NationMaster - Encyclopedia: 509th Operations Group

The 509th Composite Group was an air combat unit of the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War and as the 509th Operations Group, is a current unit of the United States Air Force. It was tasked with developing and employing a combat delivery system for the Atomic bomb and conducted the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in August 1945. Image File history File links Group_509th. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was a part of the U.S. Army during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress (Boeing Model 341/345) was a four-engine heavy bomber flown by the United States Army Air Force. ... The C-54 Skymaster was a four engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Force in World War II. Like its mate the C-47 Skytrain, the C-54 Skymaster was derived from the prototype of a civilian airliner (the DC-4). ... Twentieth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force in Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). ... Saipan, Tinian & Aguiguan The atom bomb pit on Tinians North Field, where Little Boy was loaded aboard the Enola Gay Tinian Shinto shrine. ... The Mariana Islands (also the Marianas; up to the early 20th century sometimes called Ladrones Islands, from Spanish Islas de los Ladrones meaning Islands of Thieves) are an archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels... The Fat Man mushroom cloud resulting from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rises 18 km (11 mi, 60,000 ft) into the air from the hypocenter. ... Nagasaki (Japanese: é•·å´Žå¸‚, Nagasaki-shi , long peninsula) is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. ... The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was a part of the U.S. Army during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... The mushroom cloud of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, 1945, rose some 18 km (11 mi) above the epicenter. ... For other uses, see Hiroshima (disambiguation). ... Nagasaki (Japanese: é•·å´Žå¸‚, Nagasaki-shi , long peninsula) is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. ...

The group later became a medium bombardment group of the Strategic Air Command, as the combat component of the 509th Bomb Wing, before being inactivated in 1952. Its lineage, honors, and history were also bestowed on the like-numbered wing in 1947. After more than forty years of inactivation, the group was activated again as part of the 509th Bomb Wing and designated the 509th Operations Group, conducting the combat and training operations of the B-2 Spirit bomber. For the film of the same name, see Strategic Air Command (film) The Strategic Air Command (SAC) was the operational establishment of the United States Air Force in charge of Americas bomber-based and ballistic missile-based strategic nuclear arsenal from 1946 to 1992. ... The 509th Bomb Wing (509 BW) operates and maintains the United States Air Forces premier weapon system, the B-2 Bomber, and is based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. ... The 509th Bomb Wing (509 BW) operates and maintains the United States Air Forces premier weapon system, the B-2 Bomber, and is based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. ... The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth bomber able to drop conventional and nuclear weapons. ...

Organization of the 509th Composite Group

Wartime command organization^[1]

Colonel Paul Tibbets Jr. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... January 22 is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... While Executive officer literally refers to a person responsible for the performance of duties involved in running an organization, the exact meaning of the role is highly variable, depending on the organization. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... An adjutant (from the Latin adiutans, present participle of the verb adiutare, to help; the Romans actually used adiutor for the noun) is an officer who assists a more senior officer. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

Squadron commanders

March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (72nd in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... September 14 is the 257th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (258th in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... October 15 is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years). ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... May 3 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (124th in leap years). ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 184 days remaining. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (72nd in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... September 14 is the 257th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (258th in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 359 days (360 in leap years) remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

Component support organizations

History of the 509th Composite Group

Organization and training

The 509th Composite Group was constituted on December 9, 1944, and activated on December 17, 1944, at Wendover Army Air Field, Utah, commanded by Colonel Paul W. Tibbets. ^[2] Colonel Tibbets had been assigned to organize and command a combat group to develop the means of delivering an atomic weapon by airplane against targets in Germany and Japan. Because the flying squadrons of the group consisted of both bomber and transport aircraft, the group was designated as a "composite" rather than a "bombardment" unit. December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Wendover Air Force Base is a former USAF base in Utah. ... Official language(s) English Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Area Ranked 13th - Total 84,876 sq mi (219,887 kmÂ²) - Width 270 miles (435 km) - Length 350 miles (565 km) - % water 3. ... Colonel Paul Tibbets Jr. ... A United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) bombardment group was a military combat unit during the Second World War. ...

