Analysis Of Enola Gay And Bockscar

The United States Army Airforce was an integral part of finally putting an end to the Second World War. Japan’s unconditional surrender in August of 1945 was a joint effort by multiple countries. However, in the end it was 2 Army Airforce B-29 bombers that delivered the final blows of WWII when they dropped the first 2 combat atomic bombs. Those historic aircraft were named the Enola Gay, and Bockscar. At the end of the 1930’s, leaders of the US Army Air Corps learned quickly that the capabilities of their current bombers were not enough to accomplish the mission. They required newer aircraft with more advanced capabilities. Their request was a bomber that could fly further distances at greater speed than the B-17, and carry a much …show more content…
Although Bockscar was the primary aircraft for this specific mission, the Enola Gay also served a purpose this day. It was not carrying ordinance, but it was instead used as a weather aircraft. The readings taken from the Enola gay showed clouds and drifting smoke from the first atomic bomb causing the crew to have a difficult time finding their target. The pilot was given orders that in the event they could not see the target they were going to bomb, they were to cancel the mission and return to base. This actually led to Bockscar having to divert from Kokura, to its secondary target, the city of Nagasaki. Upon arriving over Nagasaki, they ran into the same issue as they did over Kokura. Clouds and smoke was making it difficult to locate the target. After locating Nagasaki on radar, the crew radioed in to get authorization to bomb the target by radar, not by sight. They were denied permission again, so they continued to circle the city until Captain Kermit Beahan finally called over the microphone “I’ve got a hole.” Moments later the second atomic bomb in history was dropped on 9 August 1945. Approximately 50 seconds after the bomb was released, the detonation released a flash so bright the pilot and crew felt like they were flying towards the sun. The massive mushroom cloud from the blast began rising much faster than anticipated, and the crew was very concerned if they did not get away fast enough they would be forced to fly through it, causing radiation poisoning to the crew. The bomber was able to avoid the fast rising mushroom cloud, missing it by roughly 125 yards, safely returning to Okinawa instead of Tinian due to dangerously low fuel levels. 5 days after the second atomic bomb