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The vast majority have expressed gratitude that the509th Composite group consisting of 1700 men, 15 B-29s and 6 C-54s were able to deliver the bombs that ended the war," comments Brigadier General Paul W. "In the past sixty years since Hiroshima I have received many letters from people all over the world. They have steadfastly taken that stance for the past six decades.
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The surviving members of the Enola Gay crew - Paul W Tibbets (pilot), Theodore J "Dutch" Van Kirk (navigator) and Morris R Jeppson (weapon test officer) - have repeatedly and humbly proclaimed that, "The use of the atomic weapon was a necessary moment in history. To spare the world a horrific invasion and to save American, allied, and Japanese lives was literally the only course of prudent action. The availability of those weapons in the American arsenal left President Truman no choice but to use them. The second atomic weapon was delivered over Nagasaki by the B-29 Superfortress Bocks Car three days later. Ignoring the obvious military situation, the Japanese Prime Minister Baron Kantaro Suzuki issued the Japanese refusal to surrender which included these words: "there is no other recourse but to ignore it entirely and resolutely fight for the successful conclusion of the war." The alternative," they said, "for Japan is prompt and utter destruction". Together with Great Britain's Churchill, and Russia's Stalin, the President of the United States urged the Japanese to "proclaim the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces. President Truman made one last demand, one final appeal.
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The summer of 1945 was indeed an anxious one as allied and American forces gathered for the inevitable invasion of the Japanese homeland. This year, 2005, marks the sixtieth year since the end of World War II. On this occasion, the surviving members of the Enola Gay crew would like the opportunity to issue a joint statement. In one blinding flash, it leveled the heart of Hiroshima with the equivalent of 15,000 tons of TNT.The surviving members of the Enola Gay crew say their mission was just Lewis was the Enola Gay' s regular pilot, and he was 'furious' when he discovered. Thomas Ferebee dropped Little Boy - a 10,000 pound, uranium-enriched bomb - which detonated 1,800 feet above the city’s center. The 13-man crew for the Enola Gay on its historic Hishoma run were as follows: Colonel Paul Tibbetts, pilot and mission commander. Around 8:15 a.m., on a calm, sunny morning, bombardier Maj. 6, 1945, the Enola Gay took off for Hiroshima, an important Japanese military center. “Lewis himself was bumped from command pilot to copilot.” “There was some animosity between, because … a lot of Lewis’ crew was bumped,” Kinney said. He handpicked the plane the night before the mission, to the surprise of its crew, and had his mother’s name - Enola Gay - painted on its side.
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Caron of the Enola Gay all signed this 1981 first day cover honoring America the Beautiful series First day cover signed 'Jacob Beser', 'Paul W. Van Kirk, Jacob Beser, Thomas Freebee and George R. Paul Tibbets Jr., the commander of the 509th. TIBBETS, THEODORE VAN KIRK, JACOB BESER, THOMAS FREEBEE and GEORGE R. But Lewis would not end up leading the atomic mission.
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Robert Lewis, of the 509th Composite Group, from the factory to New Mexico, then to Tinian in the Mariana Islands, where its crew practiced flight maneuvers, loading the massive bomb and dropping it. 82 then, was flown by Army Air Forces Capt. Only the tail gun position was left to defend it from enemies. The remote-controlled gun turrets were also taken away to increase speed.