9 August 1945 was cloudy over most of mainland Japan as a result of the lingering effects of the typhoon that had passed several days earlier, as well as the monsoonal weather. On the island of Tinian in the Marianas, a B-29 Superfortress of the 393rd Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 509th Composite Wing, named “Bockscar,” commanded by Major Charles Sweeney, took off from North Field at approximately 0347 hours local time, just before dawn; the bomber was seriously overloaded and used nearly every inch of the 8,300-foot runway to get airborne. It headed almost immediately into heavy weather. The first mission had been easy; this mission would be the opposite.
Your writing makes this horrifyingly tense, so many years later. I was 4 when the bombs were dropped and remember my father telling me about it, grimly, no celebrating. Thanks for so much detail.
Your writing makes this horrifyingly tense, so many years later. I was 4 when the bombs were dropped and remember my father telling me about it, grimly, no celebrating. Thanks for so much detail.
Wow. It's almost a screen play. A great piece of historical writing.
😳 pretty much speechless and conflicted. Thanks, TC, as always
Incredible. Thanks, again, TC