Paul Tibbets has died

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 7:24 am Post subject: Paul Tibbets has died

You Eurogits will have to google him.I think most others will know why he is /was famous.
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Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 7:36 am Post subject:

damn always wondered what went on in his head since that day, back in 45'

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 8:15 am Post subject:

Interview here. http://www.avweb.com/news/profiles/PaulTibbets_StudsTerkel_EnolaGayInterview_2002_196499-1.html
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Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 10:05 am Post subject: Re: Paul Tibbets has died

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 10:25 am Post subject: Re: Paul Tibbets has died

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:58 am Post subject:

May he Rest in Peices.... Cool

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Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 2:29 am Post subject:

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 11:22 am Post subject:

My apologies in advance for the long note:

I was lucky enough to have seen the Enola Gay (the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb) exhibit at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in Washington D.C. back in 1995 (50th anniversary of the attack). If you hadn't heard, it was a controversial exhibit with a lot of protesting over the significance of the first atomic attack, etc. A lot of anti-war sentiment, coupled with protests from Japanese groups dealing with post-attack radiation sickness issues kept the exhibit very plain.

Only the fueselage (main body) and tail was on exhibit. There were no wings or even a model of the bomb (little boy). There was little to no signage or description, and what was there was something like "this is the plane that carried out the first atomic attack" , "many people lost their lives". No stats or comment on how it helped win the war, no comment on President Truman's decision or the resulting Japanese surrender.

The museum was packed with many asian and presumably Japanese tourists - but none were in the exhibit. The Enola Gay was off by itself in an isolated room - near the gift shop.

Here's where it gets interesting. Even though the display was bland, the gift shop was selling videos of documentaries about the Atomic missions. They had a couple of big screen TVs set up right outside the Enola Gay exit to persuade you to buy the videos. There in larger than life 52 inch color were the crew members being interviewed, incl. Tibbets. While Tibbets was mild spoken, another crew member the navigator or bombadier, when he was asked about his regrets stated "My only regret is that we weren't carrying two". That was the only real information given, in my opinion.

My personal feelings are that it was the right decision at a crucial moment in history. Any history lover will tell you that the island campaigns were horrible and that the Japanese had no respect for human life - ask any veteran you know. (sound familiar? - history repeats itself). An invasion of the Japanese homeland was sure to cause millions of needless casualties. The bomb while horrible was one of the few weapons in history that was effective in ending further suffering.

My respects go out to Gen. Tibbets and his family.
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Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 11:30 am Post subject:

Just FYI - the plane that dropped the second bomb "Bockscar" is on display at the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH. Worth the trip btw - and a much better display than the Enola Gay.

Here's a link to the plane:

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=527

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