Its a graphic illustration of how war has no upside, and how the division of good and bad is totally blurred by propoganda and patriotism. These bombings did, if nothing else, alert the world to the terrifying power of nuclear weapons, and possibly prevent further use.Īn horrific way to create peace, seeing the documented suffering of thousands of civillians, who had no part in military action, cant be overlooked. Some will say with no hesitation, but its conjecture, no matter what facts are used to substanciate. The victims were innocent people, but that can be said of most military campaigns, unfortunately.ĭid it save more lives by ending the war? No one can confidently say that. People died after the blast, trying to locate loved ones, because radiation was an unknown. No one knew exactly what the effects would be, or what the after effects would be.Īn entire city wiped out with one bomb, in an instant, i question the morality of this, though fire and blanket bombing created the same result, but slowly. It was an experiment as much as an act of war. It stands out, however, as being the only time in history when atomic (nuclear) weapons have been used in anger. Hiroshima, nagasaki were the last in a long history of blanket killing, carried out by both sides During ww2.
The decision to drop atomic weapons? Not so straightforeward.Īny form of bombing that targets civillians is questionable. Bockscar missed the actual target point in Nagasaki meaning fewer people died but the war ended anyway, not a bad outcome.Ĭrew of the aircraft, brave men doing their duty. Was any reason given for his high landing speed? It just seems to me he got a bad rap for doing his best under difficult circumstances, I suspect an enquiry or court martial may have dropped a lot of brown stuff on other people also doing their best on the mission that ended the war. Instruct Sweeney not to wait at rendezvous. Dont attack cities with incendiaries near the primary target. That says to me sweeney playing by the book would not have taken off but he and Tibbets agreed it was a small risk to the mission.Ĭheck all aircraft before loading up the bomb. Group Commander Colonel Paul Tibbets and Sweeney therefore elected to have Bockscar continue the mission. Replacing the pump would take hours moving the Fat Man to another aircraft might take just as long and was dangerous as well, as the bomb was live. This fuel would still have to be carried all the way to Japan and back, consuming still more fuel. Dale.ĭuring pre-flight inspection of Bockscar, the flight engineer notified Sweeney that an inoperative fuel transfer pump made it impossible to use 640 US gallons (2,400 l 530 imp gal) of fuel carried in a reserve tank. I feel, that something should be speedily done to stem the tide of extravagance, threatening to ruin every civilized country on the face of the globe," said Mrs.
".the vital question at issue now is, how to remedy the great evil that is about to engulf our moral law and prosperous government. When seeing the approach of such a cloud, it sends an agonizing thrill of horror into the heart of the beholder. The funnel-shaped cloud deals death and destruction to all that come within its whirling, deadly grasp. There are clouds too real, not figurative, that we will now contemplate. How many clouds have darkened the horizon of other valuable lives. We have been discussing the "clouds of sorrow" that have obscured a bright and beautiful life, Of her life of loneliness," mused Enola, "for truly I am alone."
Received a glimpse of the future life of their child in a camera, speaking to them "In calling me by the strange name of 'Enola,' I wonder if my dear departed parents Oh! eternal woes! Deliver us from the "Prince of Darkness."ĭeliver us from his fiery embraces. The Prince of the Air certainly causes them ,
Its commanding pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets, named the aircraft after his mother, Enola Gay Tibbets (1893–1983), who was named after the title character of Ridenbaugh's book. It is notable for being the inspiration, indirectly, for the naming of the Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber airplane which dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. I didnt realise Mrs Tibbets herself was named after a literary characterĮnola or, Her fatal mistake is an 1886 book written by Mary Young Ridenbaugh.