Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-02

awake. Colonel Paul Ti5betts,
the boss, sat watching the yoke
Jump in front Of him. The
Enola Gay was on automatic
pilot and he watched the cleo
trcnlc brain make corrections.
It was like this hour after
hour. Dawn sneaked into the
sky like a slow blush. The
radio operator had a message.
The B-29 that was scouting far
ahead had just reported leav-
ing Hiroshima. The primary
target would be wide open.
Scattered clouds below. that's
all. Another message. Word
from the two B-29's that would
accompany Enola Gay. They
were at Two Jina, waiting.
A Pretty Morning
Tibbetts gave the order to
start climbing. She pulled up
slow and sedate. One man
worked at a big radio in the
bombing section. His job was
to find out If the Japanese tried
to jam Enola Gays radio
signals. The bomb would be
detonated by radio signal. if
possible. If not. it would be
set of by air pressure at 1900
feet. If the bomb was to be
armed, and the Japanese sent
the proper signal at the proper
wavelength. Enola Gay would
become, momentarily. a star.
They picked UP their escort.
At $4,000 feet. the three B-29's
trailed white. Kyushu came up
on the left and Captain Par
sons, dropped into the bomb
bay and used his wrenches and
screwdrivers. He came back
up nodding >soberly. The bonn
barber sat at his eyepiece all
the way up Bungo Strait. The
sun was bright. 1t was a pretty
morning.
Enola Gay made the final
run steady and alone. The
escorts - chicken - turned for
home. Kure appeared under
the right wing and then Hiro-
shima, fat and bright and busy.
There was a long wait. No one
said Bomb away" The plane
lightened suddenly and lifted
like an express elevator and the
IL men knew. Tibbetts looked
at Lewis. The captain made q
wide two-mile turn to the right.
He turned away $50 degrees
from Hiroshima. Everyone
donned the dark Navy glasses.
An Era Begins
Captain Lewis found he
could not pilot the plane with
the glasses. He dropped them
over his throat. He looked at
his watch. Exactly 43 seconds
after the plane had lightened.
he saw Enola Gay brighten to
a dazzling whiteness. She was
climbing at $50 miles per hour.
so that the wings and rudder
could absorb the shock. Fifteen
seconds later. the ship bounced
and Tbbetts yelled: "Ack-ack!"
Lewis shook his head. no. A few
seconds later. a second shock.
this one caroming of the
ground. hit the plane.
They waited a minute. then
turned back to Hiroshima for
a look. A mountain Of smoke
was building into the sky. 1t
was colored rose and green and
yellow. It was boiling. Far be-
low. the city was in flames and
from Enola Gay, the men could
watch the fire race up both
sides Of the river into the hills.
MY Cod" said Lewis. MY
good Cod"
Below. $4,000 japanese were
dead. Far behind Enola Gay.
one million Americans were
alive. A fourth Of these would
have died II they had had to
assault the japanese home is
lands TO win the war. Enola
Gay headed back to Tinian.
In the river Of pedestrians.
Robert A. Lewis, 40, hurried
down to the subway. A girl
bumped into him. His hat fell
of. II beg your pardon" ne
said. She nodded CURLY. Take
it easy" she said. you going to
a fire or something's"
copyrietht. 1858.
King Features Syndicate. Inc
Friday: A night in o storm BY the
Atlantic.