Sweeny was to command the mission in his plane "The Great Artiste". There was some confusion at the outset of the Nagasaki mission.
![signed photo of all crew of enola gay signed photo of all crew of enola gay](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBRBB6bTS9c/TlpnPgeRM-I/AAAAAAAAB_E/HMrfcv7gl2o/s1600/Enola+Gay.jpg)
That day, when one would have expected all attention to be focused on the Nagasaki strike, yet another ceremony took place to honor Tibbets and the crew of the Enola Gay. Originally scheduled for August 11, 1945, the mission was advanced to August 9 due to weather concerns. The Nagasaki mission couldn't have been more different. Following the ceremony the fliers were feted at a star-studded debriefing where General LeMay told the men, "Kids, go eat, take a good shower, and sleep as much as you want!" was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Spaatz. The crew was greeted by an excited crowd. The Enola Gay landed uneventfully at Tinian. The Hiroshima mission went off smoothly, the flight was uneventful, the weather cooperated, and, at 8:15 A.M. When a second mission was approved, Kokura was the primary target Nagasaki was the secondary target. The details of the 2 events could not be more bifurcated.įrom the beginning the mission that resulted in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima overshadowed Nagasaki. The Hiroshima mission may have gone without a hitch, but Nagasaki's mission was riddled with complications. "Necessary Evil", referred to as Plane #91 and piloted by Marquardt, was assigned as a camera plane to photograph the explosion and effects of the bomb and to carry scientific observers. Bock, Jr.'s plane "Bock's Car," while Bock's crew switched to "The Great Artiste." Difficult weather conditions resulted in the "Fat Man", being dropped on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000 people. So Sweeney and his crew took over Captain Frederick C. But The Great Artiste was still outfitted with scientific gear left over from being the support plane for the Hiroshima mission and there wasn't time to outfit it to carry Fat Man.
![signed photo of all crew of enola gay signed photo of all crew of enola gay](https://images-cdn.auctionmobility.com/is3/auctionmobility-static/hyVZ-1-2MD10//724_1.jpg)
Sweeny was to command the mission carrying the second A-Bomb, "Fat Man" to Kokura in his plane The Great Artiste. The explosion wiped out 90 percent of the city and immediately killed 80,000 people tens of thousands more would later die of radiation exposure. Sweeney as "Charles Sweeney/Pilot "The Great Artiste." Near fine.Īn incredible three times signed iconic photo of the devastation created after the release of "Little Boy," the atomic bomb carried on board the Enola Gay, piloted by Colonel Paul Tibbets, which targeted Hiroshima. Marquardt, as "Gge Marquardt/Pilot #91 "Necessary Evil," in blue ink, Paul Tibbets as "Paul Tibbets/Pilot "Enola Gay," and in blue ink, Major Charles W. 3x Signed Black and White photo by Hiroshima mission pilotsĪ spectacular Black and White glossy photo of Hiroshima after the bombing on August 6, 1945, 10" x 8." Boldly signed and inscribed by three of the significant pilots from the event, in black ink, George W.