US pilot, who dropped the bomb over Hiroshima recalls his experience; shares horrifying details

Time of India

20-05-2025

World War II was more than just a conflict between nations, it was a deeply scarring tragedy that wrecked generations. The war spanned across six long years, and cost the lives of millions, tore families apart, and left entire cities in ruins.
As the war reached its final stages, the world saw a kind of destruction it had never seen before.
On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. In a single, blinding flash, tens of thousands of lives were lost. People vanished from where they stood. Homes, schools, and streets disappeared into dust. Survivors carried burns, grief, and trauma that would never fully heal.
The bombing wasn't just an act of war; it was, in fact, a turning point that forced the world to face the terrifying power of nuclear weapons and the unbearable cost of such violence.
This terrifying incident is remembered not just for its historical impact but for the pain it caused and the humanity it forever changed.
At the heart of this moment was a man named
Colonel Paul Tibbets
(later General), the pilot of the Enola Gay, the aircraft that dropped the bomb into the city of Hiroshima. He discusses his account of that day and how he lived with its memories in various interviews over the years.
He called it the 'most boring' flight of his life
Colonel Paul Tibbets, in his reflections on the Hiroshima mission, described the flight as "the most boring flight of my life."
He explained, stating, "Nothing went wrong. Everything went exactly as planned." which tells about the meticulous preparation and execution of the mission. Before starting the mission, Tibbets gathered his crew and informed them of the gravity of their task. He told them, "We are on the way to drop a special weapon on target today, which happens to be Hiroshima.
The blast and the explosion are going to be big as hell.
You've never conceived anything like what we are going to see." This candid briefing was intended to prepare the crew for the unprecedented nature of their mission, as reported by the official handle of the US Air Force.
While reflecting on the aftermath of the bombing, in an interview with the Washington Post, Tibbets described the scene as "a city that was a black, boiling mess of tar, tumbling debris, the flames, the steam and the cloud tumbling over it."
The impact was immediate and devastating.
He had no regrets!
Throughout his life, Colonel Tibbets maintained that he had no regrets about the mission. He asserted, "I've never lost a night's sleep over it, and I never will."
In a 1982 interview with UPI, Tibbets said, "You've got to remember that the entire population of the United States was behind World War II and the idea was to beat the Japs. With that thought in mind, and war being what it is, give me the same set of conditions and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again."
Tibbets revealed the reality to the crew in the air
The people who helped make the Hiroshima mission possible, the aircrew, mechanics, engineers, suppliers, and support teams, had no idea what the true purpose of their work was until after it was done. Even the men aboard the Enola Gay didn't fully understand the nature of the mission as they took off. Colonel Paul Tibbets only revealed the truth once they were in the air. He walked to the back of the aircraft to give his crew a pep talk, finally explaining the gravity of the weapon they had nicknamed 'the gimmick.
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Tibbets said he chose to share the details mid-flight to make sure the crew understood just how serious the mission was. Knowing the risks involved, he even offered cyanide capsules to the crew in case anything went wrong. Out of the entire team, only two accepted.
While Tibbets is best known for leading the Enola Gay and working on the top-secret Manhattan Project, he said that his military career included other assignments he was proud of, assignments he earned through his leadership and skill.
Still, he admitted that flying the atomic bomb mission would always be the defining moment of his life, which most people would question him for.
Tibbets accepted the heavy legacy that came with it. He acknowledged that the bomb killed around 80,000 people, and that public opinion about his role would always be divided. But he stood by his decision.
He said. 'I thought I was doing the right thing, and I still think I did the right thing. I've had thousands of enlisted men and officers come by and say 'You saved my butt.' That's what I wanted to do, and I'm damn glad.'