The Enola Gay And The Gay - 837 Words

44.5 seconds, that was the time it took for the bomb named â€Å"Little Boy† to be released from the American B-29 Super fortress, the Enola Gay, and strike its target in downtown Hiroshima. Despite the brevity of that moment, the events surrounding the decision to use the atomic bomb and the aftermath of that decision remain hotly contested 70 years later. Those few seconds changed human history forever, and it certainly deserves to remembered, yet establishing a place to honor a moment that used a terrible weapon to bring an end to a terrible conflict has proven to be rife with controversy. Often time’s historical analysis of the Enola Gay and the events that made her famous are focused on the decision to use the bomb followed by the immediate devastation that was left in its wake. While these components are certainly important, any exhibit dedicated to the Enola Gay should also reflect on the implications â€Å"the bomb† had on global politics and military decision making, many precedents that stand even to this day. The Enola Gay exhibit should be separated into three elements, each covering a different time period surrounding the atomic bomb. The first element covers the events prior to August 6th, 1945, when the United States government was still deliberating on whether to use the atomic bomb. While it may seem obvious to some, it is important to note that the Enola Gay is an American plane and the decision to use the bomb was made exclusively from the AmericanShow MoreRelatedThe Enola Gay1506 Words   |  7 PagesOne of the biggest controversies of the 20th century was caused by one little plane, the Enola Gay. The Enola Gay was a B-29 Superfortress bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. August 6, 1945 was a historic day. Lives were lost and it was the start of the very end of World War ll. The use of this very destructive weapon could be seen as inhumane, but it was a decision that had to be made. Americans and peo ple from other countries today have their own opinion of our war ending tactic.Read MoreThe Conflict Over The Enola Gay Exhibit1415 Words   |  6 Pagesbeing told. This conflict has shown itself recently in the dispute over the Enola Gay exhibit in Washington D.C. Opposing sides clashed as proposed plans for the aircraft and its display brought about judgment from each character involved, as many people had a different way they wanted the story of this aircraft to be told. A detailed analysis of the debate of heritage versus history is applied to the case of the Enola Gay and its representation in a museum setting is shown here. This analysis revealsRead MoreThe Enola Gay Exhibit At The National Air And Space Museum1552 Words   |  7 PagesOriginally intended to be displayed in the 1990’s to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Enola Gay exhibit was dismantled piece by piece until it became an unrecognizable shadow of what used to be a museum e xhibit. The controversy surrounding the Enola Gay exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) has helped to revive a spirited debate between professional, scholarly historians and amateur historians who are likely to have some first hand experience with significantRead MoreHiroshima, By Robert Lewis, Co Pilot Of Enola Gay1473 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Just how many Japs did we kill? I honestly have the feeling or groping for words to explain this or I might say my God, what have we done?† written by Captain Robert Lewis, co-pilot of Enola Gay over Hiroshima, Japan, presently after 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945. The too-large gust of wind, and the looming mushroom cloud rising over the blackened city were all vaguely mentioned in his captain’s log. A small sketch of the first ever nuclear warfare attack can be found hastily scribbled on the backRead MoreAn Exhibit Of The National Air And Space Museum1258 Words   |  6 PagesIn 1993, a plan to build an exhibit of the Enola Gay in the National Air and Space Museum received immense amounts of criticism from military historians, journalists, and veterans, as they felt that it didn’t correctly portray the Japanese and those in the American armed forces during the war. The book’s authors offer theories ranging from historical context, how Japan’s role in the war was interpreted, the American people’s discomfort regarding Truman’s order to drop the bomb, the mood of AmericansRead MoreB-29: The Airplane that Changed the World1366 Words   |  6 Pagesequipped with large Fowler-type flaps (â€Å"Enola Gay†). Many new designs were equipped on the Superfortress because the U.S. military requested very specific things from the aircraft manufacturers (â€Å"Enola Gay†). The old designs on the planes did not allow the bombers to meet the requirements of the military so Boeing was the first to answer the military’s call, and when the military sa w Boeing’s design they requested that the airplane be built immediately (â€Å"Enola Gay†). The plane was very rough in the beginningRead MoreDropping the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima1081 Words   |  5 PagesB-29 Super fortress bomber named the Enola Gay was one of fifteen bombers specifically designed to deliver atomic weapons. The â€Å"Silver plate† modifications that included special hydraulic bay doors, larger engines, modified props, deletion of the gun turrets, and armor plates (Museum, 2011). All modifications aimed toward a sucsefull delivery of the bomb. The Enola Gay was hand selected off the line for this mission. With Its commission to the fleet, Enola Gay preformed a test mission in preparationRead MoreTruman s Decision On The Dropping Of The Atomic Bomb996 Words   |  4 Pagesthat surrendering was absolutely dishonorable to the Emperor and the country and most soldiers would prefer to take their own lives rather than surrender to the enemy (Cor rell Enola Gay). The Japanese were prepared to take as much casualties as possible with an estimation of commitment of 2.3 million troops (Correll Enola Gay). Yes the atomic bomb would kill thousands of civilians but these civilians may have been trained to commit suicide runs against the allies if an invasion was put through (FussellRead MoreWorld War One Of The Worst Wars Of All Time2226 Words   |  9 Pages Enola Gay The Enola Gay was just an Average B-29. The reason it’s so amazing is because it was the first atomic bomb used in warfare on Nagasaki. The Enola Gay was a hero, a savior clad in metal and machinery. Although it killed thousands in Nagasaki, it was essential to end the brutal war. Although outclassed by later bombers, it is still a well-known warcraft among war fanatics and plane collectors. Here is all you need to know about the Enola Gay. Read MoreTaking a Look at Dropping the H-Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki921 Words   |  4 Pagesunforgettable day On August 6, 1945, Japan went through an event that would never be forgotten. American scientists and soldiers got aboard the Enola Gay to drop the first atomic bomb in wartime history, Little Boy. It was dropped at 8:15 a.m. After falling for over 44 seconds the bomb was triggered about 1,900 feet over the center of the city. The pilots in the Enola Gay watched as columns of smoke rose up fast and harsh fires sprung up. The burst temperature was estimated to reach over a million degrees