Who was in the plane that bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Answer 1

The two atomic bombs dropped on Japan were dropped by two different aircraft. The first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 by the Enola Gaye. The second, dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, was dropped by Bockscar.

Answer 2

Colonel Paul W. Tibbets, Jr. - Pilot and Aircraft commander

Captain Robert A. Lewis - Co-pilot; Enola Gay's assigned aircraft commander

Major Thomas Ferebee - Bombardier ; replaced regular crewman Donald Orrphin.

Captain Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk - Navigator

U.S. Navy Captain William S. "Deak" Parsons - Weaponeer and bomb commander; replaced regular crewman William "Bill" Arre, due to his advanced knowledge of atomic weaponry.

Lieutenant Jacob Beser - Radar countermeasures (also the only man to fly on both of the nuclear bombing aircraft)

Second Lieutenant Morris R. Jeppson - Assistant weaponeer

Technical Sergeant George R. "Bob" Caron - Tail gunner

Technical Sergeant Wyatt E. Duzenberry - Flight engineer

Sergeant Joe S. Stiborik - Radar operator

Sergeant Robert H. Shumard - Assistant flight engineer

Private First Class Richard H. Nelson - VHF radio operator

John P. Merrill -- flight surgeon

This entire statement about Dr. John P. Merrill being the Enola Gay flight surgeon or that he was in the Enola Gay during the Hiroshima mission is completely false. The actual flight surgeon was Dr. John Young from the 393rd Bomb Group that formed the core of the 509th Composite Group, the elite air group that flew both atomic missions. Merrill was not connected in any way with the 509th or the atomic missions. This comes directly from the official records of the 509th Composite Group and the autobiography of Paul Tibbets, the Enola Gay commander and head of the 509th. The original 1984 story in the NYT was in error.

Answer 3

During the atomic attack on Hiroshima, the B-29 bomber "Enola Gay" was crewed by 12 men:

Colonel Paul Tibbets: commander/pilot

Captain Robert A. Lewis: co-pilot

Major Thomas Ferebee: bombardier

Captain Theodore Van Kirk: navigator

Captain William Parsons: weaponeer/mission commander

1st Lieutenant Jacob Beser: radar countermeasures (also flew on Nagasaki mission)

2nd Lieutenant Morris Jepson: assistant weaponeer

Technical Sgt. George Caron: tailgunner

Technical Sgt. Wyatt Duzenbury: flight engineer

Sgt. Joe Stiborik: radio operator

Sgt. Robert Shumard: assistant flight engineer

Pfc. (Private First Class) Richard Nelson: radio operator

Answer 4

There were two B-29 planes.