to support the claim, and Ferebee himself denied the rumors of his own death. The controversy surrounding Ferebee’s actions on August 9, 1945, has been largely debunked, and it is clear that Maj. Ferebee did not take his own life.
Timeline
- August 9, 1945: Maj. Thomas Ferebee drops the atomic bomb "Fat Man" on Nagasaki, Japan.
- 1945: USAAF investigation into the mission is conducted.
- 1980s: Rumors begin to circulate that Maj. Ferebee had killed himself in a hotel room in the Philippines in 1946.
- 1983: Robert W. Clark publishes "The Deadly Dream", which claims that Ferebee had taken his own life.
- 2000: Maj. Thomas Ferebee dies at the age of 81.
Table: Crew Members of the Bockscar
| Name | Position | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Maj. Thomas Ferebee | Bombardier | American |
| Maj. Charles Sweeney | Pilot | American |
| Capt. Kermit Beaman | Co-pilot | American |
| Lt. Fred Olivi | Navigator | American |
| Sgt. Bob Shumard | Radio operator | American |
| Sgt. Bob Caron | Gunner | American |
| Sgt. George Carr | Gunner | American |
Bullets List: Key Points
- Maj. Thomas Ferebee was the bombardier on the Bockscar, which dropped the atomic bomb "Fat Man" on Nagasaki.
- The USAAF investigation found no evidence to support the claim that Ferebee had intentionally diverted the bomb from its target.
- Ferebee denied the rumors of his own death, which were fueled by a book written by Robert W. Clark.
- There is no credible evidence to support the claim that Maj. Thomas Ferebee killed himself in the aftermath of the bombing of Nagasaki.
- Ferebee continued to serve in the USAAF until his retirement in 1958 and later worked as a salesman and a consultant.
