It is estimated that 265,000 people died due to the Hiroshima atomic bomb, including its radioactive fallout.Įnola Gay Facts - 19: On 4 July 1949 the Enola Gay was transferred by the U. Several seconds later the aircraft was struck by a second weaker shock reflected from the ground.Įnola Gay Facts - 16: The mushroom cloud, which had climbed to 40,000 feet, was visible from the Enola Gay for almost an hour and a half, finally being lost from sight 363 miles from Hiroshima.Įnola Gay Facts - 17: After a return flight, lasting 12 hours and 13 minutes, the Enola Gay landed safely at Tinian Island.Įnola Gay Facts - 18: "Little Boy" destroyed about 63% of the city, 76,000 buildings. A ball of fire rose rapidly, followed by a mushroom cloud that extended to the height of 40,000 feet (12,200 metres).Įnola Gay Facts - 15: The Enola Gay was rocked by the shock wave that traveled directly from the fireball.
As soon as the bomb was released the Enola Gay began its escape maneuver.Įnola Gay Facts - 14: The effects of the atomic bomb explosion produced an intense light flash and a tremendous roar due to the shock wave of the explosion. After 43 seconds, "Little Boy" exploded with thermo-nuclear blast. The bomb was dropped by parachute and exploded 1,900ft (580m) above the ground. It weighed 4.1 tons, and the TNT firing device weighed nearly 28 pounds (12.5 kilograms)Įnola Gay Facts - 10: Six other aircraft, loaded with photographic and scientific equipment, accompanied the Enola Gay on the mission.Įnola Gay Facts - 11: The 13-hour mission to Hiroshima began at 02.45 hrs in the morning Tinian time on August 6, 1945.Įnola Gay Facts - 12: Once the Enola Gay was safely airborne, Navy Captain William Parsons climbed into the bomb bay and armed the 9,000-pound "Little Boy" atomic bombĮnola Gay Facts - 13: At 0815, Hiroshima time, bombardier Tom Ferebee released the nuclear weapon. The unusual name given to his mother was from the heroine of the novel Enola or, Her fatal mistake.Įnola Gay Facts - 7: The Enola Gay was built under a top secret program, code-name "Silverplate", to produce huge B-29 Superfortress bombers specially modified for atomic bombing missions.Įnola Gay Facts - 8: On August 5, 1945, the day before the mission, B-29 was maneuvered over a bomb loading pit from which the atomic bomb "Little Boy" was hoisted on an hydraulic lift into the aircraft weapon bay and then taxied to Runway Able at North Field, Tinian.Įnola Gay Facts - 9: The "Little Boy" atomic bomb was 10 feet (3.0 m) long and 28 inches (71 cm) wide. Colonel Paul Tibbets and the 393rd Bombardment Squadron begin test drops with dummy bombs called "Pumpkins" that were painted a distinctive mustard colored.Įnola Gay Facts - 6: Lieutenant Colonel Paul Tibbets made the decision to use his mother’s name 'Enola Gay Tibbets' as the name for the aircraft because she was always positive and had once told him, “Whatever happens to you in your life, everything will work out”.
Weight: 54,500 kg (120,000 lb) fully loadedĮnola Gay Facts - 4: Tinian, one of the three principal islands of the Mariana Islands, was one of the largest airbases of WW2 and the North Field runway was the departure point of the 509th Composite Group bombers Enola Gay and BockscarĮnola Gay Facts - 5: The Enola Gay arrived on Tinian on 6 July 1945. Model Type: Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber
ENOLA GAY DROPPED WHICH BOMB SERIAL
The "Little Boy" uranium core atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on Augfrom the 'Enola Gay' Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber and the "Fat Man" a-bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on Augfrom the 'Bockscar' bomber.Įnola Gay Facts - 2: Project Alberta (Project A) was a section of the Manhattan Project that prepared for the delivery of the atomic bomb by conducting bomb delivery tests and modifying aircraft for carrying the atomic weapons.Įnola Gay Facts - 3: Details of the Enola Gay including the serial number, height, weight, length, speed and bomb load are as follows: The following fact sheet contains interesting information, history and facts on Enola Gay for kids.Įnola Gay Facts - 1: The Atomic Bomb was developed by scientists working on the Manhattan Project. When was the atomic bomb dropped from the Enola Gay? The atomic bomb "Little Boy" was dropped from the Enola Gay on to the city of Hiroshima at 08.15am on August 6, 1945.
Why was the plane called the Enola Gay? The aircraft was named for Enola Gay Tibbets, the mother of the pilot, Paul Tibbets. Who was the pilot of the Enola Gay? The name of the pilot of the Enola Gay was Colonel Paul Tibbets. What was the Enola Gay? The Enola Gay was the name given to the airplane, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, that dropped the atomic bomb "Little Boy" on the city of Hiroshima, Japan during WW2. Enola Gay Facts: Fast Fact Sheet for kidsįast, fun facts and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) about the Enola Gay.