Salute to a hero: Paul Tibbets

[N.C. Wyeth]

This just came over . . .

It seems that another hero passed away today:

Pilot of plane that bombed <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on">Hiroshima</st1:City> dies
Paul Tibbets, the pilot and commander of the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on <ST1<st1:City w:st="on">Hiroshima</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region></ST1, died Thursday. He was 92.<O</O
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21578185/from/ET/ <O></O>

[Bobwirtz]

God grant him peace!

I had the privilege of meeting General Tibbets several times over the years. Those memories will remain with me for the rest of my life. I think only Theodor "Dutch" van Kirk, the Navigator, and I think Morris Jeppson, the assistant weaponere to Deak Parsons, are the only two Enola Gay crewmembers left. I saw General Tibbets last year at the WW2 Weekend in Reading, PA. He was looking rather frail then. God bless them all.

Bob

[TMurray]

This just came over . . .

It seems that another hero passed away today:

Pilot of plane that bombed <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on">Hiroshima</st1:City> dies
Paul Tibbets, the pilot and commander of the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on <ST1<st1:City w:st="on">Hiroshima</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region></ST1, died Thursday. He was 92.<O</O
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21578185/from/ET/ <O></O>

I'm not sure that dropping an atom bomb from 20,000 feet and vapourising 70,000 civillians qualifies for 'hero' status. A place in history? yes, hero, no.

[KM-NZ]

I'm not sure that dropping an atom bomb from 20,000 feet and vapourising 70,000 civillians qualifies for 'hero' status. A place in history? yes, hero, no.

Agreed ...

Mark

[JOHN JONES]

No... prehaps just a serviceman and loyal citizen doing his duty.
i have not read Mr. Tibbets recollections, but I shoud think one could not
help but be haunted by what he was ' involved in '.
However normal stategic bombing, did not sap the will of the Japanese
or Germans for that matter.
If ordered to resist occupation, with guns, bombs, fire, knives, poison,
the Japanese would have done.
An estimated 500,000 allied lives saved.
And the torment for the ordinary Japanese people, brought to an end.

How many generations of Armericans, British, Austrailian, Anzacs live now,
because of this action. ??

May he rest in peace.

[N.C. Wyeth]

An estimated 500,000 allied lives saved.
And the torment for the ordinary Japanese people, brought to an end.

How many generations of Armericans, British, Austrailian, Anzacs live now,
because of this action. ??

May he rest in peace.

That's a hero in my book . . .

Brad

[TMurray]

[quote=
An estimated 500,000 allied lives saved.
And the torment for the ordinary Japanese people, brought to an end.

How many generations of Armericans, British, Austrailian, Anzacs live now,
because of this action. ??

May he rest in peace.[/quote]

He flew a plane. If you use this as the criteria to qualify as a hero then this status rests with the Manhattan Project team and not the crew of the Enola Gay. I know that Tibbets was devasted once he learnt of the magnitude of suffering caused by dropping Little Boy.

[N.C. Wyeth]

He flew a plane. If you use this as the criteria to qualify as a hero then this status rests with the Manhattan Project team and not the crew of the Enola Gay. I know that Tibbets was devasted once he learnt of the magnitude of suffering caused by dropping Little Boy.

I knew him personally - he was a hero to me.

Brad

P.S. He never did regret his job either - where do you get your information?

[Daniele C]

I'm not sure that dropping an atom bomb from 20,000 feet and vapourising 70,000 civillians qualifies for 'hero' status. A place in history? yes, hero, no.

agree,Heroes are other people

[TMurray]

No you're right, he stated in 2005 that he didnt regret killing tens of thousands of civilians...not my idea of the right basis for 'hero' status/worship.

[Bobwirtz]

I think each of us picks and choses his or her 'heros' and if somebody is selected as a hero to one person, then others should respect that choice. Obviously you are not aware of Tibbets' earlier career when he flew 25 missions in a B-17 named "Red Gremlin" over Europe. 'Just flying the plane' over flak and through fighters to get there and back. Hardly any of those bombing missions were 'milk runs' --- they usually always incurred casualties - a whole aircraft shot down, wounded and dead on your own crew from flak or fighter attack, etc. There's nothing like watching thick flak up ahead and KNOW that in 8 minutes, you're going to be in it... 7 minutes... 6 minutes... etc. It was a cleaner war for the airmen, but the 8th USAF in England suffered more casualties than the U.S. Marines in the Pacific (for the whole war)... some 190,000 casualties. So yeah, just 'flying an airplane' makes him a hero to some. You pick and chose your own heros and leave other people's choices alone.

Bob

[bigd]

Every person that fought on land, on the water or in the air was a hero, Whether they worked in the stores, spent WW2 as a POW or fought on the front line. Paul Tibbets was one of these men and in my eyes that makes him a hero and more than worthy of a R.I.P. In my honest opinion anyone who thinks different ain't worth bothering about.

Remember and wear your poppy.

[SurvivingPanzer]

No you're right, he stated in 2005 that he didnt regret killing tens of thousands of civilians...not my idea of the right basis for 'hero' status/worship.

He saved ten times that many, Japanese and American. Also he had no idea what the bomb would do.

[billbert]

And sadly had the forthought to request NO MARKER NO GRAVESTONE so that he can rest in peace and not become the focal point of protest.. pro nor con.. as said another soldier whom came to arms for his country.. In a war less and less remember.. But in this forum few can forget..JMHO Billbert

[TMurray]

Obviously you are not aware of Tibbets' earlier career

Bob

Hang on. The criteria by which he was given 'hero' status in the original post was that he dropped the 1st A bomb. No mention of any other action and I certainly dont think this single action deserves such status.