Working with the Manhattan Engineering District at Site Y in Los Alamos, New Mexico, Tibbets had selected Wendover for his training base (over Great Bend, Kansas, and Mountain Home, Idaho)^[3] because of its remoteness. On September 10, 1944, the 393rd Bomb Squadron, a unit of B-29 Superfortresses, arrived at Wendover from the 504th Bomb Group (Very Heavy) at Fairmont Army Air Base, Nebraska, where it had been in group training since March 12. When its parent group deployed to the Marianas in early November 1944, the squadron was assigned directly to the Second Air Force until creation of the 509th CG.^[4] Originally consisting of twenty-one crews, fifteen were selected to continue training and were organized into three flights of five crews, lettered A, B, and C. Control panels and operators for calutrons at the Y-12 Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. ... Los Alamos National Laboratory, aerial view from 1995. ... Los Alamos usually refers to the United States national laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico which was founded during the World War II effort to develop the atomic bomb (the Manhattan Project), was one of the two laboratories developing the USAs nuclear weapons during the Cold War, and is... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Area Ranked 5th - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 kmÂ²) - Width 342 miles (550 km) - Length 370 miles (595 km) - % water 0. ... Great Bend is the largest city and county seat of Barton County, Kansas, United States. ... Mountain Home is a city located in Elmore County, Idaho. ... September 10 is the 253rd day of the Gregorian calendar (254th in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a four-engine heavy bomber propeller aircraft flown by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II and other military organizations afterwards. ... Fairmont is a village located in Fillmore County, Nebraska. ... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Largest metro area Omaha Area Ranked 16th - Total 77,421 sq mi (200,520 kmÂ²) - Width 210 miles (340 km) - Length 430 miles (690 km) - % water 0. ... March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (72nd in leap years). ... The Mariana Islands (also the Marianas; up to the early 20th century sometimes called Ladrones Islands, from Spanish Islas de los Ladrones meaning Islands of Thieves) are an archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels... The Second Air Force was formed in the United States to provide air defense and train personnel of newly formed units in World War II. The Second was briefly a part of Air Defense Command after the war. ... A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. ...

The 320th Troop Carrier Squadron, the other flying unit of the 509th, came into being because of the highly secret work of the group. The organization that was to become the 509th required its own transports for the movement of both personnel and materiel, resulting in creation of an ad hoc unit nicknamed "The Green Hornet Line".^[5]^[6] Crews for this unit were acquired from the six 393rd crews not selected to continue B-29 training who chose to remain with the 509th rather than be placed in a replacement pool with the Second Air Force. They began using Curtiss C-46 Commandos and C-47 Skytrains already at Wendover and after November 1944 flew five acquired C-54 Skymasters.^[7] The 320th TCS was formally activated at the same time as the group.^[2] Green Hornet has several meanings: The Green Hornet character, created by George W. Trendle. ... Lamb Air C-46 The Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Also known to the men who flew them as The Whale. The C-46 served a similar role as its brother the Douglas C... The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota was a military transport that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. ... The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Force in World War II. Like the C-47 Skytrain, the C-54 Skymaster was derived from a civilian airliner (the DC-4). ...

Other support units were activated at Wendover from personnel already present and working with its Project W-47 (superseded by Project Alberta) or in the 216th Base Unit, both affiliated with the Site Y project. The 390th Air Service Group was created as the command echelon for the 603rd Air Engineering Squadron, the 1027th Air Material squadron, and its own Air Base Support Squadron, but as these units became independent operationally, acted as the basic support unit for the entire 509th Group in providing quarters, rations, medical care, postal service and other basic support functions. The 603rd AES was unique in that it provided depot-level B-29 maintenance in the field, obviating the necessity of sending aircraft back to the United States for major repairs. The 603rd made a number of modifications to the first contract order of Silverplate B-29s that were later incorporated as specifications for the combat models.^[8] Project Alberta was a section of the U.S. Army Air Force and Manhattan Project which developed the actual combat delivery of the first atomic bombs onto the Empire of Japan during World War II. Much of its work consisted in training a crew for preparation of the atomic bombing... Los Alamos National Laboratory, aerial view from 1995. ... Silverplate was the code reference for the United States Army Air Forces participation in the Manhattan Project during World War II. Originally the name for the aircraft modification project for the B-29 Superfortress to enable it to drop an atomic weapon, Silverplate eventually came to identify the training and...

