The most famous B-29, the Enola Gay, sits in the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Museum in Chantilly, VA (see the MagWeb.com visit elsewhere in the Travel--Historic Sites links). While this particular B-29 is not the Enola Gay, it has flown in a few movies that detailed the Enola Gay's dropping of the Atomic Bomb on Japan during WWII.

The B-29 was parked on the tarmac. For $5, you could walk inside. Alas, the line was long, so I didn't.

Here's some history on the most famous of the B-29s.

The world entered a new era in August of 1945, an era that would change the face of warfare and world politics forever. Facing the most difficult decision of his new Presidency, Harry S. Truman determined that only the use of atomic weapons would bring closure to the war with Japan. On August 6, 1945, the crew of the B-29 Superfortress "Enola Gay" dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Despite the incredible devastation brought on by the bomb, the Japanese Empire still refused to surrender. It was only after a second weapon had been deployed over the city of Nagasaki that the greatest conflict the world had ever known drew to a close.

Paul Warfield Tibbets, Jr, was born in Quincy, Illinois, on February 23, 1915. Later his parents moved to Florida, where, at the age of twelve, Paul had his first airplane ride. As part of an adver­tising stunt, he threw Baby Ruth candy bars, with paper parachutes attached, from a biplane flying over a crowd gathered at the Hialeah horse track near Miami. From that day on, Paul knew he had to fly.

On February 25th, 1937, Paul enlisted as a flying cadet in the Army Air Corps at Fort Thomas, Kentucky. A year later he got his pilot wings at Kelly Field, Texas, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant.

In February, 1942, Paul became the Squadron Commander of the 340th Bomb Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group, destined for England. He flew 25 missions in B-17s, including the first American Flying Fortress raid against occupied Europe. In November of that year he was in Algeria leading the first bombardment missions in support of the North African invasion.

In March, 1943, he was returned to the states to test the combat capability of Boeing's new Super Fortress, the B-29, an airplane plagued with problems. He taught himself to fly the air­plane, and subsequently flew it about 400 hours in tests. This eventually gave him more experience as to the capabilities and limitations of a B-29 than any other pilot at that time.

In September, 1944, Paul was briefed on the Manhattan Project, the code name for the development of the atom bomb. It was to be his responsibility to organize and train a unit to deliver these weapons in combat opera­tions. He would also determine and supervise the modifications necessary to make the B-29 capable of delivering the weapons, and for this, the unit had to be self-sufficient. Secrecy was paramount. The unit would support Los Alamos with flight test airplanes to establish ballistics and detonator reliability to explode the bombs. Paul was told, "You are on your own. No one knows what to tell you. Use nor­mal channels to the extent possible. If you are denied something you need, restate your need is for " SILVERPLATE" (a codename) and your request will be honored without ques­tion."

Paul requisitioned 15 new B-29s and speci­fied they be stripped of turret and armor plat­ing except for the tail gunner position; that fuel-injected engines and new technology reversible-pitch propellers be installed; and the bomb bay re-configured to suspend from a single point, ten thousand pounds. Such an airplane would fly higher, faster, and above the effective range of anti-aircraft fire.

A B-29 bombardment squadron, the 393rd, in its final stage of training, and Wendover Army Air Base located on the Utah/Nevada border were selected by Paul for "starters". The 393rd was fully equipped and the base had a fully manned "housekeeping" group. Wendover was isolated, but close enough to Los Alamos to work together. The Salton Sea was an ideal distance for bombing practice. Then on December 17th, 1944, formal orders were issued activating the 509th Composite Group, consisting of seven subordinate units. In March, 1945, the First Ordnance Squadron, a unit designed to carry out the technical phases of the group responsibilities, became part of the 509th. The personnel count now exceeded 1500 enlisted men and some 200 officers.

Then, quietly, the group started moving overseas to Tinian Island in the Marianas chain. On the afternoon of August 5th, 1945, President Truman gave his approval to use the weapons against Japan. By the time the plane left, its familiar arrow­head tail motif had been changed on both sides to the letter "R" in a circle, the standard i.d. for the Sixth Bomb Group. The idea behind the change was to confuse the enemy if they made contact, which they did not. At 2:45 A.M. August 6th, the Enola Gay lifted off North Field with Paul Tibbets and his crew en route to Hiroshima. At exactly 9:15 plus 15 seconds the world's first atomic bomb exploded. The course of history and the nature of warfare were changed.

The Enola Gay landed back at Tinian at 2:58 P.M. and the plane and crew were greeted by General Spaatz, a large contingent of brass, and jubilant GIs. General Spaatz decorated Tibbets with the Distinguished Service Cross and the other crew members with Air Medals. This tremendous accomplishment, which not only affected the outcome of World War 11 but altered the history of the world, was not mere­ly a single event. Rather, it was a culmination of events throughout which Paul Tibbets played a pivotal role.

In 1946 Paul participated in the Bikini Bomb Tests as technical advisor to the commander of the air task force. Later, he was responsible for the Air Force's purchase of the B-47 six engine jet bomber and its service tests at the Boeing factory in Wichita, Kansas. He went on to command two of the Strategic Air Command's bomber organizations, did a tour with NATO in France, and was responsible for establishing the National Military Command Center in the Pentagon. Next, he headed a team of officers and civilians which analyzed the major commands' use of resources to accomplish their assigned mis­sions. He then reported the team's finding to the Air Staff.

When Paul retired from the USAF in August of 1966, he had completed more than 29 years of service, but he was not through flying. Initially he resided in Geneva, Switzerland, operating Lear jets throughout central Europe. There, he helped to educate the air ministries about the jet's uses. He also advised air ministries about the aviation controls and guidelines they later instituted within their countries. Back in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970, Paul joined Executive Jet Aviation, an all-jet air taxi serv­ice company, where he served in different capacities. Paul became Chairman of the Board in 1982. The company changed owner­ship in 1985, and Paul retired again. During his 15 years, Paul Tibbets acquired almost 400 hours in Lear jets, flying with an Air Transport Pilot rating.

As pilot of one of the most famous flights of WWII, and for his leadership and skill with both airplanes and people in times of stress, Paul W. Tibbets, Jr, is enshrined with honor into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

More info about Tibbetts can be found at www.enolagay.org

Other Aircraft

Under a threatening sky, TBDs line the runway.

WWII Weekend

Aircraft

B-24 "Diamond "Lil"
B-29 and Other Aircraft

Ground

Grossdeutschland Division (Re-enactors)
American Europe Encampment (Re-enactors)
WWII Re-enactment: US vs. Germans
British Encampment (Re-enactors)
German Afrika Korps Encampment (Re-enactors)
American Pacific Encampment (Re-enactors)