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Time of India
20-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
US pilot, who dropped the bomb over Hiroshima recalls his experience; shares horrifying details
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. ' 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.'
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Enola Gay' pilot's granddaughter in ‘absolute disbelief' that photos targeted in DEI purge
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The granddaughter of a World War II pilot expressed her shock that photos of the 'Enola Gay' — the plane used to drop an atomic bomb on Japan — were targeted in the Trump administration's efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion. The Department of Defense has flagged or removed thousands of photos and historical information from its website as part of the efforts. In some cases, photos were flagged because the file included the word 'gay.' Kia Tibbets, the granddaughter of pilot Paul W. Tibbets, said that history must be protected. 'The first day I heard it, I believe, was on a Sunday and I ignored it,' Tibbets said. 'I thought it was just ramblings on social media. By Monday, my phone was blowing up and social media was blowing up. Disbelief. Just absolute disbelief.' Some Ohioans may soon get their driver's license suspensions lifted Kia Tibbets was raised in Columbus after Paul Tibbets moved to the area from Florida after the war in the 1960s. She shared that it hurts knowing that her grandfather's photos and posts were flagged. The plane he flew, the 'Enola Gay,' was named after his mother. 'My grandfather was proud to serve his country and serve all Americans,' Tibbets said. 'I know that he would be very upset, in a time when a lot of people were naming planes after other things you know, he chose to honor his mother, whom he respected and loved very, very much. You know, she gave him the opportunity to be a pilot.' Though the Pentagon has restored some of the historical photos and posts that had been flagged for deletion, Tibbets notes this moment shines a light on the importance of knowing the history of our country. 'It is a part of history, so it can't be erased,' Tibbets said. 'None of history should be erased. Then we don't learn and history gets erased.' Revived Big Lots stores to reopen this spring; HomeBuys to acquire central Ohio shop The Pentagon has said, 'In the rare cases that content is removed that is out of the clearly outlined scope of the directive, we instruct components accordingly.' Tibbets hopes to use this time as a way to recognize who her grandfather was, what he means to her and what his legacy is. 'I do like to say that I am proud of him for his service to this country,' Tibbets said. 'I'm proud of anyone that signs their life on the line for this country. But I'm proud of the man that he was, that I knew as a man.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
