ENOLA GAY CREW - PRINTED DOCUMENT SIGNED IN INK CO-SIGNED BY: ENOLA GAY CREW (THEODORE VAN KIRK), ENOLA GAY CREW (PAUL W. TIBBETS), ENOLA GAY CREW (COLONEL THOMAS W. FEREBEE) - HFSID 257614

ENOLA GAY CREW: PAUL W. TIBBETS, THOMAS FEREBEE and THEODORE VAN KIRK
Photocopy of General Carl Spaatz's 1945 orders for the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, signed in blue ink by three members of the Enola Gay in 1990: Paul W. Tibbets, Thomas Ferebee and Theodore J. Van Kirk
Printed document signed "Paul W. Tibbets/8-24-90", "Theodore J Van Kirk/8-24-90" and "Thomas Ferebee/8-24-90", all in blue ink. 1 page, 8x10, printed on cardstock, photocopy. This is a reproduction of a July 25, 1945 document from General Carl Spaatz, Commanding General of the United States Army Strategic Air Forces, ordering 509 Composite Group to drop the first atomic bomb (here "special bomb") on Japan. In part: "The 509 Composite Group, 20th Air Force will deliver its first special bomb as soon as weather will permit visual bombing after about 3 August 1945 on one of the targets: Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata and Nagasaki... Additional bombs will be delivered on the above targets as soon as made ready by the project staff... Dissemination of any and all information concerning the use of the weapon against Japan is reserved to the Secretary of War and the President of the United States." As Chief of Air Staff of the U. S. Air Force in Europe, CARL SPAATZ (1891-1974, born in Boyertown, Pennsylvania) initiated daylight bombing of German-occupied Europe in 1942. He was Chief of the U. S. bombing force in Germany (1944) and Japan (1945). Spaatz became the first Chief of Staff of the independent U. S. Air Force in 1947. PAUL W. TIBBETS (1915-2007, born in Quincy, Illinois), born George Robert Caron,was the pilot of the B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, named after Tibbets' mother, that dropped the first atomic bomb (nicknamed "Little Boy") on the city of Hiroshima, Japan on Aug. 6, 1945. The blast, equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT, destroyed a four square-mile area, and killing an estimated 70,000 people. Japan surrendered less than one month later, on Sept. 2, 1945). Tibbets was a colonel when Hiroshima was destroyed and became a technical adviser on the United States' nuclear bomb tests. He retired a brigadier general in 1966 and worked in commercial aviation until 1986. THOMAS FEREBEE (1918-2000 , born outside Mocksville, North Carolina) was the bombardier on board the Enola Gay and was responsible for dropping the first atomic bomb, "Little Boy", on Hiroshima, Japan. Ferebee initially trained for a position on the Boston Red Sox, but joined the Army when he didn't make the team. A knee injury put him into flight school instead of Army training. He remained in the Air Force until the 1970s, serving in Korea and retiring as a colonel. He worked as a real estate agent after retirement. THEODORE VAN KIRK (1921-2014) was the navigator of the Enola Gay during the world's first atomic bombing over Hiroshima, Japan. Before this, he flew 58 B-17 bomber missions over occupied France and Germany before returning to the United States as a navigational instructor. He left the Army Air Corps a major and went on hold various positions in DuPont for 35 years. Lightly creased. Normal photocopy marks. Otherwise in fine condition.