The 393rd Bomb Squadron began replacement of its original B-29s with modified Silverplate airplanes with the delivery of three in mid-October 1944.^[5] These aircraft had extensive bomb bay modifcations and a "weaponeer" station installed, but initial training operations identified numerous other modifications necessary to the mission, particularly in reducing the overall weight of the airplane to offset the heavy loads it would be required to carry. Five more Silverplates were delivered in November and six in December, giving the group 14 for its training operations. In January and February 1945, 10 of the 15 crews under the command of the Group S-3 (operations officer) were assigned temporary duty at Batista Field, San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba, where they trained in long-range over-water navigation.^[9] San Antonio de los BaÃ±os is a town in La Habana Province, Cuba. ...

On March 6, 1945, the 1st Ordnance Squadron (Special, Aviation) was activated at Wendover, again from Army Air Forces personnel on hand or already at Los Alamos, and concurrent with the activation of Project Alberta. Its purpose was to provide trained personnel and special equipment to the group to enable it to assemble atomic weapons at its operating base, thereby allowing the weapons to be transported more safely in their component parts. A rigorous candidate selection process was used to recruit personnel, with reportedly an 80% "washout" rate, and those made a part of the unit were not permitted transfer until the end of the war, nor were they allowed to travel without escorts from Military Intelligence units.^[10] March 6 is the 65th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (66th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Project Alberta was a section of the U.S. Army Air Force and Manhattan Project which developed the actual combat delivery of the first atomic bombs onto the Empire of Japan during World War II. Much of its work consisted in training a crew for preparation of the atomic bombing... Military intelligence (abbreviated MI, int. ...

The 509th began replacement of its 14 training Silverplates in February 1945 by transferring four to the 216th Base Unit. In April they began receiving phase three Silverplates and the remaining ten training B-29s were placed in storage. Col. Tibbets declared his group combat-ready, with each bombardier having completed at least 50 practice drops of inert pumpkin bombs,^[11] and Preparation for Overseas Movement (POM) began in April. Pumpkin bombs were conventional high explosive aerial bombs developed by the Manhattan Project and used by the United States Army Air Forces against Japan during World War II. The name pumpkin bomb resulted from the large ellipsoidal shape of the munition and was the actual reference term used in official...

Equipment and crews

B-29, "ENOLA GAY", 44-86292. Dropped "LITTLE BOY", August 6, 1945, on Hiroshima

Source:Richard H. Campbell, The Silverplate Bombers, ISBN 0-7864-2139-8 Some Punkins was the name of a B-29 Superfortress (B-29-36-MO 44-27296, victor number 84) modified to carry the atomic bomb in World War II. Assigned to the 393rd Bomb Squadron, 509th Composite Group, it was one of 15 Silverplate B-29s used by the 509th... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Bockscar after its mission against Nagasaki. ... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Full House was the name of a B-29 Superfortress (B-29-36-MO 44-27298, victor number 83) participating in the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... A straight flush is a poker hand such as Q♠ J♠ 10♠ 9♠ 8♠, which contains five cards in sequence, all of the same suit. ... Claude Robert Eatherly (1918-1978) was the pilot of the weather reconnaissance aircraft Straight Flush used to aid in the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, August 6, 1945, and Nagasaki, August 9, 1945. ... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Jabit III was the name of a B-29 Superfortress (B-29-36-MO 44-27303, victor number 71) participating in the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. ... April 3 is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 272 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Up An Atom was the name of a B-29 Superfortress (B-29-36-MO 44-27304, victor number 88) configured during World War II in the Silverplate project to carry an atomic bomb. ... April 3 is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 272 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... The Great Artiste, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-29 bomber, was the regular aircraft of Major Charles Sweeney who piloted Bockscar to drop the Fat Man atomic bomb on Nagasaki on the 9 August 1945. ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Big Stink was the name of a B-29 Superfortress (B-29-40-MO 44-27354, victor number 90) participating in the atomic bomb attack on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... June 25 is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 189 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... A Necessary evil is a situation or act considered evil but necessary to ensure good in other areas or to prevent greater wrong. ... May 18 is the 138th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (139th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Colonel Paul Tibbets waving from Enola Gays cockpit after the bombing of Hiroshima. ... May 18 is the 138th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (139th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... July 6 is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 178 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (215th in leap years), with 151 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Laggin Dragon was the name of a B-29 Superfortress (B-29 serial 44-86347-50-MO, victor number 95) participating in the atomic bomb attack on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. ... June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (215th in leap years), with 151 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

*These crews and aircraft commanders switched airplane assignments on August 9, 1945 August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (222nd in leap years), with 144 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

Although all of the B-29's were named as shown, the only nose art applied to the aircraft before the atomic bomb missions was that of Enola Gay.^[12] With the exceptions of victors 71 and 94, the others were applied some time in August 1945. Luke the Spook was not named until November 1945, and it is not known if nose art was ever applied to Jabit III,^[13] although the version shown at the 509th Yearbook gallery was first shown in 1997.^[14] Nose art on a B-17 Flying Fortress Nose art is a painting or design done on the fuselage near the nose of a warplane, usually for decorative purposes. ...

