December 10, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2019
Group of four holograph letters and typescript from the crew of the Enola Gay discussing the bombing and its aftermath in response to questions from Lee Kramer. Consists of: (A) Scarce autographed letter signed by pilot Paul Tibbets, Columbus, Ohio, September 18, 1981 responding to several questions, writing, in part: "... I knew about the BOMB and what it was going to do as early as September 1944, - I was ASSIGNED the job -- I have seen the film ENOLA GAY and have said it was at least 85% accurate.-- Having been born in this country and raised to respect it and our flag - I am proud of the fact that I was able to play a role in the events that led to the ending of the war and the loss of American lives..."; (B) Enola Gay's navigator, Theodore J. Van Kirk's two page letter dated Oct 8, 1981 to the same correspondent, and writes, in part: "...Tibbett's [sic] of course knew from the start about the mission. Ferebee and I knew several months in advance. Some of the crew members - the majority didn't know until several days or hours before take-off. I did not volunteer but believe I could have 'backed-out' if I wanted to. I saw the film 'Enola Gay.' I[t] was not an accurate account of what happened. In fact it was highly inaccurate... The role of Jake Bezer as an electronic countermeasure crew member was played up out of all proportion to reality, etc. There were so many things wrong that I don't have time to write them all. At this point in time - 60 years old. -- I have little feeling about my role. I feel that my combat duty over Germany in the early part of the war was more memorable to me than the atomic bomb. I am sorry the discussion of should we or should we not have dropped the bomb continues. The answer is obvious - the decision was correct. In your studies or discussions about use of the bomb, put it into the perspective of the Total war of 1941-45,-- and not the perspective of the partial war of Viet Nam... It was a total war effort... In this context the use of the bomb was justified..."; (C) One page letter from radar specialist Jacob Beser dated Sept. 21, 1981 "...A special mission - yes, everyone was aware .. we were all told what to expect...Yes, I saw the movie - I worked with the script writer and I spent time with Billy Crystal who played me. The script was 80-90% correct, and try as we did, you can't keep Hollywood out..."; (D) Autographed letter from co-pilot Robert A. Lewis dated Sept. 25, 1981, in part: "...We were all aware of what the bomb was supposed to do - no one really knew,....The film 'Enola Gay' there was almost no accuracy to it - written and produced in Hollywood. The first victim of war is Truth..., ". (E) Tail gunner, George Caron, his signature on the first page of a 39 page typescript of an interview conducted by the United States Air Force Academy Oral History Program. CONDITION: Excellent.
Condition: (Excellent).