Paul Tibbets facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Tibbets
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Tibbets, c. 1960
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| Birth name | Paul Warfield Tibbets Jr. |
| Born | 23 February 1915 Quincy, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | 1 November 2007 (aged 92) Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
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| Years of service | 1937–1966 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands held | 340th Bombardment Squadron 509th Composite Group 308th Bombardment Wing 6th Air Division |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Purple Heart Air Medal (4) |
| Alma mater | University of Florida (BA) University of Cincinnati |
| Other work | Charter Pilot and President of Executive Jet Aviation |
| Signature |  |
Paul Warfield Tibbets Jr. was an important American pilot and a general in the United States Air Force. He is most famous for being the pilot of the B-29 Superfortress airplane called Enola Gay. This plane, named after his mother, dropped the first atomic bomb used in wartime on the city of Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II.
Tibbets joined the United States Army in 1937 and became a pilot in 1938. He flew many combat missions during World War II. After the war, he continued his military career. He later worked as a pilot and president for a private jet company.
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Paul Tibbets' Early Life
Paul Warfield Tibbets Jr. was born on February 23, 1915, in Quincy, Illinois. His parents were Paul Warfield Tibbets Sr. and Enola Gay Tibbets. As a child, his family moved several times, including to Davenport, Iowa, and Des Moines. When he was eight, they moved to Hialeah, Florida, to avoid cold winters.
Paul was fascinated by flying from a young age. When he was 12, he had an amazing experience. His father arranged for a pilot named Doug Davis to fly over a race track. Paul flew with Davis and dropped Baby Ruth candy bars with small parachutes to the crowd below.
Later, his family moved back to Alton, Illinois. He graduated from Western Military Academy in 1933. He studied at the University of Florida and took private flying lessons. Initially, he wanted to become a surgeon. However, he soon changed his mind. He decided to join the United States Army to become a pilot.
Becoming a Military Pilot
Paul Tibbets joined the army in 1937. He entered a special program to become a pilot. He quickly showed he was a very skilled flyer. In 1938, he earned his pilot wings and became a second lieutenant.
He was first assigned to a squadron in Georgia. There, he met Lucy Frances Wingate, and they married in 1938. They later had two sons, Paul III and Gene.
Before World War II, Tibbets became a personal pilot for General George S. Patton Jr.. He flew different types of planes, including the A-20 Havoc. In December 1941, he was training to fly the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. On December 7, 1941, he learned about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor while listening to the radio. This event brought the United States into World War II.
Flying Missions in World War II
In 1942, Paul Tibbets became the leader of a bombing squadron. His unit, the 97th Bombardment Group, was the first American heavy bomber group sent to England. They received intense training from British pilots.
On August 17, 1942, Tibbets co-piloted the lead plane in the first American daylight bombing mission over German-occupied Europe. They attacked a railway yard in Rouen, France. Later, he led a large raid of over 100 bombers against targets in Lille, France. These missions were challenging, with many enemy fighter attacks.
During these early missions, Tibbets realized that war involved difficult choices. He believed his job as a pilot was to complete his military missions as best he could. He focused on his duty to help end the war.
Tibbets was known as an excellent pilot. He flew important leaders, including General Dwight D. Eisenhower, to secret meetings. He completed many combat missions in Europe and North Africa. He gained valuable experience in aerial warfare.
Preparing for a Secret Mission
In February 1943, Tibbets returned to the United States. He was asked to help develop the new Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber. He spent a lot of time testing the B-29. He became one of the most experienced pilots with this aircraft.
In 1944, Tibbets was chosen for a top-secret project. He was put in charge of the 509th Composite Group. This special group was formed to carry out the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He selected Wendover Army Air Field in Utah as their remote training base.
Tibbets was promoted to colonel in January 1945. He brought his family to Wendover to help with morale. He had to keep the project a secret, even from his wife. He told her that the civilian engineers working on the base were "sanitary workers."
Scientists working on the project, like Robert Oppenheimer, warned Tibbets. They told him his aircraft might not survive the shock waves from an atomic bomb explosion. This showed how powerful and unknown this new weapon was.
The Mission to Hiroshima
In May and June 1945, Tibbets's group moved to Tinian island. Tinian was in the Mariana Islands, close enough to Japan for bombing missions. The group prepared the special atomic weapons there.
On August 5, 1945, Tibbets named his B-29 plane Enola Gay, after his mother. He had personally chosen this aircraft. The next day, at 2:45 AM, the Enola Gay took off from Tinian. Tibbets was at the controls.
The plane flew about 2,000 miles to Japan. At 8:15 AM local time, the atomic bomb, code-named "Little Boy", was dropped over Hiroshima, Japan. Tibbets remembered seeing a tall mushroom cloud rise over the city.
After landing back on Tinian, Tibbets received the Distinguished Service Cross. He became a national hero, seen as someone who helped end the war with Japan. He later visited the White House at the invitation of President Harry S. Truman.
After the War
After World War II, Tibbets continued his military career. He became a technical advisor for nuclear weapon tests in 1946. He also helped develop new jet bombers, like the Boeing B-47 Stratojet, in the 1950s.
He commanded several air divisions and was promoted to brigadier general in 1959. From 1964 to 1966, he served as a military representative in India. He retired from the United States Air Force in August 1966.
Later Life and Legacy
After retiring from the Air Force, Tibbets worked for Executive Jet Aviation, a company that offered private jet services. He was one of its founders and later became its president. He retired from the company in 1987.
Paul Tibbets died at his home in Columbus, Ohio, on November 1, 2007, at the age of 92. He had asked for no funeral or headstone. He feared it might become a place for protests. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered over the English Channel.
Tibbets' grandson, Paul W. Tibbets IV, also became a brigadier general in the Air Force. In 2015, he took command of the 509th Bomb Wing. This was the same unit his grandfather commanded during World War II.
Throughout his life, Paul Tibbets defended the decision to use the atomic bomb. He believed it was necessary to end the war quickly and save lives. He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1996 for his contributions to aviation.
Awards and Decorations
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| USAF Command pilot badge | ||
| Distinguished Service Cross | ||
| Legion of Merit | Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster |
Purple Heart |
| Air Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters |
Joint Service Commendation Medal | Army Commendation Medal |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and bronze oak leaf cluster |
American Defense Service Medal | American Campaign Medal |
| European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze campaign stars |
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars |
World War II Victory Medal |
| National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star |
Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters |
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon |
Source: Ohio History Central.
See also
In Spanish: Paul Tibbets para niños
