Truman’s burden-but today he is the bombing’s most outspoken defender, saying it brought a quick end to World War II and saved more lives than it cost. He didn’t make the decision-that was President Harry S. Tibbets piloted the Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. Tibbets, former commander of the 509th and still its spiritual leader.
And best of all, they’d get to see retired Brig. They’d be able to visit their old air base, now abandoned.
A monument to the 509th would be unveiled.
