What Pilot Dropped the Atomic Bomb?
The dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 marked a pivotal moment in world history. The bombings, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, led to Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II. But who was the pilot responsible for dropping the bomb?
The Mission
On August 6, 1945, a B-29 bomber plane, named "Enola Gay," took off from the US Air Force base on the Pacific island of Tinian. The plane was piloted by Major Thomas W. Ferebee, a 27-year-old veteran of the US Army Air Forces. Ferebee was part of the 509th Composite Group, a secret unit that had been trained to deliver the atomic bomb.
The mission was code-named "Little Boy," and the bomb was scheduled to be dropped on Hiroshima, a city located on the western coast of Japan. The bomb was designed to cause massive destruction and loss of life, and it was estimated that it would kill tens of thousands of people immediately.
The Crew
Ferebee was not the only one on board the Enola Gay. He was accompanied by a crew of six other men:
- Captain Robert A. Lewis, the aircraft commander and Ferebee’s friend and fellow pilot
- Lieutenant Jacob G. Beser, a radar operator and the youngest member of the crew
- Lieutenant Bob Caron, a bombardier and the man responsible for releasing the bomb
- Lieutenant Maurice R. Willard, a navigator and the crew’s chief navigator
- Staff Sergeant George R. Caron, a radio operator and Bob Caron’s brother
- Staff Sergeant Wyatt E. Duzenbury, a flight engineer and the crew’s chief engineer
The Drop
At 8:15 a.m. local time, Ferebee climbed into the bomb bay and released the Little Boy bomb. The bomb fell through the air for about 45 seconds before exploding with a force equivalent to 15,000 tons of TNT. The blast wave and thermal radiation from the bomb destroyed nearly everything in its path, killing an estimated 70,000 people immediately.
The Aftermath
The dropping of the atomic bomb had a profound impact on the world. It marked the first time that a nuclear weapon had been used in combat, and it led to a rapid end to World War II. The bomb also raised questions about the morality and ethics of using such a weapon, and it sparked a global debate about the dangers of nuclear war.
Significance
The dropping of the atomic bomb by Major Thomas W. Ferebee and the crew of the Enola Gay is a significant event in world history. It marked the beginning of the nuclear age, and it had a profound impact on international relations and global politics. The bomb also led to the development of a new era of international relations, marked by the emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers.
Table: The Crew of the Enola Gay
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Captain Robert A. Lewis | Aircraft Commander |
| Lieutenant Jacob G. Beser | Radar Operator |
| Lieutenant Bob Caron | Bombardier |
| Lieutenant Maurice R. Willard | Navigator |
| Staff Sergeant George R. Caron | Radio Operator |
| Staff Sergeant Wyatt E. Duzenbury | Flight Engineer |
| Major Thomas W. Ferebee | Pilot |
Conclusion
The dropping of the atomic bomb by Major Thomas W. Ferebee and the crew of the Enola Gay was a significant event in world history. It marked the beginning of the nuclear age, and it had a profound impact on international relations and global politics. The bomb also led to the development of a new era of international relations, marked by the emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers.
Additional Facts
- The Enola Gay was named after Enola Gay Tibbets, the mother of Paul Tibbets, the pilot who was originally scheduled to fly the mission but was replaced by Ferebee due to illness.
- The Little Boy bomb was 10 feet 8 inches long and weighed 9,000 pounds.
- The bomb was dropped from an altitude of 31,000 feet.
- The bomb was designed to create a fireball that would spread radiation and heat throughout the city.
- The bombing of Hiroshima killed an estimated 70,000 people immediately, and another 70,000 people died in the following months from injuries and radiation sickness.
- The bombing of Nagasaki three days later killed an estimated 39,000 people immediately, and another 39,000 people died in the following months from injuries and radiation sickness.
Sources
- "The Enola Gay and the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima" by the National Air and Space Museum
- "The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki" by the US Department of Energy
- "The Little Boy Bomb" by the Los Alamos National Laboratory
- "The Enola Gay and the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima" by the Smithsonian Institution