Operational history

The ground support echelon of the 509th CG received movement orders in April 1945 and moved by rail to its port of embarkation at Seattle, Washington. On May 6 the support elements sailed on the SS Cape Victory for the Marianas. An advance party of the air echelon flew to North Field, Tinian, on May 18, where it was joined by the ground echelon on May 29, 1945, marking the group's official change of station.^[6] Project Alberta's "Destination Team" also sent most of its members to Tinian to supervise the assembly, loading, and dropping of the bombs under the administrative title of 1st Technical Services Detachment.^[15] Nickname: The Emerald City Location of Seattle in King County and Washington Coordinates: Country United States State Washington County King County Incorporated December 2 1869 Government - Mayor Greg Nickels (NP) Area - City 142. ... May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (127th in leap years). ... Saipan, Tinian & Aguiguan The atom bomb pit on Tinians North Field, where Little Boy was loaded aboard the Enola Gay Tinian Shinto shrine. ... May 18 is the 138th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (139th in leap years). ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Project Alberta was a section of the U.S. Army Air Force and Manhattan Project which developed the actual combat delivery of the first atomic bombs onto the Empire of Japan during World War II. Much of its work consisted in training a crew for preparation of the atomic bombing...

The air echelon began deploying from Wendover June 4, 1945, with the first B-29 arriving at North Field on June 11. The group was assigned to the 313th Bomb Wing, whose four groups had been flying missions against Japan since mid-February, but because of security considerations was given a base area near the airfield on the north tip of Tinian, several miles from the main installations in the center part of the island.^[6] Two of the group's bombers were not delivered by Martin-Omaha until early July and remained at Wendover until July 27 to act as transports to Tinian for two of the Fat Man atomic bomb assemblies.^[16] June 4 is the 155th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (156th in leap years), with 210 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... A post-war Fat Man model. ...

After ground training for the combat crews, the 509th began operations on June 30, 1945, with a calibration flight involving nine of the B-29s on hand. During the month of July and the first eight days of August the thirteen bombers of the 393rd BS flew an intensive training and mission rehearsal program that consisted of: June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 184 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

While this training was taking place, the disassembled components of the first two atomic bombs were transshipped to Tinian by various means. For the uranium bomb code-named Little Boy, the U-235 projectile and bomb pre-assemblies left Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, California, on July 16 aboard the cruiser USS Indianapolis, arriving July 26. That same day three C-54s of the 320th TCS left Kirtland Army Air Field each with one of the U-235 target rings and landed at North Field on July 28.^[20]^[21] A view of Chuuk Chuuk is an island group that comprises one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), along with Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. ... Minami Torishima (南鳥島) or Marcus Island is a very small isolated island in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, located at latitude 24°18′ N and longitude 153°58′ E. It is only 1 sq km in size. ... Rota Rota, also known as the peaceful island, is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). ... Guguan is the seventh indepedndent island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... Pumpkin bombs were conventional high explosive aerial bombs developed by the Manhattan Project and used by the United States Army Air Forces against Japan during World War II. The name pumpkin bomb resulted from the large ellipsoidal shape of the munition and was the actual reference term used in official... A post-war Fat Man model. ... July 20 is the 201st day (202nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 164 days remaining. ... July 29 is the 210th day (211th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 155 days remaining. ... A post-war Little Boy casing mockup. ... A post-war Fat Man model. ... July 23 is the 204th day (205th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 161 days remaining. ... August 8 is the 220th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (221st in leap years), with 145 days remaining. ... Landsat photo of Iwo Jima, circa 2006 Iwo Jima (Japanese ç¡«é»„å³¶ IÅtÅ, or IÅjima, meaning sulfur island) is a volcanic island in Japan, part of the Volcano Islands (the southern part of the Ogasawara Islands), approximately 650 nautical miles (1200 km) south of Tokyo (24Â°472N, 141... General Name, Symbol, Number uranium, U, 92 Chemical series actinides Group, Period, Block n/a, 7, f Appearance silvery gray metallic; corrodes to a spalling black oxide coat in air Standard atomic weight 238. ... Uranium-235 is an isotope of uranium that differs from the elements other common isotope, uranium-238, by its ability to cause a rapidly expanding fission chain reaction. ... A projectile is any object sent through space by the application of a force. ... The San Francisco Naval Shipyard was a United States Navy shipyard in San Francisco, California, located on 638 acres (2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area Ranked 3rd - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 kmÂ²) - Width 250 miles (400 km) - Length 770 miles (1,240 km) - % water 4. ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... USS Port Royal (CG-73), a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser (really an uprated guided missile destroyer), launched in 1992. ... USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was a Portland-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy. ... July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... Kirtland Air Force Base is located in the southeast quadrant of Albuquerque, New Mexico, adjacent to the Albuquerque International Sunport. ... July 28 is the 209th day (210th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 156 days remaining. ...

