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Chicago Tribune
08-08-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Pullman native Fred Olivi piloted ‘the aircraft that ended World War II' 80 years ago, and left a lasting legacy at home too
It was the dawn of the atomic age and Pullman residents were reeling. One of their neighbors had just made history. Some were telling his mother he would likely get to meet the president. On Aug. 9, 1945, co-pilot Fred Olivi and 12 other crew members of the Bockscar B-29 Superfortress detonated the 'Fat Man' plutonium bomb over Nagasaki. The bombing killed around 80,000 Japanese people. More died later. This was three days after the Enola Gay dropped a uranium bomb on Hiroshima, killing 150,000. On Aug. 14, Olivi and other Bockscar crew members were dispatched on another bombing mission. Using a different plane, they dropped Torpex-loaded 'pumpkin' bombs on Koromo. On August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered to the United States, and World War II ended. Olivi never got to meet the president, but the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, credits the 100-foot-long Bockscar as, 'The aircraft that ended World War II.' The museum also maintains a display devoted to Olivi, which features his goggles, distinguished flying cross, pistol and gloves. During the war protests of the 1960s, Olivi received threatening phone calls and letters. Throughout his life, he was often pressed to explain his actions. 'He (Olivi) was unapologetic. He'd been briefed as to what would happen if the U.S. launched a land assault on Tokyo,' said Paul Petraitis, a historian and long-time Pullman resident. The U.S. military anticipated 1 million casualties, far more than the atomic bombings. Like most WWII veterans, Olivi is long gone. He died in 2004. The quartermaster of Calumet City VFW Post 8141, where Olivi had been a member, did not respond to interview requests regarding Olivi or the anniversary of the bombing, but Nadine Dennis, quartermaster of the Major Charles L. Hunt VFW Post 2024 in Pullman, did. 'Some people don't understand,' she said. 'It was the U.S. government. He (Olivi) was just an actor following orders. He was serving his country. And from what I've read in history, the Japanese would have kept going. Many more people would have died.' Whether on the wrong or right side of history, as a 23-year-old second lieutenant and the youngest member of the crew, Olivi appreciated the historical significance of the Bockscar mission. He kept a journal. And he spent until the wee hours of the morning after the bombing, gleaning information from the flight log. Years later, with the help of his wife, Carole McVey, an executive assistant who grew up in Roseland, Olivi published a personal account of the mission. The couple met at Pullman Technical High School — now Gwendolyn Brooks Preparatory Academy — and attended senior prom together. Olivi sold and gave away almost all 5,500 copies of 'Decision a Nagasaki: The Mission That Almost Failed.' He also made numerous presentations to local schools and community groups. The book conveys tense moments leading up to release of the Fat Man bomb. The Bockscar crew were forced to fly the Bockscar above a perilous thunderstorm. Their orders included having to rendezvous with a plane carrying a photographer. To gain visibility, they had to change the original target location from Kokura to Nagasaki. Bombardier Kermit Beahan released the bomb over Nagasaki at 11:58 a.m., not far from a Mitsubishi plant. In a strange twist, Aug. 9 was Beahan's birthday. Olivi was one a few people to ever witness the formation of an atomic cloud from the air. To protect his vision, he wore welders' goggles. 'This plume of smoke I'm seeing is hard to explain,' Olivi wrote later. 'A great white mass of flame is seething within the white mushroom shaped cloud. It has a pinkish, salmon color. The base is black and is breaking a little way down from the mushroom.' Delays caused the Bockscar to run short on gas. With engines conking out, the crew made an emergency landing in Okinawa instead of Tinian Island, their original return destination. After the war, Olivi signed on for more time with the U.S. Army Air Corps. When asked to give up flying to take on intelligence duties, he requested a discharge from active duty and signed on with the Air Corps Reserve. Still in his 20s, he returned to Pullman to live with his mother. Not wanting to resume work in 'the Pullman shops,' he applied for work as a commercial pilot out of Midway. With 1,500 hours of flying time, he was competing against veterans with more than 5,000 hours. The call-back he was hoping for never came. He went into business with a friend but soon realized selling candy didn't suit him. At Pullman Tech, Olivi had learned to read blueprints and gained valuable math skills. He was hired as a draftsman for the bridge division of Chicago's department of public works. Studying on his own, he took the Civil Service exam and qualified as a Civil Engineer II. He went on to obtain level IV certification and manage the city's bridge operations. Olivi had no children. He and his wife settled in Beverly Woods, but they maintained close ties with Pullman. They supported the Historic Pullman Foundation, both as volunteers and by attending fundraiser dinners, said Cindy McMahon, foundation treasurer and former president. 