The 509th Remembered

On August 6, 1945, the B-29 Enola Gay flying over Hiroshima, Japan, at an altitude of 30,000 ft dropped the atomic bomb named Little Boy instantly killing 80,000 people and destroying the city. Little Boy weighed 10,000 pounds and was a uranium type bomb. Three days later Nagasaki was the second Japanese city to be destroyed by an atomic bomb. On August 15, 1945 Japan surrendered. Today they are one of our strongest allies in the far east.

The 509th Remembered The 509th Composite Group was created to plan and execute the deployment of the first atomic bomb. G

Want to see more great photos? Check out our photo gallery on the 509th website.

The 509th Composite Group - Photo Gallery Photo galleries for the 509th Composite Group who dropped the atomic bombs on Japan and photos of other relevant World War II combatants and events provided by Joseph Papalia.

11 April 1945 - While operating off the coast of Okinawa, the battleship USS Missouri is about to be hit by a Japanese Kamikaze plane. Striking the ship below deck, it failed to explode, little damage was done and there were no crew fatalities. Finding the body of the Japanese pilot among the debris, the commanding officer of the ship, Captain William M Callaghan ordered a military burial at sea. A makeshift Japanese flag was placed over the body during the ceremony.

The 509th Remembered The 509th Composite Group was created to plan and execute the deployment of the first atomic bomb. G

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The 509th Composite Group - Collectibles The site for the 509th Composite Group which during WWII was responsible planning and carrying out the plan to drop the first atomic bombs.

On April 12, 1945, S/Sgt Henry E. Erwin, radio operator while on board the B-29, City of Los Angeles heading on a bombing mission over Koriyama, Japan, a white phosphorus bomb prematurely ignited in his aircraft seriously wounding him and filling the aircraft with smoke. He picked up the burning device and carried it through the aircraft to the cockpit throwing it out the window saving the aircraft and crew and suffering additional burns. He required forty one surgeries saving his eyesight and use of one limb. For his heroism he was awarded the Congressional Medal Of Honor. He died January 16, 2002.

The 509th Remembered The 509th Composite Group was created to plan and execute the deployment of the first atomic bomb. G

Saipan (Date Unknown) A B-29 destroyed from a Japanese bombing raid burns on the airfield. The fire fighting crews braved intense heat and exploding ammunition to extinguish the fire. The driver of the bulldozer who is pushing sand upon the burning B-29 can be seen bending down to escape the intense heat. Once Saipan, Guam and Tinian (Northern Mariana Islands) were secured from enemy attack, they became the main bases from which B-29's bombarded Japan and along with the atomic bombs led to their surrender.

The 509th Remembered The 509th Composite Group was created to plan and execute the deployment of the first atomic bomb. G

If you have never checked it out be sure to take a look at our image galleries on our website.

The 509th Composite Group - Photo Gallery Photo galleries for the 509th Composite Group who dropped the atomic bombs on Japan and photos of other relevant World War II combatants and events provided by Joseph Papalia.

Lt. Colonel Jimmy Stewart, Hollywood actor and an officer with the 2nd Bomb Wing in World War II participates in a post mission briefing in England. Stewart was a pilot flying B-24's over Europe. Upon his return to the United States after the war he went back into acting and his first picture upon returning was, "Its A Wonderful Life." He retired from the United States Air Force as a Brigadier General and was given full military honors upon his death. He also lost a step son in Viet Nam.

The 509th Remembered The 509th Composite Group was created to plan and execute the deployment of the first atomic bomb. G

Zenji Abe was the leader of a dive bomber squadron at Pearl Harbor. He is standing in front of an Aichi bomber, the type that he flew from the carrier Akagi to attack the US Light Cruiser Raleigh in Pearl Harbor. In 1944 he was shot down and spent 18 months as a POW. After the war he became a symbol of reconciliation and peace and was well received in the USA. He died in 2007.

The 509th Remembered The 509th Composite Group was created to plan and execute the deployment of the first atomic bomb. G

Paul W. Tibbets, born 23 February 1915 in Quincy Illinois. Entered the USAAF in 1937, saw action as a pilot during WW II in Europe and North Africa. Coming back to the USA in 1943, he became the test pilot for the B-29 and later was appointed commander of the 509th Composite Group. On August 6, 1945 he flew the B-29 named the Enola Gay over Hiroshima dropping the first atomic bomb on an enemy city. Staying in the service until 1966, he retired as a Brigadier General. He died 1 November 2007 and as his wish his ashes were spread over the English Channel.

The 509th Remembered The 509th Composite Group was created to plan and execute the deployment of the first atomic bomb. G

Major Richard B**g, highest scoring ace of WW II with his wife Marge whose name and picture (nose art) appeared on his P-38 aircraft. Major B**g was killed on August 6, 1945, while testing an experimental jet aircraft in California. The same day that the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Major B**g had forty confirmed Japanese aircraft destroyed.

The 509th Remembered The 509th Composite Group was created to plan and execute the deployment of the first atomic bomb. G

2 July 44 - H8K-2 "Emily" Kawanishi Japanese flying boat being shot down by a Navy PBAY-1 Liberator somewhere over the central Pacific. This four engine aircraft was used by the Japanese for long range patrols and bombing missions. It was considered to be an excellent water based combat aircraft.and one of the best of WW II.

