Paul Tibbets

On February 25, 1937, Paul enlisted as a flying cadet in the Army Air Corps at Fort Thomas, Kentucky. On August 5, 1945 Colonel Paul Tibbets formally named the B-29 Aircraft 44-86292 Enola Gay after his mother (she was named after the heroine, Enola Gay, of a novel her father had liked). On August 6, 1945 the Enola Gay departed with Tibbets at the controls at 2:45 a.m. for Hiroshima, Japan. The atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima at 8:15 a.m. local time.

In 1959 he was promoted to Brigadier General.

Paul Tibbets retired from the U.S. Air Force on August 31, 1966.

Awards and Decorations

• Distinguished Service Cross[?]
• Distinguished Flying Cross[?]
• Air Medal[?]
• Purple Heart
• Legion of Merit
• European Campaign Medal
• Joint Staff Commendation Medal
• American Defense Service Medal
• W.W.II Victory Medal
• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
• American Campaign Medal