'They were sweet people,' she said. Like many called to do extraordinary things, he was the son of immigrants and came from humble beginnings. Olivi's mother operated a basement-level restaurant out of their home on the 11100 block of South Langley. Its double doors opened to a below-street-level courtyard. 'It was Pullman's little Italian restaurant,' Petraitis said. 'It was lovely.' Olivi's brother, Emil J. Olivi, a local dentist, commissioned an artist to paint images of Pullman, including their mother seated at her home-operated restaurant. 'E.J. also served in World War II, in Burma as a member of the Navy's dental corps,' said Linda Fuetz, who worked as a receptionist for Emil Olivi's dental office. 'The brothers were good people and believed in serving their country.' The painting of the Olivis' childhood home and others by Howard Casey occupy a wall at the Pullman Welcoming House, 605 E. State Street, where volunteers for the Bielenberg Historic Pullman House Foundation give talks and tours about the Pullman neighborhood's beginnings as a planned industrial town.
Newsweek
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
U.S. Air Weapons Show Dominance in Israel's Strike on Iran
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Israel conducted precision airstrikes on Iran Friday, deploying over 200 fighter jets and launching 330 munitions, the Israeli military said. Despite Iran's claims of full military readiness to repel Israeli or U.S. attacks, the results of "Operation Rising Lion" laid bare the true capabilities on both sides, showcasing Israel's success with a reliance on advanced U.S.-made aircraft and munitions that overcame Iran's air defenses. Why It Matters The successful execution of the strike without reported losses underscores the effectiveness of U.S.-made military technology at a time of growing competition in the global arms industry. This is especially significant in a region where the U.S. has long limited the sale of top-tier fighter jets to Arab countries to maintain Israel's qualitative military edge. It also reflects the broader competition in modern air warfare—where stealth, precision, and electronic warfare capabilities increasingly define battlefield success. U.S. Air Force Maj. Melanie "Mach" Kluesner, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team commander assigned at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, pilots her aircraft over the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force... U.S. Air Force Maj. Melanie "Mach" Kluesner, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team commander assigned at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, pilots her aircraft over the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, May 24, 2025. More Tech. Sgt. Daniel Peterson/DVIDS What To Know The strikes involved Lockheed Martin F-35s and F-16s, as well as Boeing F-15s, and targeted multiple sites across Iran, including the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, which houses critical infrastructure for Iran's nuclear program. The IDF releases footage showing Israeli Air Force fighter jets heading out for the strikes in Iran this morning, as well as landing following the attacks. — Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 13, 2025 Israel also said it struck "hideouts" of senior operatives in the Iranian military leadership, killing the Iranian Armed Forces chief of staff and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander. Israel also said it killed IRGC Air Force Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh. The Israeli attack on Iran highlighted key operational capabilities in dismantling Iran's air defenses and retaliatory capabilities, targeting medium- and long-range systems, disrupting command networks, and penetrating nuclear facilities, military analyst Sayed Ghoneim noted. Tehran has long sought to acquire the systems to deter Israeli strikes. Iran's air defense system primarily relies on Russian-made missile systems, including the S-300 and Pantsir surface-to-air missiles, which provide layered protection against aerial threats but Israel's strikes in 2024 severely damaged defense infrastructure. An Israeli fighter jet returning to base flies above an area near Tel Aviv on September 26, 2024. Israel's defence ministry said on September 26 that it had secured an $8.7 billion aid package from... An Israeli fighter jet returning to base flies above an area near Tel Aviv on September 26, 2024. Israel's defence ministry said on September 26 that it had secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the United States to support the country's ongoing military efforts, including upgrading air defence systems. More GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP/Getty Images What People Are