The Enola Gay was the B-29 bomber used in the atomic mission that destroyed Hiroshima. The B-29 "superfortress," with its narrow wings, was designed for high-altitude, high-speed flight (up to 375 mph) over long distances. Its pressurized crew compartments were the first successful large-scale use of this technology.

Crew:
pilot- Paul W. Tibbets
bombardier- Tomas W. Ferebee
navigator- Theodore J. "Dutch" Van Kirk
radio operator- Richard Nelson
bomb electronics officer- Morris R. Jeppson

Miscellaneous:
B-29
Serial Number: B-29-45-MO-44-86292 Victor 12 or 82
Manufacturer: Boeing Aircraft Company
Assembler: Glenn L. Martin Company, Omaha, Nebraska
AAF Serial Number: 44-83292
Engine: Four Wright R-3350-57
Cyclone Horsepower: 2,200 hp/engine
Wingspan: 141 ft. 3 in.
Height: 29 ft. 7 in.
Weight: #70,140 empty
Propellors: Hamilton four-blade 16 ft. 7 in.
Maximum Speed: 360 mph (576 km/h) at 25,000 ft.
Stalling Speed: 125
mph Range: 3,250 miles
Loaded Crew: 12 (usually 10)
Armament: 20,000 bomb (other B29s were equipped with 10 machine guns and a 1x20 mm cannon)

                     

Chronology:
Shown below are the key dates in the history of the Enola Gay, the B-29 SuperFortress commanded by Colonel Paul W. Tibbets that dropped the first atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. The references used in compiling this chronology are shown at the end. Dates given are based on the local time zone.
9 May 45 B-2945-MO 44-86292 selected by Colonel Tibbets at the Martin Omaha plant in                 Omaha, Nebraska.
18 May 45 Delivered to the U.S. Arrny Air Forces by the Glenn L. Martin Company at the                   Martin Omaha plant.
14 Jun 45 Flown to Wendover Army Air Field, Utah, by Robert Lewis and crew.
27 Jun 45 Departed Wendover for Tinian (commanded by Lewis with crew).
2 Jul 45 Arrived at North Field, Tinian.
7 Jul 45 Practice bombing mission (500 lb, bombs) to Marcus Island (Opns Order #9, Ralph              Devore as airplane commander with crew.)
12 Jul 45 Practice bombing mission (1,000 lb. bombs) to Rota Island (Opns Order #14, Jim                 Price as airplane commander with crew).
17 Jul 45 Training mission (Opns Order #16, Lewis as airplane commander with crew).
18 Ju1 45 Night orientation mission (Opns Order #17, Lewis as airplane commander with                 crew).
19 Jul 45 Practice bombing mission (1,000 lb. bombs) to Guguan Island (Opns Order #18,                Lewis as airplane Commander with crew).
21 Jul 45 Practice bombing mission (500 lb. bombs) to Marcus Island (Opns Order #21, Lewis                as airplane commander with crew).
22 Jul 45 Practice bombing mission (1,000 lb. bombs) to unknown target (Opns Order #22,                McKnight as airplane commander with crew).
24 Jul 45 Combat bombing mission (#6) with pumpkin bomb, target: Kobe Steel Works (Opns                 Order #24, Lewis as airplane commander with crew).
26 Jul 45 Combat bombing mission (#9) with pumpkin bomb, target: Nagoya urban area (Opns                 Order #27, Lewis as airplane commander with crew).
31 Ju1 45 Little Boy (L6) atomic bomb drop test mission (Opns Order #31, Tibbets as airplane                 commander with modified crew ).
5 Aug 45 Little Boy (Ll1) atomic bomb loaded in front bomb bay. Name Enola Gay painted on                nose.
6 Aug 45 Special bombing mission (#13) with Llttle Boy atomic-bomb (Lll), target: Hiroshirna                (Opns Order #35, Tibbets as airplane commander with modified crew)
9 Aug 45 Advance weather reconnaissance to Kokura in support of Fat Man atomic bombing                mission to Nagasaki (Special Bombing Mission #16) (Opns Order #39, George                Marquardt as airplane commander with crew).
20 Aug 45 Local mission (purpose unknown) (Opns Order #47, Lewis as airplane commander                  with crew).
22 Aug 45 Local mission (purpose unknown) (Opns Order #48, Lewis as airplane commander                  with crew).
4 Nov 45 Departed Tinian for United States.
8 Nov 45 Arrived Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico. Mar 46 Assigned to Task Force t.5                 for Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.
18 Apr 46 Departed Roswell AAF for Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests.
1 May 46 Arrived Kwajalein Island.
1 July 46 Departed Kwajalein for United States.
2 July 46 Arrived Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Field, California.
24 July 46 To Davis-Monthan Army Air Field, Arizona (4105th Base Unit) in preparation for                   storage.
30 Aug 46 Placed in storage at Davis-Monthan Army Air Field and dropped from Army Air                  Forces inventory.
3 Jul 49 Retrieved from storage and flown to Park Ridge, Illinois, (now O`Hare airport) by Paul               Tibbets; accepted by Smithsonian Institution for restoration and display. Stored at Park               Ridge.
12 Jan 52 Flown to Pyote Air Force Base, Texas, for temporary storage.
2 Dec 53 Flown to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, for temporary storage.
10 Aug 60 Disassembly started in preparation For transfer to Smithsonian storage and                   restoration facility at Suitland, Maryland.
21 Jul 61 Disassembled components moved to Suitland.
5 Dec 84 Restoration started at Garber facility, Suitland, Maryland.
28 Jun 95 Forward section of the Fuselage and other pieces of Enola Gay put on display at the                 Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
18 May 98 Enola Gay exhibit closed and pieces returned to the Paul E. Garber Preservation,                   Restoration and Storage Facility In Suitland, Maryland.

Compiled by Col. Richard H. Campbell (USAF, Ret.)

 

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