World War II Aviation
World War II Aviation: The Final Blows
The Final Blow
In late 1944, strategic bombing became an effective tool to force the Japanese
To surrender. B-29 Superfortresses of the XXI Bomber Command, initially
Flying high-altitude, precision daylight bombing missions, began bombing key
Targets in Japan. However, strong jet stream winds compromised th
effectiveness of their Norden bombsights. In March 1945, Maj. Gen. Curtis E.
Lemay ordered the bombers to abandon these failed tactics in favor of low-
Altitude missions at night using incendiary bombs. These attacks, carried out by
Hundreds of B-29s, devastated Japanese cities
On August 6 and 9, 1945, specially modified B-29 of the 509th Composite
Group carried out two of the final strategic bombing missions of the war. They
Dropped a single atomic bomb on Hiroshima and then Nagasaki. Japan
surrendered days later.
Maj. Gen. Curtis E. LeMay
General LeMay (left) emerged as one of the most celebrated air commanders of the war. He led the XX Bomber Command in the China-Burma-India theater; commanded the XXI Bomber Comand, headquartered on Guam; became chief of staff of the Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific. LeMay is shown with Maj. Gen. Haywood S. “Possum” Hansell, who assumed leadership of the XXI Bomber Command in August 1944.
The Kamikaze
Japan employed kamikaze, or suicide units, in last days of the war in a desparate attempt to stem the tide of the U.S. advance. Some 5,900 pilots perished in kamikaze attacks. Kamikaze tactics brought considerable damage to U.S. warships off Okinawa in April 1945, sinking 21 and damaging 217 more. The jet-propelled Baka, shown here, was designed for kamikaze missions.
“Little Boy” Atomic Bomb
The B-29 Enola Gay dropped “Little Boy” on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Note the three arming plugs near the top center seam of the weapon. Examples of these are located in the nearby exhibit case.
“Little Boy” Atomic Bomb
Navy Capt. William “Deak” Parsons (right) supervises the loading of “Little Boy.” Parsons armed the bomb shortly after Enola Gay took off from Tinian.
Enola Gay Crew
Flight Crew
Col. Paul W. Tibbets, pilot
Maj. Thomas W. Ferebee , bombadier
Capt. Robert A. Lewis, co-pilot
Capt. Theodore J. Van Kirk, navigator
Staff Sgt. George R. Caron , tail gunner
Staff Sgt. Wyatt E. Duzenberry, flight engineer
Sgt. Rogert H. Shumard, assistant engineer
Sgt. Joseph S. Stiborik, radar
Pfc. Richard H. Nelson, radio operator
Mission Specialists
Capt. Williams “Deak” Parsons, U.S. Navy, Manhattan Project scientific
Lt. Jacob Beser, radar countermeasures officer
Lt. Morris R. Jeppson ,bomb electronics tent officer
The End of World War II
The Japanese surrendered on September 2, 1945, aboard the battleship USS Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay. Gen. Douglas MacArthur officiated at the ceremony. Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz signed the surrender document on behalf of the United States
World War II Aviation
World War II Aviation: The Final Blows
The Final Blow
In late 1944, strategic bombing became an effective tool to force the Japanese
To surrender. B-29 Superfortresses of the XXI Bomber Command, initially
Flying high-altitude, precision daylight bombing missions, began bombing key
Targets in Japan. However, strong jet stream winds compromised th
effectiveness of their Norden bombsights. In March 1945, Maj. Gen. Curtis E.
Lemay ordered the bombers to abandon these failed tactics in favor of low-
Altitude missions at night using incendiary bombs. These attacks, carried out by
Hundreds of B-29s, devastated Japanese cities
On August 6 and 9, 1945, specially modified B-29 of the 509th Composite
Group carried out two of the final strategic bombing missions of the war. They
Dropped a single atomic bomb on Hiroshima and then Nagasaki. Japan
surrendered days later.
Maj. Gen. Curtis E. LeMay
General LeMay (left) emerged as one of the most celebrated air commanders of the war. He led the XX Bomber Command in the China-Burma-India theater; commanded the XXI Bomber Comand, headquartered on Guam; became chief of staff of the Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific. LeMay is shown with Maj. Gen. Haywood S. “Possum” Hansell, who assumed leadership of the XXI Bomber Command in August 1944.
The Kamikaze
Japan employed kamikaze, or suicide units, in last days of the war in a desparate attempt to stem the tide of the U.S. advance. Some 5,900 pilots perished in kamikaze attacks. Kamikaze tactics brought considerable damage to U.S. warships off Okinawa in April 1945, sinking 21 and damaging 217 more. The jet-propelled Baka, shown here, was designed for kamikaze missions.
“Little Boy” Atomic Bomb
The B-29 Enola Gay dropped “Little Boy” on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Note the three arming plugs near the top center seam of the weapon. Examples of these are located in the nearby exhibit case.
“Little Boy” Atomic Bomb
Navy Capt. William “Deak” Parsons (right) supervises the loading of “Little Boy.” Parsons armed the bomb shortly after Enola Gay took off from Tinian.
Enola Gay Crew
Flight Crew
Col. Paul W. Tibbets, pilot
Maj. Thomas W. Ferebee , bombadier
Capt. Robert A. Lewis, co-pilot
Capt. Theodore J. Van Kirk, navigator
Staff Sgt. George R. Caron , tail gunner
Staff Sgt. Wyatt E. Duzenberry, flight engineer
Sgt. Rogert H. Shumard, assistant engineer
Sgt. Joseph S. Stiborik, radar
Pfc. Richard H. Nelson, radio operator
Mission Specialists
Capt. Williams “Deak” Parsons, U.S. Navy, Manhattan Project scientific
Lt. Jacob Beser, radar countermeasures officer
Lt. Morris R. Jeppson ,bomb electronics tent officer
The End of World War II
The Japanese surrendered on September 2, 1945, aboard the battleship USS Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay. Gen. Douglas MacArthur officiated at the ceremony. Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz signed the surrender document on behalf of the United States