2001 interview with Paul Tibbets, the pilot who dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima
1,227,774
Published 2023-07-21
Oppenheimer and a team of scientists spent years developing and designing the atomic bomb.
In August 1942, the U.S. Army was given the responsibility of organizing the efforts of British and U.S. physicists to seek a way to harness nuclear energy for military purposes. That effort became known as the Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer was instructed to establish and administer a laboratory to carry out this assignment. In 1943, he chose the plateau of Los Alamos near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Their work came to fruition on July 16, 1945, as they witnessed the world's first nuclear explosion in New Mexico, forever changing the course of history.
But what central Ohioan’s may not know is that a man who lived in Columbus was the pilot of the plane that carried the bomb.
Paul Tibbets was 29-years old when he entered the cockpit to pilot the Enola Gay, named after his mother.
In 2001, he sat down for an interview with 10TV's Kevin Landers to talk about the events leading up to and after he dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
Tibbets talked about how he was handpicked to fly the B-29.
“I had more experience with the B-29 than anybody. I said 'boy I’m glad they give it to me. I will do it.' And by doing so I may take some lives, but I’ll save many more. That’s the thought that ruled me all the way through,” he said.
On Aug. 5, 1945, at a cost of $2 billion, the military unveiled the atomic bomb. It weighed 9,700 pounds.
Before the crew took of their mission, Tibbets says they were given cynaide pills in case they were captured.
On Aug. 6, Tibbets and his crew take off.
“It was the most boring flight I ever made, because nothing went wrong,” he said.
Twelve hours and 15 minutes into the flight, the Enola Gay is over the city of Hiroshima.
Tibbets recalled the color of the sky after he banked away from the drop zone.
“The sky in front of me lit up like nothing you had ever seen. And then wham, we got hit by that shockwave,” he said.
Tibbets said he had 41 seconds to get the plane 10 miles away from the blast area out of fear they would be killed by the radiation cloud
“The first shockwave registered 2.5 g forces on the airplane, that was a good kick in the pants,” he said
Tibbetts wore welder goggles to protect himself from the brightness of the blast, but soon realized he couldn’t see the control panel in front of him so he took them off.
He recalled flying from the area and still was able to taste the radiation.
“I was in the turn when that happened; then I tasted it. I tell people it was like putting a piece of metal in your mouth like a sucker,” he said.
More than 20 tons of TNT would drop on Hiroshima, killing 70,000 people. Radiation sickness would kill thousands more. The temperature at the center of the bomb reached 120 million degrees.
“I’ve been asked directly, would you do it again? If you give me the same circumstances I would not hesitate and I’ve never lost a night’s sleep,” he said.
Tibbets died in November 2007 at the age of 92.
Memorabilia from Tibbets' career is on display not at Motts Military Museum in Groveport.
All Comments (21)
-
Oppenheimer: "What have I done?" Paul TIbbets: "I'll fucking do it again" Ah yes, the duality of men.
-
Pilot dude doesn't even have a bit of regret Oppenheimer had
-
Bro called it boring, for he is clearly a man of no regret
-
“And I’ve never lost a nights sleep” Damn. That’s cold lol
-
The fact that he could immediately taste the metal in his mouth while flying away from the blast site in an airplane is incredible to me.
-
1:04 “It was the most boring flight I ever made, because nothing went wrong” 💀
-
Oppenheimer: Scientist Tibbets: Soldier
-
Imagine if his daughter asked "what did you do at work today daddy?"
-
Major error in the narration: It wasn't an equivalent "22 tons of TNT". The estimated yield was as high as 20 kilotons, or 20,000 tons of TNT. BIG difference,
-
"They were given cyanide pills incase they were captured "💀 Bro was more than ready to drop the bomb 😱
-
There's something disturbing in how he grew into old age without an ounce of regret for doing that.
-
I didn't know Paul Tibbets was still alive in 20001. I was in high school and my grandfather served in the second world War as a medic. We used to talk about history and wwii all the time back then
-
"It was the most boring flight that I made because nothing went wrong"
-
“if you give me the same circumstances i would not hesitate” 😭💀💀
-
This man is the biggest player in the lobby with 150,000 kills 🎮
-
We discussed Hiroshima in 8th grade, one of my classmates father was on a troopship designated for the invasion, they were expecting 90% casualties. It was a real eye opener to realize, had they not dropped the bomb she would not have been there.
-
120 million degree celcius...OMFG
-
No wonder he was given the task.
-
In December 1972, I completed Lear Jet training at Columbus Ohio flight school. My graduation certificate is signed by Col. Paul Tibbets.
-
The difference of reaction from Tibbets and Oppenheimer is telling...