The components for the bomb code-named Fat Man all arrived by air. On July 26 the bomb's plutonium core (encased in its insertion capsule) and the beryllium-polonium initiator were transported from Kirtland by C-54 in the custody of Project Alberta couriers, also arriving July 28. The pre-assemblies of Fat Man F-31 were picked up by B-29 at Kirtland on July 28 and reached North Field on August 2.^[22] General Name, Symbol, Number plutonium, Pu, 94 Chemical series actinides Group, Period, Block n/a, 7, f Appearance silvery white Standard atomic weight (244) gÂ·molâˆ’1 Electron configuration [Rn] 5f6 7s2 Electrons per shell 2, 8, 18, 32, 24, 8, 2 Physical properties Phase solid Density (near r. ... General Name, Symbol, Number beryllium, Be, 4 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, Period, Block 2, 2, s Appearance white-gray metallic Standard atomic weight 9. ... General Name, Symbol, Number polonium, Po, 84 Chemical series metalloids Group, Period, Block 16, 6, p Appearance silvery Atomic mass (209) gÂ·molâˆ’1 Electron configuration [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4 Electrons per shell 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 6 Physical properties Phase solid Density (near r. ... August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (215th in leap years), with 151 days remaining. ...

The final item of preparation for the operation came on July 29, 1945. General Carl Spaatz, commanding all strategic bombers in the Pacific, arrived at Tinian with the order for the attack. Drafted by Brig.Gen. Leslie Groves and sent by Gen. George C. Marshall from Potsdam on July 25,^[23] the order designated four targets: Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata, and Nagasaki, and ordered the attack to be made "as soon as weather will permit after about 3 August."^[24] July 29 is the 210th day (211th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 155 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Carl Tooey Spaatz (June 28, 1891 â€“ July 14, 1974) was an American general in World War II. Carl Andrew Spatz (Spaatz added the second a in 1937 at the request of his wife and daughters to clarify the pronunciation of the name) was born on June 28, 1891, in Boyertown... Leslie Groves Leslie Richard Groves (August 17, 1896 â€“ July 13, 1970) was a United States Army officer who oversaw the construction of the Pentagon and was the primary military leader in charge of the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb during World War II. Descended from French Huguenots who... George C. Marshall George Catlett Marshall (December 31, 1880–October 16, 1959), an American military leader and statesman, was born into a middle-class family in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. ... Harry S. Truman and Joseph Stalin meeting at the Potsdam Conference on July 18, 1945. ... July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... For other uses, see Hiroshima (disambiguation). ... Kokura (å°å€‰) is an ancient castle town and the center of KitakyÅ«shÅ«, Japan, guarding, via its suburb Moji, the Straits of Shimonoseki between HonshÅ« and KyÅ«shÅ«. Kokura is also the name of the penultimate station on the southbound Sanyo Shinkansen line, which is owned by JR KyÅ«shÅ« and... Niigata is the name of several places, times and things: Niigata City Niigata Prefecture This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Nagasaki (Japanese: é•·å´Žå¸‚, Nagasaki-shi , long peninsula) is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. ...