Saying Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said: "This morning, the IDF began preemptive and precise strikes targeting the Iranian nuclear program in order to prevent the Iranian regime's ability to build a nuclear bomb in the immediate timeframe." Retired Egyptian Army Major General Sayed Ghoneim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi-based Institute for Global Security and Defense Affairs (IGSDA) told Newsweek: "Iran's air defenses lag significantly in both quality and quantity, especially given its constant threat from a technologically superior adversary. The stealth capabilities of F-35s proved particularly difficult to detect, exposing critical vulnerabilities, to already weak capabilities." President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, as quoted by Mehr News Agency: "The Iranian nation and the country's officials will not remain silent in the face of this crime, and the legitimate and powerful response from the Islamic Republic of Iran will make the enemy regret its foolish action." What Happens Next The power of advanced weapons such as the F-35 signals continued dominance for U.S. weaponry, with defense stocks soaring after Israel's strike on Iran. Israel is likely to continue attacks while Iran may target Israel with ballistic missiles and drones — again potentially blocked by U.S. aircraft.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Family-friendly Museum Mile returns this June
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is gearing up for race season. The Museum Mile returns this month on June 14. The annual one-mile race begins at Memorial Park and winds through the grounds of the USAF Museum before finishing at the Air Park. This family-friendly one-mile race welcomes runners, walkers, wheelchair users and adaptive athletes. Strollers are also welcome. 'The Museum Mile is a great way for us to kickoff our local race season in anticipation of the Air Force Marathon,' said Chris Meister, Air Force Marathon director. 'Whether you are an elite runner looking to set a personal record, or if you are just looking for a family-friendly event on Saturday morning, this is the event for you.' The race begins at 8 a.m. with packet pickup from 6:30-7:45 a.m. and an awards ceremony at 8:45 a.m. The Women's/Men's Elite Race will take place at 8:35 a.m. for those who qualify. To participate, registration is $35. Race participants will receive a tote bag and native plant seed packet. to learn more and register for the event. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Helicopters take to the skies at the USAF Museum this weekend
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Helicopters of all sizes are flying high at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base this week. HeliStorm 2025 is a free weekend event for radio-controlled helicopter enthusiasts. It's taking place May 29 through June 1 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Attendees can enjoy competitions, bond over their mutual appreciation for helicopters and more. Watch in the video player above to see all the excitement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
USAF Museum to host aerospace programs this summer
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — As the school year nears its end, the U.S. Air Force will soon offer two engaging summer programs for students interested in rocketry. The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is set to host an Aerospace Camp in June that will serve as an introductory journey into the scientific study of rockets and rocket propulsion. Aside from learning the basics of the field, students will also have the chance to build their own model rockets, be part of an interactive lesson on rocketry and Newton's Laws, receive a tour of the Museum's Space and Missile galleries, as well as an opportunity launch their model rockets (if weather permits). The camp is for incoming fifth and sixth graders — those entering these grades during the 2025-26 school year — and will take place at the museum on four dates throughout June. Monday, June 16 Wednesday, June 18 Monday, June 23 Wednesday, June 25 Each of these camp dates will take place between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Students may be registered for one of the four dates; each date will see the same content. To register your student, send an email here with the following information: Parent/Guardian Name Contact Email Contact Phone Student's Name Student's Shirt Size (Available sizes: Adult S-2XL and Kids S-XL) Grade entering in the 2025/26 school year 1st Choice Requested Camp Date 2nd Choice Requested Camp Date The museum is also offering a modified aerospace camp for students age 10 and older with physical or cognitive disabilities who may appreciate a briefer and more accessible experience. The camp dates for this alternative are on Tuesdays, June 17 and June 24 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Parents are welcome to stay and participate with their student. Click here for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
