(1915-2007) Aviator and the Most Famous Bomber Pilot of WW II. Joined the Army Air Corps in 1937 and in Febuary 1938 received his wings. In Feb. 1942 Tibbets was named Commander of the 19th Bomb Group, going to Europe in June 1942. Tibbets led the first B-17 bombing raid over occupied Europe and in October 1942 flew Mark Clark to a secret meeting in Gibraltar where plans for the North African invasion were made. Led the first heavy Allied bombing raid in support of the North African Invasion, and remained in the African Theater until early 1943 when he returned to the U.S. to work on the B-29 Program. In 1944 he was chosen to lead the first Atomic Strike Force and was given the responsibility of recruiting, organizing and training the personnel who would ultimately drop the Atomic Bomb. On Aug. 6th, 1945 he piloted the modified B-29 Enola Gay that dropped the first Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. In 1946 he participated in the Bikini Bomb Tests as a Technical Advisor. He helped convince the Air Force to purchase the B-47 and served as its Test Pilot. Tibbets went on to command two Strategic Air Command¿s bomber organizations and was responsible for establishing the National Military Command Center at the Pentagon. In 1966 Tibbets left the Air Force with the rank of Brigadier General. His story was told in the 1950s film Above and Beyond and he is the author of several books on the history of the Atomic Bomb program and his mission. Later in life he continued to fly transport and flew almost until the end of his life. His decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart, Legion of Merit, etc. Tibbets toured air shows with other members of the Enola Gay crew but this came to an end due to Tibbets¿ womanizing. He and Lucy Tibbets divorced but at times lived together. He also was regularly interviewed for a number of articles and several documentaries. He never regretted his dropping of the bomb which saved as many as a million Allied lives and untold Japanese. SIGNED PHOTO, 8x10 picturing Ti bbets in front of the Enola Gay. Tibbets is pictured in his dress uniform.

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