Atomic Bomb Missions

The mission profile for both atomic missions called for weather scouts to precede the strike force by an hour, reporting weather conditions in code over each proposed target. The strike force consisted of a bombing aircraft, with the aircraft commander responsible for all decisions in reaching the target and the bomb commander (weaponeer) responsible for all decisions regarding dropping of the bomb; a blast instrumentation aircraft which would fly the wing of the strike aircraft and drop instruments by parachute into the target area; and a camera ship, which would also carry scientific observers. Each mission would have one "spare" aircraft accompanying it as far as Iwo Jima to take over carrying the bomb if the strike aircraft encountered mechanical problems. The Fat Man mushroom cloud resulting from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rises 18 km (11 mi, 60,000 ft) into the air from the hypocenter. ...

The Hiroshima mission was flown as planned and executed without significant problems or diversion from plan. The Nagasaki mission, however, originally targeted Kokura and encountered numerous problems which resulted in the bombing of the secondary target, a delay in bombing of almost two hours, and detonation of the bomb some distance from the designated aiming point and a diversion of the strike force to emergency landings on Okinawa because of a lack of fuel. However the basic objectives of the mission were met despite the problems.

Mission compositions

While the Nagasaki mission was in progress, two B-29's of the 509th took off from Tinian to return to Wendover. Lt.Col. Classen, the deputy group commander, in the unnamed victor 94 and crew B-6 in Jabit III, together with their ground crews, were sent back to stage for the possibility of transporting further bomb assemblies to Tinian.^[27] However the plutonium cores were still at Site Y, and on August 13 Gen. Groves ordered that all shipments of material be stopped. His order reached Los Alamos in time to keep the third bomb from being shipped.^[28] The first Atomic War lasted 9 days, August 6 through August 15, 1945. A straight flush is a poker hand such as Q♠ J♠ 10♠ 9♠ 8♠, which contains five cards in sequence, all of the same suit. ... Claude Robert Eatherly (1918-1978) was the pilot of the weather reconnaissance aircraft Straight Flush used to aid in the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, August 6, 1945, and Nagasaki, August 9, 1945. ... Jabit III was the name of a B-29 Superfortress (B-29-36-MO 44-27303, victor number 71) participating in the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. ... Full House was the name of a B-29 Superfortress (B-29-36-MO 44-27298, victor number 83) participating in the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. ... Colonel Paul Tibbets waving from Enola Gays cockpit after the bombing of Hiroshima. ... Colonel Paul Tibbets Jr. ... The Great Artiste, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-29 bomber, was the regular aircraft of Major Charles Sweeney who piloted Bockscar to drop the Fat Man atomic bomb on Nagasaki on the 9 August 1945. ... Brigadier General Charles W. Sweeney (1919 - July 15, 2004) was an officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II and the pilot who flew the Fat Man atomic bomb to Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. ... A Necessary evil is a situation or act considered evil but necessary to ensure good in other areas or to prevent greater wrong. ... Colonel Paul Tibbets waving from Enola Gays cockpit after the bombing of Hiroshima. ... Laggin Dragon was the name of a B-29 Superfortress (B-29 serial 44-86347-50-MO, victor number 95) participating in the atomic bomb attack on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. ... Bockscar after its mission against Nagasaki. ... Brigadier General Charles W. Sweeney (1919 - July 15, 2004) was an officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II and the pilot who flew the Fat Man atomic bomb to Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. ... The Great Artiste, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-29 bomber, was the regular aircraft of Major Charles Sweeney who piloted Bockscar to drop the Fat Man atomic bomb on Nagasaki on the 9 August 1945. ... French dirigible ... Big Stink was the name of a B-29 Superfortress (B-29-40-MO 44-27354, victor number 90) participating in the atomic bomb attack on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. ... Full House was the name of a B-29 Superfortress (B-29-36-MO 44-27298, victor number 83) participating in the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. ...

After the Nagasaki mission the group continued combat operations, making another series of pumpkin bomb attacks (12 dropped) on August 14. With the announcement of the Japanese surrender, however, the 509th CG flew three further training missions involving 32 sorties on August 18, 20, and 22, then stood down from operations. August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (227th in leap years), with 139 days remaining. ...

Post-World War II history

In November 1945 the 509th Composite Group left Tinian and relocated to Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico. The eight Silverplate bombers that had been delivered to Wendover in August also joined the group. Col. William H. Blanchard replaced Col. Tibbets as group commander on January 22, 1946, and also became the first commander of the 509th Bomb Wing. Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico Walker Air Force Base, also known as Roswell Army Air Field, is a former United States Air Force Base, located 8 miles south of Roswell, New Mexico. ... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Area Ranked 5th - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 kmÂ²) - Width 342 miles (550 km) - Length 370 miles (595 km) - % water 0. ... January 22 is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... The 509th Bomb Wing (509 BW) operates and maintains the United States Air Forces premier weapon system, the B-2 Bomber, and is based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. ...