The 509th Remembered The 509th Composite Group was created to plan and execute the deployment of the first atomic bomb. G

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The 509th Composite Group - Home The site for the 509th Composite Group which during WWII was responsible planning and carrying out the plan to drop the first atomic bombs.

American troops are shown advancing during the Battle of Okinawa, 4-1-45 - 6-22-45. It was the bloodiest and costliest battle for American troops during the entire Pacific War. 50,000 combat casualties which includes 12,500 killed. Being only about 400 miles from the Japanese mainland, the Japanese fought with terrible ferocity in trying to defeat the Americans. Their dead numbered over 77,000 troops. When it came time to plan the atomic missions or invade Japan, a repeat of Okinawa was a primary consideration to drop the bombs instead of invading.

The 509th Remembered The 509th Composite Group was created to plan and execute the deployment of the first atomic bomb. G

The 509th Remembered The 509th Composite Group was created to plan and execute the deployment of the first atomic bomb. G

The day before the Hiroshima mission, the Enola Gay is backed up over a bomb pit on Tinian which contains the atomic bomb Little Boy weighing close to ten thousand pounds. The bomb was then lifted hydraulically into the forward bomb bay and then secured in position from a single shackle. The aircraft was then take back to her hardstand in preparation for the flight to Hiroshima. The insignia on the tail is that of the 6th Bomb Group used to conceal the organization of the 509th Composite Group whose insignia was later put back on the Enola Gay.
(click photo enlarge)

The 509th Remembered The 509th Composite Group was created to plan and execute the deployment of the first atomic bomb. G

A veteran Japanese fighter pilot teaching young pilots with hand held models how to execute frontal attacks on B-29's. During the course of the war, 414 B-29's were lost bombing Japan. 147 to flak and Japanese fighters, 267 to engine fires, mechanical failures, takeoff crashes and other "mechanical losses."

The 509th Remembered The 509th Composite Group was created to plan and execute the deployment of the first atomic bomb. G

April, 1945...A B-29, 24th BS, 6th BG, returning from Japan and unable to reach Tinian, its home base because of battle damage makes an emergency landing on Iwo Jima. The fire crew can be seen attempting to bring the fire under control. Judging by the bent propellers, the nose gear was damaged or collapsed upon landing. Iwo Jima was a safe haven for returning B-29's that suffered battle damage. The entire crew survived.
(click photo to enlarge)

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You’re invited: Follow The 509th Remembered The 509th Composite Group was created to plan and execute the deployment of the first atomic bomb. Gen. Paul Tibbets headed up that group and flew a B-29 named The Enola Gay in August 1945 and completed the mission that many feel brought a quick end.

A Curtis P-40 Warhawk bearing the nose art of the First American Volunteer Group (AVG) better known as the Flying Tigers takes to the air over Long Island, NY. The Flying Tigers were made up of American pilots, officially members of the Republic of China Air Force under the command of Claire Lee Chennault. They operated out of China from 1941-42. Attacking Japanese military targets and aircraft, they were credited with destroying almost 300 Japanese aircraft before being disbanded at the beginning of WW II and becoming part of the American military.

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Have you ever checked out our website? Lots of information and an awesome photo gallery of 509th and WWII images. Take a peek!

The 509th Composite Group - Home The site for the 509th Composite Group which during WWII was responsible planning and carrying out the plan to drop the first atomic bombs.

After Iwo Jima was captured (March 1945), it was later turned into an air base which supported bombing missions to Japan. In the front of this photo are seen P-51 fighter aircraft which defended B-29's over Japan. B-29's can be seen behind them which landed on Iwo Jima if they could not make it back to the Marianas. Beyond them are P-61 night-fighter aircraft and sea rescue aircraft. Looming in the background is Mount Suribachi.

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Sept. 1945 - President Harry S Truman and Secretary of War Henry L Stimson. Both men are conferring prior to Stimson's retirement. Truman, who gave the orders to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Stimson was the man who saved the city of Kyoto, from destruction. Gen. Leslie Groves, Director of the Manhattan Project wanted to add the city to the bombing list, but Stimson ordered him to take it off the list saying that this ancient city a cultural and religious center and former capitol of Japan if destroyed would make it very difficult to deal with the Japanese after the war. Truman agreed and the city was saved from atomic bombing.

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6/1/45 - During the Battle of Okinawa (4/1/45 - 6/22/45), a Marine Vought F4U Corsair unloads its rockets on a Japanese held position. In the lower background of the photograph is smoke from battle as Marine units advance to overwhelm the battered Japanese troops. In the lower right corner of this photograph the wing of the photo aircraft can be seen.
(click photo to enlarge)

June 4, 1943 - A wounded Marine is given a plasma transfusion by nurse Mae Olson aboard an aerial evacuation unit over Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.The role of women during World War II was most crucial for victory. In the service, transporting military aircraft or working in defense plants, their contribution was enormous.

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American servicemen praying at a Catholic service for those killed in action during the Battle of Saipan (6-15-44 - 7-9-44). 3,426 Americans were killed and 379 missing. Once taken, Saipan, part of the Northern Mariana Islands became a strategic air base for B-29's bombing Japan.

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