OT/ Paul Tibbets

[captiandon]

Just heard on the Radio that Paul Tibbets had passed away. He was the pilot of the Enola Gay when The Bomb was dropped at the end of WW2

[SteamWake]

Heard that too. Another piece of living history slips away nearly un noticed.

I dont really know of Tibbets background other than he was the pilot of the Enola Gay.

Those guys knew they were dropping some sort of 'big bomb' but were not prepared for what they witnessed and alot of them had severe life isssues afterwards.

Can you imagine naming an aircraft "Enola Gay" in this day and age ??

[Digital_Trucker]

I watched what little was on the news about his passing. They showed an interview with him in which he stated that he had no regrets because the bombs saved the lives of untold thousands of men that would have been lost if the war had continued. He said he didn't have any trouble getting to sleep at night. He felt that he had done his duty. I can understand why others involved had problems dealing with the aftermath.

I seriously don't think the creators of the bombs or our government even knew exactly what they were unleashing, as evidenced by the soldiers sent into the radioactive rubble to have their lives shortened by exposure to the radiation. Hopefully what was unleashed there will never be forgotten or repeated.

[Cap'n Spanky]

Anyone seen the Enola Gay? She's in the Space and Air II in Leesburg. Totally awesome....

[captiandon]

Heard that too. Another piece of living history slips away nearly un noticed.

I dont really know of Tibbets background other than he was the pilot of the Enola Gay.

Those guys knew they were dropping some sort of 'big bomb' but were not prepared for what they witnessed and alot of them had severe life isssues afterwards.

Can you imagine naming an aircraft "Enola Gay" in this day and age ??

Enola Gay was his mothers name. Paul Tibbets was from Denver Colorado as I am a native of Colorado myself. He hand picked his plane off the assembly line and named it that. He stated that he never had any regrets about dropping the bomb. and I tend to be one of those who agree with his views. My Grandfather was on Okinawa and would have been among those sent into Japan to Fight them if they didnt end the war the way that they did. I think that if we had taken Japan by storm that there wouldnt be any Japanese left and we would have had as many as 5 to 10 more years fighting there more then we did. Besides We did far more destruction and Caused more deaths Fire Bombing Toyko Then was caused by both A bombs combined.

[Brausepaul]

...Besides We did far more destruction and Caused more deaths Fire Bombing Toyko Then was caused by both A bombs combined. You're contradicting yourself? Did the bomb have a real impact or not?

[MorganThePirate]

Sorry to see him leaving. He did his duty and he saved lives. It was a terrible deed. However, I will use it again if it saves american lives.:arrgh!:

[-Pv-]

He didn't say the Bomb didn't have an impact. He appeared to make the point WWII had several instances of destruction where whole cities were wiped out.

We're all well aware of what was unique about the two bombs dropped on Japan being able to take out a whole city with one bomb and one wairplane as well as the lingering radiation.
-Pv-

[SteamWake]

Sorry to see him leaving. He did his duty and he saved lives. It was a terrible deed. However, I will use it again if it saves american lives.:arrgh!:

You have a nuke ?

The men in black suits are knocking on your door as we speak :p

Absolutly the bomb had an impact. It basically ended the conflict. On the 'balance' it saved 10's of thousands of lifes for both the americans and the Japaneese.

Even Oppenhimer underestimated the results.

"If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one. Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."

[captiandon]

...Besides We did far more destruction and Caused more deaths Fire Bombing Toyko Then was caused by both A bombs combined. You're contradicting yourself? Did the bomb have a real impact or not?

No where did I contradict myself. Yes the Atomic bomb was very effective as it was one wepon carried by one plane. However We did more damage to Tokyo By fire bombing it. The effect thought was that the attomic bomb had more impact on morale of the Japanese then did the Fire bombing of Tokyo. I was only stating Historic fact.

[rrmelend]

"He requested there be no funeral to avoid attracting protesters. A friend said he had asked that his body be cremated and the ashes scattered over the English Channel." -nydailynews.com

Kind of sad that he even had to think about this. No funeral for fear of protesters and also no tombstone for fear of vandalism. We really do live in a messed up country when a war veteran can't even die or rest in peace.

[The WosMan]

"He requested there be no funeral to avoid attracting protesters. A friend said he had asked that his body be cremated and the ashes scattered over the English Channel." -nydailynews.com

Kind of sad that he even had to think about this. No funeral for fear of protesters and also no tombstone for fear of vandalism. We really do live in a messed up country when a war veteran can't even die or rest in peace.

It sure is. He should have had a full on service with military honors and a 19 gun salute.

[SteamWake]

"He requested there be no funeral to avoid attracting protesters. A friend said he had asked that his body be cremated and the ashes scattered over the English Channel." -nydailynews.com

Kind of sad that he even had to think about this. No funeral for fear of protesters and also no tombstone for fear of vandalism. We really do live in a messed up country when a war veteran can't even die or rest in peace.

Well all I can say is he was a born commander to the last.

God rest the 'greatest generation'.

(bows in prayer)

[kylesplanet]

"He requested there be no funeral to avoid attracting protesters. A friend said he had asked that his body be cremated and the ashes scattered over the English Channel." -nydailynews.com

Kind of sad that he even had to think about this. No funeral for fear of protesters and also no tombstone for fear of vandalism. We really do live in a messed up country when a war veteran can't even die or rest in peace.

Amen brother. I thought the same thing when I read that.

[Argus00]

More info on Brig.Gen. Paul W. Tibbets (USAF Ret.): http://www.theenolagay.com/

[Brausepaul]

...I was only stating Historic fact. I'd be careful with claims on historical facts. Quite a few historians will tell you the "fact" that the Soviert declaration of war had a bigger impact than the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I didn't matter for the Japanese if their cities were burnt down by one plane or 2000 since the US had any number at hand anyway.

[Roger Dodger]

The final vote in the High Council was 5 to 4 in favor of surrender. The tie-breaking vote was cast by the emperor.