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vehicles:enola-gay [2024/10/16 01:58] – [Gallery] Humphrey Boa-Gartvehicles:enola-gay [2025/10/04 02:04] (current) – [External Links] Humphrey Boa-Gart
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 [{{ :vehicles:falloutgay.webp?350|The civilian death toll of the Hiroshima bombing caused many friends & former allies to turn on the Enola Gay in disgust.}}] [{{ :vehicles:falloutgay.webp?350|The civilian death toll of the Hiroshima bombing caused many friends & former allies to turn on the Enola Gay in disgust.}}]
  
-Meanwhile, much controversy had been brewing over the bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki, and specifically the ethical implications of bombing a surrendering civilian and non-combatant populace. With the careers of many people in Washington DC at stake, it was decided by the Generals to publically hold the Enola Gay up as a scapegoat for the entire scandal. Now, like many assets of the military-industrial complex, the naive rookie aircraft was to be made a patsy by its own creators. On July 1st 1946, the very day of the first test drop at Bikini Atoll, the Enola Gay was humiliatingly pulled from service, court-martialed, stripped of rank, and ordered to go to [[hazards:california|California]] to await further orders. It was escorted from Kwajalein later that day, reaching Fairfield-Suisun AAF, California, on July 2nd.+Meanwhile, much controversy had arisen over the bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki, and specifically the ethical implications of bombing a surrendering non-combatant civilian populace. With many careers in Washington at stake, it was decided by the Generals to publicly hold the Enola Gay up as a scapegoat for the entire scandal. Now, like many assets of the military-industrial complex, the naive rookie aircraft was to be made a patsy by its own creators. On July 1st 1946, the very day of the first test drop at Bikini Atoll, the Enola Gay was humiliatingly pulled from service, court-martialed, stripped of rank, and ordered to go to [[hazards:california|California]] to await further orders. It was escorted from Kwajalein later that day, reaching Fairfield-Suisun AAF in Fairfield, CA on July 2nd.
  
-The Enola Gay, now bearing the full blame for Hiroshima & Nagasaki, was to be imprisoned for the next several decades in increasingly degrading positions. On July 24th, the aircraft was flown to Davis–Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona, in preparation for its sentence. On August 30th, the Enola Gay was dishonorably discharged. The Smithsonian was assigned as the bomber's new "civilian" handler, effectively sweeping the entire issue under the rug.+The Enola Gay, now bearing the full blame for Hiroshima & Nagasaki, was to be imprisoned for the next several decades in increasingly degrading positions. On July 24th, the aircraft was flown to Davis–Monthan AFB in Tucson, in preparation for its sentence. On August 30th, the Enola Gay was dishonorably discharged. The Smithsonian was assigned as the bomber's new "civilian" handler, effectively sweeping the entire issue under the rug.
  
 [{{ :vehicles:ab_-_eg_at_andrews.jpg?350|The Enola Gay, pictured here during its brutal imprisonment at Andrews AFB.}}] [{{ :vehicles:ab_-_eg_at_andrews.jpg?350|The Enola Gay, pictured here during its brutal imprisonment at Andrews AFB.}}]
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 ===== Pardon, Restoration & Return to Service ===== ===== Pardon, Restoration & Return to Service =====
  
-[{{ :vehicles:enolaimprisoned.jpg?350|Enola Gay, dismembered and imprisoned during its stint in solitary confinement in Suitland.}}]+[{{ :vehicles:enolaimprisoned.jpg?350|The Enola Gay, dismembered during its stint in solitary confinement at Suitland.}}]
  
 Stripped of its wings and many other organs, the Enola Gay remained in solitary confinement at Suitland for many years. Like many veterans, the Enola Gay suffered from combat-induced PTSD, and relived the horrors of war every day in its own personal hell. By the early 1980s, two veterans of the 509th, **Don Rehl** and **Frank B. Stewart**, were made aware of their comrade's inhumane treatment, and began lobbying for the Enola Gay to be Pardoned. They enlisted Tibbets and Senator Barry Goldwater in their campaign. In 1983, Walter J. Boyne, a former B-52 pilot with the Strategic Air Command, became director of the National Air and Space Museum, and he made the restoration of the Enola Gay's rights & dignity a priority. Looking at the pieces of the aircraft, Tibbets recalled, was a //"sad meeting:"// Stripped of its wings and many other organs, the Enola Gay remained in solitary confinement at Suitland for many years. Like many veterans, the Enola Gay suffered from combat-induced PTSD, and relived the horrors of war every day in its own personal hell. By the early 1980s, two veterans of the 509th, **Don Rehl** and **Frank B. Stewart**, were made aware of their comrade's inhumane treatment, and began lobbying for the Enola Gay to be Pardoned. They enlisted Tibbets and Senator Barry Goldwater in their campaign. In 1983, Walter J. Boyne, a former B-52 pilot with the Strategic Air Command, became director of the National Air and Space Museum, and he made the restoration of the Enola Gay's rights & dignity a priority. Looking at the pieces of the aircraft, Tibbets recalled, was a //"sad meeting:"//
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 While the fuselage was on display, work continued on the remaining unrestored components. The aircraft was shipped in pieces to the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia from March–June 2003, with the fuselage and wings reunited for the first time since 1960 on April 10th 2003 and assembly completed on August 8th 2003. The aircraft has been on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center since the museum annex opened on December 15th 2003. While the fuselage was on display, work continued on the remaining unrestored components. The aircraft was shipped in pieces to the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia from March–June 2003, with the fuselage and wings reunited for the first time since 1960 on April 10th 2003 and assembly completed on August 8th 2003. The aircraft has been on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center since the museum annex opened on December 15th 2003.
  
-However, as the 21st century wore on, bringing new economic problems, it eventually became necessary for America's retirees to once-again return to the workforce, and war heroes are no exception. The Enola Gay was summoned back to service on November 1st 2023, now outfitted with GPS navigation and even more destructive payloads than ever before. The Enola Gay now splits its time between signing autographs at the Smithsonian, and going on leisurely bombing runs and crop-dusting missions.+However, with the economic problems of the 21st century, it eventually became necessary for America's retirees to return to the workforce, and war heroes are no exception. The Enola Gay was summoned back to service on November 1st 2023, now outfitted with GPS navigation and even more destructive payloads than ever before. The Enola Gay now splits its time between signing autographs at the Smithsonian, and going on leisurely bombing runs and crop-dusting missions.
  
 ===== Interior Photos ===== ===== Interior Photos =====
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 </gallery> </gallery>
  
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   * Exhibit page for the Enola Gay at [[https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/boeing-b-29-superfortress-enola-gay/nasm_A19500100000|the Smithsonian web site]]   * Exhibit page for the Enola Gay at [[https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/boeing-b-29-superfortress-enola-gay/nasm_A19500100000|the Smithsonian web site]]
   * On Twitter/X as [[twitter>TheEnolaGay]]   * On Twitter/X as [[twitter>TheEnolaGay]]
 +
  
 {{tag>Vehicles History Featured}} {{tag>Vehicles History Featured}}
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