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Last Surviving Crew Member That Bombed Hiroshima Dies |
2014-07-30 |
The last surviving member of the US air crew that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima has died in Georgia aged 93. Theodore Van Kirk, also known as "Dutch", was 24 when he became the navigator of the Enola Gay, the aircraft which dropped the bomb. The attack on Japan on 6 August 1945 killed an estimated 140,000 people. Van Kirk said he had "no regrets" about the mission and defended its morality, saying it helped to end the Second World War. His son, Tom Van Kirk, paid tribute to his father, who he said remained active until the end of his life. "I know he was recognized as a war hero, but we just knew him as a great father", he told AP. Mr Van Kirk died of natural causes at the retirement home where he lived, his son said. He had been the last surviving member of the Enola Gay crew since 2010 when Morris Jeppson, the assistant weaponeer, died. His funeral is expected to take place next week in Pennsylvania. |
Posted by:Thineng Angailet7166 |
#7 There are still the freedom-loving and brave. Some gave all. 2014 MOH Convention-Knoxville 2014. |
Posted by: JohnQC 2014-07-30 11:19 |
#6 Many years ago, I met Mr. Van Kirk (along with Paul Tibbets and Robert Ferebee) and had a chance to talk with them at length about the technical aspects of the mission. Mr. Van Kirk was a very pleasant man who had no qualms about the mission he was tasked to carry out. I hope we still have a few left like him. Mike |
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2014-07-30 10:47 |
#5 Here's a toast... |
Posted by: Lowspark 2014-07-30 10:09 |
#4 Yes, we've sort of been trust fund babies to their efforts. |
Posted by: Procopius2k 2014-07-30 09:04 |
#3 Greatest Generation for a damn good reason. My generation is a pail imitation. I feel like I should apologize each time I read or hear about deeds of men like "Dutch". |
Posted by: Charles 2014-07-30 08:49 |
#2 As you say, in this and so many other endeavors, we couldn't do it again. |
Posted by: Skidmark 2014-07-30 06:32 |
#1 RIP, Dutch. The passing of each clear-headed WWII vet actually hits me pretty hard. The "practical intelligence" of the American people WRT world affairs arguably reached its zenith in that war and its immediate aftermatch. Now? I wonder if any of the "Bock's Car" crew are still alive. The mission that ended up bombing Nagasaki is sort of an amazing tale. And I've always loved how the procedure for arming Little Boy, after being worked out (like everything else connected to these amazing weapons) in finite detail over months, was completely switched at the last minute (arm in the air, not on the ground). |
Posted by: Verlaine 2014-07-30 01:07 |