On 6 August , piloted by Tibbets and Robert A. Lewis during the final stages of World War II , it became the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb. The bomb, code-named " Little Boy ", was targeted at the city of Hiroshima , Japan, and caused the near-complete destruction of the city. Enola Gay participated in the second atomic attack as the weather reconnaissance aircraft for the primary target of Kokura. Clouds and drifting smoke resulted in a secondary target, Nagasaki , being bombed instead. In May , it was flown to Kwajalein for the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests in the Pacific, but was not chosen to make the test drop at Bikini Atoll.

The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki



Tinian Island | Atomic Heritage Foundation
President Harry Truman made the fateful decision to drop a massive atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. On August 6, , this atomic bomb, known as " Little Boy ," flattened the city, killing at least 70, people that day and tens of thousands more from radiation poisoning. This bomb, nicknamed "Fat Man," was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40, people immediately and another 20, to 40, in the months following the explosion. At a. Just before take-off, the plane's nickname was painted on its side. In order to carry such a heavy load as an atomic bomb, the Enola Gay was modified: new propellers, stronger engines, and faster opening bomb bay doors.


Here’s why the pilot of Enola Gay had no regrets about dropping the first atom bomb
In order to carry the enormous weapon, the plane had been stripped of anything non-essential. This made it thousands of pounds lighter than a typical B and allowed it to carry the 10, pound atomic bomb. We lost 2, ft. Then it exploded.



Does wikipedia have a policy about linking to subscription-only material? The "Eye Witness" link goes to time. Does anyone know what book Enola Gay Tibbets was named after? Wikipedia seems to be the only place where this is mentioned. Patrick , August 13,