Several of you have sent us links to the story about Brigadier General Paul W. Tibbets IV who has taken command of the 509th Bomb Wing – 20 B-2 “stealth” bombers. Tibbets’ grandfather, Paul W. Tibbets, Junior, flew the B-29 named “Enola Gay” which dropped the world’s first atomic bomb against an enemy on Aug. 6, 1945 on Hiroshima.
Tibbets, who wears an old Rolex his grandfather gave him and whose son is also named Paul W. Tibbets V, told about 500 people attending the ceremony that his grandfather would be “touched by your appreciation for his service and the service of those that he was with back in that time.”
His grandfather would also tell them, Tibbets said, that “he’s counting on you, he’s counting on us, today’s generation of airmen, to continue as you do each and every day to raise the bar and set the standard and continue the great work that our nation relies on us to to do.”
The elder Tibbets commanded the 509th Composite Group which delivered both nuclear weapons to mainland Japan. That unit is the predecessor of his grandson’s command. Tibbets, Junior passed on to his reward in November 2007. The Enola Gay was nick-named for his mother.
Comments
12 responses to “A Tibbets assumes command of bomber unit again”
Congrats, Brig. Gen. Tibbets. Seems quite fitting.
Military trivia question (and no fair using Google) – what was the name of the aircraft that dropped the nuke on Nagasaki, and why was it named thusly? (smile)
Bock’s Car
Well, that’s half of the answer. (smile)
IIRC, it was a play on words of the pilot’s name (Bock).
Correct – but not on the Nagasaki mission.
The plane was normally piloted by a Captain Bock of the 509th. However, on that day another pilot and crew flew the mission.
Bock indeed flew during that mission, but as part of the crew for the recon plane that accompanied his normal aircraft to document weapons effects. Don’t know whether he sat left- or right-seat.
Great story … CONGRATS Sir … Hat tip to your Grand Daddy!
I was a 509er from 2001-2004. It’s a great wing with a great history. The elder Gen. Tibbets visited the base a few times before he passed away. I remember he was always adamantly opposed to any notion of the government apologizing for using the atomic bomb to end the war. Anytime someone brought up the Japanese civilians who died in the bombing, he was quick to brink up the Japanese civilians who died at the hands of the authoritarian monarchy running the country.
I was in 509th in 1965-67 Navigator B-52D
Couldn’t have turned out better! Congratulations to Brigadier General Paul W. Tibbets IV! Follow in your grandfather’s steps.
Don’t you think Hiroshima has been nuked enough times? /snarc
Not according to the rest of east Asia!
My nickname was always “Fat Boy”. I always asumed that was in honor of the atomic bomb and not because of the donuts.
sincerely
John “Faker 6” Giduck