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Hiroshima Bomb Pilot Dead at 92

Pilot defended his role to the last, said he had 'no regrets'

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 1, 2007 3:19 PM CDT

(Newser) – The commander and pilot of the B-29 that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945—the first military use of nuclear weapons—died today, the Associated Press reports. Paul Tibbets was 92, and requested no funeral or headstone for fear that they might attract anti-nuclear protesters. Tibbets always said he had no regrets about the mission.

"We knew it was going to kill people right and left," Tibbets said of the Aug. 6, 1945, mission. "My one driving interest was to do the best job I could so that we could end the killing as quickly as possible. You've got to assess the situation at that time. We were at war. … You use anything at your disposal."

Col. Paul W. Tibbets stands beside the B-29 Superfortress bomber the Enola Gay in 1945 in an unknown location. He piloted the flight which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, during World War II. The plane was named after Tibbets' mother. Tibbets died Thursday, Nov.1,...
Col. Paul W. Tibbets stands beside the B-29 Superfortress bomber the Enola Gay in 1945 in an unknown location. He piloted the flight which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, during...   (Associated Press)
Retired Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets, commander of the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima,Japan, is shown in Dayton, Ohio, July 19, 2003. Tibbets died Thursday, Nov.1, 2007, a spokesman said. He was 92.(AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Retired Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets, commander of the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima,Japan, is shown in Dayton, Ohio, July 19, 2003. Tibbets died Thursday, Nov.1, 2007, a spokesman said....   (Associated Press)
Col. Paul W. Tibbets, standing, pilot of the B-29 Enola Gay which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, describes the flight during a news conference at Strategic Air Force headquarters on Guam, Aug. 7, 1945, one day after the atomic bombing. Tibbets died Thursday, Nov.1, 2007, at his...
Col. Paul W. Tibbets, standing, pilot of the B-29 Enola Gay which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, describes the flight during a news conference at Strategic Air Force headquarters on Guam,...   (Associated Press)
The subsequent mushroom cloud after the Enola Gay's atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
The subsequent mushroom cloud after the Enola Gay's atomic bombing of Hiroshima.   (Archive Photos)
In this July 10, 2002 file photo, Gen. Paul W. Tibbets, pilot of the B-29 bomber, speaks about his 29 years in the Air Force during a visit to the Cape May County Airport in Lower Township, N.J. Tibbets died Thursday, Nov.1, 2007, at his Columbus, Ohio, home....
In this July 10, 2002 file photo, Gen. Paul W. Tibbets, pilot of the B-29 bomber, speaks about his 29 years in the Air Force during a visit to the Cape May County Airport in Lower Township, N.J. Tibbets...   (Associated Press)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Liberal-Lib
Aug 3, 2012 7:34 PM CDT
I saw Tibbets in an interview on television quite some time ago.  He seemed like a geniune hero and a sensible man.  There was sadness and resignation in his voice when he spoke of the bombing mission, but never a trace of regret.  He knew he had a job to do and that the job would eventually end up saving lives, both American and Japanese by bringing an end to the war. He did what he had to do - a difficult mission - and, along with his crew, pulled it off well.  RIP.

Pilot of Hiroshima atomic bomber dies
AFP

Tibbets maintained "we saved more lives than we took"
International Herald Tribune

US

 
Japan • nuclear weapons • obituary • Hiroshima • Nagasaki • World War II • atomic bomb • famous people who died

 
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