The Group was assigned to Strategic Air Command on March 21, 1946, bring one of the first eleven organizations assigned to SAC. At the time SAC was formed, the 509th Composite Group was the only unit to have experience with nuclear weapons and thus is regarded by many historians as the foundation on which SAC was built. In April 1946 many of the group's aircraft deployed to Kwajalein as part of Operation Crossroads, a series of atomic bomb tests. The remainder became the core of two new squadrons activated as part of the group, the 715th Bomb Squadron and the 830th Bomb Squadron. For the film of the same name, see Strategic Air Command (film) The Strategic Air Command (SAC) was the operational establishment of the United States Air Force in charge of Americas bomber-based and ballistic missile-based strategic nuclear arsenal from 1946 to 1992. ... March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (81st in leap years). ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Kwajalein Atoll - NASA NLT Landsat 7 (Visible Color) Satellite Image Kwajalein Atoll (Marshallese: Kuwajleen) is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). ... A 21 kiloton underwater nuclear weapons effects test, known as Operation Crossroads (Event Baker), conducted at Bikini Atoll (1946). ...

On July 10, 1946, the group was renamed the 509th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and the 320th TCS was disbanded. With the creation of the United States Air Force as a separate service, the group became the combat component of the 509th Bomb Wing on November 17, 1947, although it was not operational until September 14, 1948, when Col. John D. Ryan was named commander. It remained in that capacity, and part of the Strategic Air Command, until its squadrons were removed on February 1, 1951, and assigned directly to the wing, effectively ending its operations. The 509th was inactivated on June 16, 1952 as part of a SAC (and later Air Force-wide) phase-out of groups. July 10 is the 191st day (192nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 174 days remaining. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... September 14 is the 257th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (258th in leap years). ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... John Dale Ryan (1915–1983) was a U.S. Air Force general. ... For the film of the same name, see Strategic Air Command (film) The Strategic Air Command (SAC) was the operational establishment of the United States Air Force in charge of Americas bomber-based and ballistic missile-based strategic nuclear arsenal from 1946 to 1992. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... June 16 is the 167th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (168th in leap years), with 198 days remaining. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The group was redesignated as a medium bomb group in 1948 and acquired an aerial refueling mission with the assignment of KB-29s. Its original B-29s were transferred to the 97th Bomb Wing at Biggs Air Force Base, El Paso, Texas, in 1949 and the group acquired B-50 Superfortresses before its inactivation. Boom and receptacle: USAF KC-135R Stratotanker, two F-15s (twin fins) and two F-16s, on an aerial refueling training mission Probe and drogue: USAF HC-130P refuels a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter Aerial refueling, also called Air refueling or in-flight refueling (IFR) or air-to-air... <B-29 Superfortress A B-29 being flown for training at Maxwell Air Force Base. ... Biggs Army Airfield (IATA: BIF, ICAO: KBIF), also known as Biggs AAF, is a military airport located at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, USA. The airfield was previously Biggs Air Force Base, a Strategic Air Command installation, between 1947 and 1966. ... Nickname: Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: County El Paso County Government - Mayor John Cook Area - City 250. ... The Boeing B-50 Superfortress was basically a post-World War II revision of the wartime B-29 Superfortress with new, more powerful 3,500-HP Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines, a taller vertical stabilizer, and numerous detail improvements. ...

Campaigns

World War II: Asia Campaign Ribbon This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

History of the 509th Operations Group

The group was redesignated 509th Operations Group on March 12, 1993, and activated on July 15 as the flying component of the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. The 509th is equipped with all 21 of the USAF's active B-2 Spirit bombers and its 394th CTS also uses T-38 Talon trainers. Image File history File links Wing_0509th_Bomb. ... July 15 is the 196th day (197th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 169 days remaining. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... ACC bases and deploments The Air Combat Command (ACC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force whose mission is to provide air combat forces (mostly aircraft), to other commands, including both commands within the Air Force as well as the United States Unified Combatant Commands that... Location of Whiteman AFB, Missouri. ... Official language(s) English Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City Largest metro area St. ... March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (72nd in leap years). ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... July 15 is the 196th day (197th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 169 days remaining. ... The 509th Bomb Wing (509 BW) operates and maintains the United States Air Forces premier weapon system, the B-2 Bomber, and is based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. ... Location of Whiteman AFB, Missouri. ... Official language(s) English Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City Largest metro area St. ... The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth bomber able to drop conventional and nuclear weapons. ... The Northrop T-38 Talon is a widely used US-built supersonic jet trainer. ...

