Still no regrets for frail Enola Gay pilot (Col. Paul Tibbets)

Columbus Dispatch ^ | August 6, 2005 | Mike Harden

[Reader of news]

Dropping the atomic bombs was necessary to win the war and save much more lives. If it hadn't been done, much more people would have died.

[texianyankee]

Thanks for posting that great article about one of our great American heroes.

My Father served in the Pacific theatre on board an attack troop transport ship. I learned as a child 20 years after the war that what we did over there was the right thing to do to end that war.
Unfortunately, as I grow older, I read more and more from fellow Americans that what we did over there was murder.

My Father is still alive and I know it troubles him to hear that garbage from his countrymen.


Thank you, Paul Tibbets and to your crew.

[OldFriend]

I saw a televised interview of Paul Tibbets and am honored to have even watched him on TV.

The man understands WAR and what it took to achieve peace.

Truly an American hero.

[Tallguy]

err, the A-10 wasn't developed until late 60's. first flight in 72' I think. must be a typo, probably meant P-47 thunderbolt. tho I didn't think it was availible until later in WWII.

Were they still flying the B-10 in 1941? Maybe that is what the author meant?

[BluH2o]

Eisenhower told (historian) Stephen Ambrose that "Tibbets was the best bomber pilot in World War II".

Paul Tibbets knew Eisenhower before "Ike" became Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. He flew Eisenhower from England down to Gibraltar in the fall of 1942. Eisenhower insisted on a front row seat in the bomber so they fabricated a seat so, for at least part of the trip, "Ike" could sit up front between the pilot and co-pilot. In addition to knowing "Ike" Tibbets also became well acquainted with General Patton. He first met Patton at Fort Bragg, NC just prior to WWII. They both were skeet shooters and established a relationship when they met for skeet shooting on Sunday mornings at the local range. This led to Patton asking Tibbets to pilot his (Patton's) light aircraft so he could better observe his tanks in action ... which led directly to Patton revamping tank tactics, which served him so well later on in WWII. Suggest anyone interested in more details to Paul Tibbet's life read his book 'Enola Gay'.

[ml1954]

Why is it so hard for the lefties to understand this.

On the one hand, about 200,000 dead Japanese.

On the other hand, if we invaded, 1 million US military casualties and probably 5-10 million Japanese casualties.

Or if we blockaded, probably tens of thousands of Allied casualties due to continuing Japanese military activity, tens of thousands of Allied POW deaths, and hundreds of thousands of starved Japanese and military casualties, if not millions.

[M Kehoe]

Hero bump.

5.56mm

[devane617]

God Bless Gen. Tibbets and his family. He was in a difficult position and performed as I hope I would.

[gate2wire]

I have two Uncles who fought island to island. No telling how many men were saved by this action. Gen. Tibbets is a Hero.

A little trivia, everyone knows the Enola Gay, what was the name of the bomber of Nagasaki?

[JRios1968]

Mike Harden is a great reporter. I doubt that he wrote that headline.

Great point...you are absolutely correct, and my apologies to Mike Harden for implying that he tried to put words on General Tibbets' mouth.

[bwteim]

Great article. Thanks for the post. Happy VJ Day!

Click on link below for large version of this photo:

http://www.tangischools.org/schools/phs/think/man/tibbets.jpg

[edpc]

"Any regrets?" His answer always has been a resounding "Hell, no,"

War is a tough, dirty business where difficult decisions are made to ensure victory. If more people had his attitude, we'd find ourselves with fewer difficulties in the world these days.

[Max in Utah]

On the other hand, if we invaded, 1 million US military casualties and probably 5-10 million Japanese casualties.

Oh, but the lefties say that Japan was done for in August of 1945, and we should have just sailed back home and left them alone. We should never have insisted on unconditional surrender.

Excuse me while I spit.

[Max in Utah]

...what was the name of the bomber of Nagasaki?

Bock's Car.

[Bean Counter]

A few key points to remember about Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

1. We did it on purpose.
2. We meant what we did.
3. We would do the same thing again under identical circumstances.

Literally millions of Allied and Japanese lives were saved by bringing WWII to a speedy end, and avoiding the invasion of the Kanto Plain, scheduled for September of 1945.

[BluH2o]

A little trivia, everyone knows the Enola Gay, what was the name of the bomber of Nagasaki?

Command pilot of 'Bock's Car' the B-29 that dropped the bomb on Nagasaki was Charles Sweeney.

[11Bush]

One of the candidates for the eventual task of spreading Tibbets’ ashes likely might be his grandson and namesake, Lt. Col. Paul Tibbets IV, a B-2 mission command pilot.

His Air Force nickname is "Nuke."

How good is this!

[gate2wire]

You got it.

[gate2wire]

Correct.

[ReignOfError]

I believe the pilot should still be held in high regard - he did a job that had to be done - and the "new history" revisionists would like to make him out to be a mass murderer.

Even if you believe that dropping the A-bomb was unjustified or unnecessary -- which I don't, and I know few FReepers do -- that has no bearing on how we should regard Gen. Tibbets.

He did not make policy. He carried out and issued orders, did a hard job well, and put his life on the line in service of his country. That deserves our eternal respect and gratitude, full stop.