Enola gay plane history
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On Jthe first atomic bomb was exploded in the New Mexico desert. By the end of the project, funding had reached $2 billion and there were around 200,000 people working on the project. Ironically, many of the scientists involved in making the bomb had defected from Germany. It started small, but as the bomb became more real, the United States added scientists and funding to be sure they were the first to have the bomb. The Manhattan Project was the name for the research and development program for the atomic bomb. As a result, Roosevelt set up the Manhattan Project. He wrote a letter to US President Franklin Roosevelt telling him about the atom bomb.
ENOLA GAY PLANE HISTORY HOW TO
When he realized that such a bomb could be made, he was frightened about what might happen if Hitler and Germany learned how to make the bomb first. Today you can visit the museum, see the bomber, and watch history come alive before your eyes.The mushroom cloud above Nagasaki, Japan from the atomic bombĪlbert Einstein came up with many of the theories that helped scientists in making the atomic bomb. However, by 2003 the aircraft was restored and put on display at the Steven F. In 1949, the plane was given to the Smithsonian institute only to be disassembled in 1984. The latter choice was taken, and history would forever be changed.Īfter the Enola Gays memorable flight, the aircraft would remain in service for a few more years. With two options, an invasion of mainland Japan or the use of the atomic bombs, the United States had to choose. With Hitler defeated in Europe, Japan was the last target. Many historians today question whether the dropping of the atomic bomb was necessary.Įither way, the dropping of this bomb helped to speed up the end of the war. This mission would become controversial, as the dropping of the atomic bomb would cause problems for Hiroshima people for decades to come. Nothing on the plane was harmed, and their trip was relatively safe. The Enola Gay and its crew would make it safely back to base.
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This was the first and only time thus far that an atomic bomb would be used in war. Everything within three miles of the blast radius was obliterated. On this day in the early morning, the first atomic bomb detonated on Hiroshima. With the crew assembled and the bomber modified, it was time for the Enola Gay to embark on her journey.Īugust 6, 1945, was a day that would live in infamy. This would change for the Enola Gay, as the atomic bomb itself weighed around 10,000 pounds! The armor had to be stripped for the plane to fly correctly, thus making her lighter and easier to shoot down. It has a lot of armor strapped on to protect the crew. The Enola Gay had to go through modifications itself to be ready for her task.Ī B-29 bomber is heavy. Tasked with rounding up a crew, the colonel had his work cut out for him. Colonel Paul Tibbits was in charge of this soon to be infamous mission. In 1944, the Enola Gay was tasked with carrying and dropping an atomic bomb. However, by 1944 the aircraft was given its most extraordinary task. Built by Boeing, the Enola Gay first saw action in 1942, flying numerous bombing missions through the Pacific Ocean. These planes were nicknamed Superfortress because of their size, weight, and the load they carried. The Enola Gay is a B-29 bomber, a top-rated aircraft used frequently in the pacific theater during World War II. So without further ado, let's get into the history behind this legendary aircraft. This article will discuss the history behind the bomber plane, its mission, and any other significant facts about the Enola Gay.
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Its essential mission helped to end the war on the pacific front during World War II, and at the same time, change the course of history. One of the most well-known and infamous bomber planes of the 20th century, the Enola Gay will forever live in the annals of history.