Organization

August 27 is the 239th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (240th in leap years), with 126 days remaining. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 359 days (360 in leap years) remaining. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... ACC bases and deploments The Air Combat Command (ACC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force whose mission is to provide air combat forces (mostly aircraft), to other commands, including both commands within the Air Force as well as the United States Unified Combatant Commands that... September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Boeing IDS (formerly Rockwell) B-1B Lancer is a long-range strategic bomber in service with the USAF. Together with the B-52 Stratofortress, it is the backbone of the United Statess long-range bomber force. ...

References

^ 509 CG Pictorial Album Commanding Officers. The Atomic Heritage Foundation. Retrieved on 5 May 2007.
^ ^a ^b 509th CG Official History. Air Force Historical Studies Office. Retrieved on 25 Jul 2006.
^ Hiroshima 60 Years Later. Review Journal Aug 6 2005. Retrieved on 26 Jul 2006.
^ 393rd Bomb Squadron. Air Force Historical Studies Office. Retrieved on 29 Jul 2006.
^ ^a ^b Silverplate: the Aircraft of the Manhattan Project. Cybermodeler.com. Retrieved on 29 Jul 2006.
^ ^a ^b ^c 509th Timeline: Inception to Hiroshima. The Atomic Heritage Foundation. Retrieved on 5 May 2007.
^ (2005) "Introduction: Organization of the 509th", in Robert & Amelia Krauss: The 509th Remembered: A History of the 509th Composite Group as Told by the Veterans Themselves. 509th Press, 1. ISBN 0-923568-66-2.
^ Krauss, op.cit.
^ Reflections From Above: An American pilot's perspective on the mission which dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. University of Washington. Retrieved on 30 Jul 2006.
^ Krauss op.cit.
^ Minutes of 3rd Target Committee Meeting 28 May 45. National Archives. Retrieved on 9 Aug 2006.
^ Richard H. Campbell (2005). "Chapter 2: Development and Production", The Silverplate Bombers: A History and Registry of the Enola Gay and Other B-29s Configured to Carry Atomic Bombs. McFarland & Company, Inc., 18. ISBN 0-7864-2139-8.
^ Campbell, p.195
^ Campbell, p.222 note 17
^ 509th CG Activation and Organization. The Atomic Heritage Foundation. Retrieved on 5 May 2007.
^ Campbell, p. 194,196
^ ibid. p.71
^ ibid. p.27
^ ibid. p.46
^ ibid. p. 40
^ Little Boy. The Atomic Heritage Foundation. Retrieved on 4 May 2007.
^ Campbell, p.40. The War Department memo "Transportation of Critical Shipments" listing all the movements is reproduced.
^ Richard Rhodes (1986). The Making of the Atomic Bomb. Simon & Schuster, p.691. ISBN 0-684-81378-5.
^ Campbell, p.41, reproduces the text of the order
^ Timeline #2- the 509th; The Hiroshima Mission. Atomic Heritage Foundation. Retrieved on 4 May 2007.
^ Campbell, p.32
^ Campbell, p. 195
^ ibid. p. 39
^ 509 Bomb Wing Organization. 509th Bomb Wing. Retrieved on 28 Jul 2006.

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Contents

Organization of the 509th Composite Group

Wartime command organization^[1]

Squadron commanders

Component support organizations

History of the 509th Composite Group

Organization and training

Equipment and crews

Operational history

Atomic Bomb Missions

Mission compositions

Post-World War II history

Campaigns

History of the 509th Operations Group

Organization

References

See also

Additional Sources

Contents

Organization of the 509th Composite Group GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Wartime command organization[1]

Squadron commanders

Component support organizations

History of the 509th Composite Group

Organization and training

Equipment and crews

Operational history

Atomic Bomb Missions

Mission compositions

Post-World War II history

Campaigns

History of the 509th Operations Group

Organization

References

See also

Additional Sources

Organization of the 509th Composite Group

Wartime command organization^[1]