Robert Lewis died in Virginia in 1983, Tibbets in 2007 in Ohio.
Japan surrendered six days later, ending the war. Three days after the Hiroshima bombing, another U.S. “People don’t realize how many times he flew aboard the Enola Gay,” Steven Lewis said. But Tibbets only flew the Enola Gay a couple of times, while Lewis had piloted the aircraft 16 times during test flights leading up to the Hiroshima mission. The move made Tibbets a household name after his crew completed the world’s first atomic bombing mission, which destroyed much of the Japanese city and killed tens of thousands of its citizens. Paul Tibbets was also the pilot of the Enola Gay, relegating the lower-ranked Lewis to co-pilot. “Any records of that mission would be significant.”Īs commander of the Hiroshima mission, Col. “The Enola Gay was the most significant aircraft of World War Two,” said Larry Starr, collections manager at the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale, New York. “He wrote down everything and he kept everything,” said Steven Lewis, 57, of Hampton Township, New Jersey.
The younger Lewis said his father recorded details of every flight he took, including the three dozen he made aboard the Enola Gay.
Statement from pilot of enola gay archive#
The flight logs covering Lewis’ service in the Army Air Forces from 1942-46 are among an extensive archive of his documents handed down to his son, Steven Lewis. A meticulous record-keeper, Lewis’ handwritten entry in his personal flight log for that historic day reads: “No#1 Atomic bomb a huge success.” 6, 1945, bombing mission that changed the world. Paul Tibbets, the pilot and commander of the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, died Thursday in Columbus Ohio, a spokesman said. All lots offered are sold "AS IS.Lewis, a 27-year-old pilot from Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, logged a total of 36 flights aboard the Enola Gay, including the Aug. Paul Tibbets, WWII commander of infamous B-29, requested no headstone. Statements by Simpson Galleries regarding the condition of objects are for guidance only and should not be relied upon as statements of fact and do not constitute a representation, warranty, or assumption of liability by Simpson Galleries. Simpson Galleries strongly encourages in-person inspection of items by the bidder. Brauer, Houston, TexasĬondition Report: Minor surface wear, overall in good condition, wear commensurate with age. Paul Tibbets, Brigadier General (1915-2007) Provenance: Estate of David E. 8" x 10" Note: The Enola Gay, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber was named after the pilot's mother, participated in wartime atomic bomb attacks on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. 1945," verso a certificate of authenticity signed by Edward Humphreys of Enola Gay Remembered, Inc. more A PHOTO OF THE WWII ENOLA GAY, SIGNED BY PAUL TIBBETS, PILOT, a facsimile photo of the Enola Gay printed 2004 on Kodak Royal paper, signed by the pilot with mission date in blue ink, "Paul Tibbets, Pilot. A PHOTO OF THE WWII ENOLA GAY, SIGNED BY PAUL TIBBETS, PILOT, a facsimile photo of the Enola Gay printed 2004 on Kodak Royal paper, signed by the pilot with mission date in blue ink, "Paul Tibbets, Pilot.