RIP General Tibbets. You have earned your eternal rest. You and your crew on the Enola Gay, and those of Bocscar, helped hasten the end of the insanity know as World War II.
I read the book “Enola Gay - The Bombing of Hiroshima”, and by what I read, he was the right one at the right place at the right time to accomplish that first mission. He must have been a hell of an aircrew commander. In the book, it states that after dropping The Bomb, and after getting past the shock waves, they orbited Hiroshima twice to see what kind of damage occurred. They were all amazed at the results. Through the years, none of the crew of the Enola Gay came down with any radiation-related illnesses.
He came to Memphis about 15 years ago to be best man at another famous flier’s wedding, Col. Robert K. Morgan, pilot in command of the “Memphis Belle”. It was held beside the Belle. The only time, to my knowledge, the Paul Tibbets came to Memphis. He was someone I would love to have met.
Sounds like a fascinating book.
I met him once many years ago when I was working in a restaurant kitchen. There was a private function attended by a large number of vets ( wish I could recall what organization hosted) and the owner mentioned he was there. I came out of the kitchen to meet him. Really a nice guy, Rest in Peace.