Paul W Tibbets, Jr.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23419161-details/Pilot+who+dropped+atomic+bomb+on+Hiroshima+dies%2C+aged+92/article.do

 

I know i just heard it on the news. He was 92.

 

:-( Rest in Peace Paul. Though I had your address, I deeply regret in never sending you a letter or card. :-(

Rest in Peace.

 

BBC NEWS | Americas | Hiroshima bomb pilot dies aged 92
WOW, God bless! What a life and how it says that he had no regrets and sleeps soundly every night. It really makes you think.
:moh: :mourn:

 

Thanks Slip, it seems as you've been a mod since you were born

 

Brig-Gen Paul Tibbets - Telegraph

 

It is sad to see him go. I wonder if any of the original B-29 crew members are left ? I know I have read of others dying in the past years.

 

There are a few still left. Last I heard, the Enola Gays navigator: "Dutch" van Kirk, is still alive.

 

I met him and talked with him for a while at the WWII Weekend in Reading. He was a very nice man, and he had no regrets about dropping the bomb. He says it was a necessary price considering what the alternative was. I couldn't agree more.

 

I agree, he is a very nice man and I was lucky to have spent about an hour talking with not only him but with Brig.Gen. David Lee "Tex" Hill, at the big Militaria show held in Houston once a year. Both of these Gents had the same booth. It was at this show that I also met and became friends with, a Gent who had been in the Hitler Youth then transferred to a Luftwaffe Flak unit in 43, and ended the war in American captivity as a Sergeant.

 

I know a man who knew Tibbets and got him to autograph the manual for the B-29. So that's about as close as I ever got to meeting him. Though I've always agreed with his opinion that it was better to have dropped the bomb than invade mainland Japan.

 

Oops, sorry for a mistake I made. I thought you were talking about meeting Dutch van Kirk, his Navigator. I never met Paul Tibbets-to my extreme regrets. I did meet his Navigator though.

 

Just a couple of weeks ago I met Van Kirk, Theodore J. (Dutch) Headquarters Group, Navigator for the 509th & the Enola Gay.
He was at a knife/gun show signing autographs. I bought his book, a picture of Enola Gay & Bocks Car and got him to sign both to me and the family. Obviously he knew Paul well.
We chatted for a short while, (long line) then I shook his hand and Thanked him.
He's a regular guy like the rest of us.
I'm sure in his life all of them (both crews) took a lot of grief for what they had to do.
Not from me, or anyone else there. Nothing but gratitude. The one before me almost broke into tears when he divulged that his Father was in the middle of the Pacific, on his way to be a part of the invasion of Japan. His ship turned around. Both knew what that meant.
The "Man" had sincere eyes and a firm handshake.
I feel I got some gratitude back, and I will always remember him and our quick talk/chuckle and honest connection.
Well done "Dutch", and both crews/support people.

 

I saw him a few yrs ago up in Oshkosh (air show) He was giving autographs.

 

Thanks for confimrming that he is alive and well. Yep, I sure enjoyed spending that time with him at the Houston Show. I purposely waited for about the last 90 minutes to go to his table. That way I could spend as much time chatting with him and "Tex" Hill. You are absolutely correct about him. He IS a great person to associate with and he was a very sincere person. Funny that you should also mention that he was also greatful to us as he was to us at the Houston Show.

Dutch Van Kirk was the one who deserved the gratitude and the 's

 

For those interested, this months 'American Legion' magazine has a pretty good article about Paul W. Tibbets.