The Pilot Who Dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima Was Given No Funeral or Gravestone

Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets, the pilot of the Enola Gay during the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, became a major figure in the United States after World War II. Despite his fame, Tibbets chose not to have a funeral service or a gravestone following his death - why?

Paul Tibbets enlists with the US Army Air Corps

Paul Tibbets was an abdominal surgeon before joining the US Army Air Corps (USAAC). Originally signed up for three years, he earned his pilot wings in 1938 and chose to continue active duty upon the outbreak of World War II . While renowned for his service in the Pacific Theater, Tibbets initially participated in bombing missions in North Africa and France. Notably, he served as Gen. George Patton 's personal pilot from 1940-41.

Paul Tibbets was a test pilot for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress

In the autumn of 1943, Paul Tibbets was called back to be a test pilot during the development of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress . He discovered that, by removing armor plating and armaments, the bomber became 7,000 pounds lighter and performed better. After a year, he was assigned to retrain other pilots in the 17th Bombardment Operational Training Wing (Very Heavy).

In 1944, Tibbets was appointed to lead the 509th Composite Group , which was tasked with the training and deployment of atomic bombs from B-29s.

Bombing of Hiroshima

In May 1945, Paul Tibbets and his crew were relocated to Tinian, where they conducted standard bombing operations on Japanese-occupied islands while also training with atomic bomb prototypes.

When the 509th group received authorization to target Japan, Tibbets became the pilot of the bomber designated to drop Little Boy , the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima . He christened the plane Enola Gay , in honor of his mother.

Dropping Little Boy

On August 6, 1945, Paul Tibbets led his crew and two observation aircraft on a mission to drop the Little Boy atomic bomb over Hiroshima. Reflecting on the event, he recalled how swiftly a mushroom cloud formed over the city after the bomb's detonation.

While some members of his crew participated in the second mission to drop Fat Man on Nagasaki, Tibbets wasn't involved in that operation. He remains historically significant as the first person to deploy an atomic weapon against an enemy city.

Paul Tibbets returns home as a war hero

Paul Tibbets was a celebrated figure of the Second World War, receiving the Distinguished Service Cross for his contributions. President Harry Truman even invited him to the White House , in recognition of his remarkable achievements.

In 1976, Tibbets participated in a re-enactment of the bombing of Hiroshima at the Harlingen, Texas airshow, drawing criticism from Japan. He clarified that it “was not intended to insult anybody,” leading to an apology from the US government.

Despite ongoing ethical debates about atomic bombs, Tibbets maintained his belief in the necessity of the action. While he wasn't proud of the loss of lives, he believed it brought resolution to the conflict. These convictions against nuclear weapons and warfare influenced Tibbets' choice for his final resting place.

Paul Tibbets' final resting place

In the months leading up to his death, Paul Tibbets' health declined. During this period, he firmly expressed his wish to forego a grave or funeral. He was worried about his burial site possibly becoming a target for protests against America's actions in Japan or opposition to nuclear weapons, and feared its potential desecration.

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Instead of a grave, Tibbets requested cremation and that his ashes be scattered over the English Channel. He chose this location because he had flown over it many times during the war. Following his death on November 1, 2007, at the age of 92, his family honored his wishes and scattered his ashes accordingly.