The Silver Wings that Changed the World
At the end of World War II, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress stood as a marvel of aviation technology. Among the thousands produced, two specific aircraft became the most famous—and controversial—bombers in history for their roles in the atomic missions of 1945.
1. The Enola Gay and "Little Boy"
On August 6, 1945, a B-29 named Enola Gay (Special Victors No. 82), piloted by Colonel Paul Tibbets, took off from Tinian Island. Inside its modified bomb bay was "Little Boy," the first nuclear weapon used in warfare.
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The Weapon: "Little Boy" was a gun-type uranium-235 bomb. It was relatively lean and cylindrical in shape.
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The Mission: The target was Hiroshima, Japan.
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The Impact: The resulting explosion devastated the city and signaled the dawn of the Atomic Age.
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2. Bockscar and "Fat Man"
Three days later, on August 9, 1945, another B-29 named Bockscar (Special Victors No. 77), commanded by Major Charles Sweeney, carried out the second nuclear mission. This aircraft carried "Fat Man."
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The Weapon: Unlike its predecessor, "Fat Man" was a plutonium-239 implosion-type bomb. It required a large, round casing to house its complex high-explosive lenses, giving it its distinctive bulbous appearance and name.
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The Mission: The primary target was Kokura, but due to heavy cloud cover, the mission diverted to the secondary target, Nagasaki.
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The Impact: Shortly after this second mission, Japan announced its surrender, effectively ending World War II.
Historical Legacy
These two B-29s represent the pinnacle of WWII aerospace engineering and the terrifying power of modern science. Today, the Enola Gay is displayed at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, while Bockscar resides at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
