Paul Tibbets is dead

PSP · November 1, 2007, 12:22 PM

A great man, a great leader and soldier, RIP.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...d=ajB9hKvdU3YI

CrazyIvan007 · November 1, 2007, 12:25 PM

Heard this on the radio this morning. Good for him leading such an enduring life and making such an impact on our world. His legend will live on, no doubt.

He wasn't a soldier though, he was a pilot.

Wildalaska · November 1, 2007, 12:55 PM

Trust me I heard all about it....

WildillbebegginformercylaterAlaska TM

TwoXForr · November 1, 2007, 01:08 PM

It is a shame he requested no funeral due to the fear of protestors.

JWT · November 1, 2007, 01:13 PM

He was quite a character in many respects.

The book "Enola Gay" gives a very good insight into the way he formed the unit that ended up dropping the two bombs. It shows how strong he was in his convictions and how regimented he was in the way he did things. A good read for anyone interested in the history of the dropping of the bombs.

He remained true to his convictions to the end. Very unfortunate that the political climate in this country is such that he wanted no funeral or marking of his grave out of concerns for demonstrations.

buzz_knox · November 1, 2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Very unfortunate that the political climate in this country is such that he wanted no funeral or marking of his grave out of concerns for demonstrations.

When it comes to Gen. Tibbets, the climate has been bad for decades. He's not apologetic concerning the use of nuclear weapons, and that made him a target of the "peace movement." If he'd passed away years ago, there would have been demonstrations. Given how the movement has "evolved," there'd probably be riots at the funeral now.

Manedwolf · November 1, 2007, 02:11 PM

If this country were still as it should be, he'd get an Arlington funeral with the last few remaining B-29's doing a fly-over, and a missing-man formation of other bombers.

The Enola Gay, at least, is beautifully restored and in the National Air and Space Museum, supposedly looking just as it did then with all the internal equipment in place, every panel of aluminum bright as a mirror.

Mannlicher · November 1, 2007, 02:11 PM

what a great American. Sad that the thread will be locked though.

OJ · November 1, 2007, 02:59 PM

CrazyIvan007 wrote: "Heard this on the radio this morning. Good for him leading such an enduring life and making such an impact on our world. His legend will live on, no doubt.

He wasn't a soldier though, he was a pilot."

HEY - we pilots were soldiers too - even the dictionary agrees.

MILITARY: somebody serving in army: somebody who serves in an army or other military service

Encarta® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

PSP · November 1, 2007, 03:49 PM

Quote:

A great man, a great leader and soldier, RIP.

I posted using the word "soldier" in the venacular sense however he was of course in the Army. Army folks are commonly refered to as soldiers. It is fitting and proper to call anyone egaged in a war a warrior...perhaps that is a better term.

I credit him with saving my dad's life, a soldier in the pacific theater.

Manedwolf · November 1, 2007, 04:00 PM

In WWII, there was no rescue and retrieval if a plane went down. The pilots and crew, as soon as they bailed out over enemy territory, became soldiers until they managed to fight or sneak their way back over borders into friendly territory.

Hence blood chits, carried foreign currency, and a 1911 that wasn't just for looks. Bailing out over Japan was a LOT more dangerous than over Germany or occupied Europe.

Put on civilian clothes and many white Americans could pass for Germans or citizens of occupied European nations and did...even getting tickets on trains out of hostile areas. In Japan, it was quite obvious who was a foreigner!

Tom2 · November 1, 2007, 04:56 PM

He was at a gun show in Columbus almost a year ago signing books. Got to see him and get a personalized book as a gift for someone, from him. Stood in line like 2+ hours for the honor to see him. But I could tell that he was not in the best health at that time and figured it might be his last book signing. He sold alot of books and is not forgotten. And the other atomic bomber is in Dayton, not far away, for anyone to see. No PC in that display as it is too far from the coasts.

kristop64089 · November 1, 2007, 07:09 PM

Godspeed Paul.

What a tumultuous position to be in. Could only imagine how much sleep was lost to nightmares.

As much as we may not like it, compassion and guilt are human nature.

I have nothing but the utmost respect for that man.

Harry Callahan · November 1, 2007, 07:39 PM

Amen. Paul, thanks for having the stones to do what you know you needed to do. You helped save untold numbers of our men and on behalf of a grateful nation I take my hat off to you. See you on the other side, my friend.

brj · November 1, 2007, 07:39 PM

Quote:

I credit him with saving my dad's life, a soldier in the pacific theater.

Same with my Dad, PSP...

**4V50 Gary** · November 1, 2007, 09:08 PM

Because of him and his crew (and the flight crew of Bock's Car, the B-29 that nuked Nagasaki), my Uncle Julius didn't have to fly over Japan. He was a radio operator on a B-17 and didn't figure he'd have much of a chance at all.

ELEMENT94 · November 1, 2007, 10:04 PM

Paul Tibbets saved far more Americans than the 80k (or what ever number is popular now) Japanese that the Bomb killed. In every war civilians are killed. That is the nature of War. As Sherman said "War is hell, and the worse it is, the sooner it will be over". A week later it was over. Paul Tibbets is one of the heroes of the 20th century. Period.

Wildalaska · November 1, 2007, 10:58 PM

I tried to tell SWMBO that he saved her family too.

She's not listening. O well the victors write the story, some folks dont have to beleive it

Wildbutheyits2007Alaska TM

PS

Quote:

Paul Tibbets is one of the heroes of the 20th century. Period.

Any one who sees combat on behalf of the US is a hero. Period

Rembrandt · November 1, 2007, 11:07 PM

For years our family only knew that my uncle was a B-29 navigator in the Pacific....a few years before his death he revealed at a family reunion what his role was during the war.

He was on one of the two photographic planes that flew the Hiroshima bomb run with the Enola Gay. Colonel Tibbets scared the hell out of every man in the group....they were all threatened with jail and courtmartials for any leaking of the mission not only during the war but for years after they returned to private life. Years after the mission the details remained highly classified.

My uncle stated none of them figured they would return from the mission, it was considered a suicide mission since no one knew what effect the blast would have on the planes. All wrote final letters and made their peace before taking off. He had the highest regard for Tibbets leadership ability and toughness.

schutzen · November 1, 2007, 11:19 PM

General Tibbets was a soldier. He was a Colonel in the United States Army Air Force (USAAF). Prior to 1947 all flyers were soldiers. My father and my father-in-law were two of those flyer soldiers that Col. Tibbets saved; they were both enroute to the South Pacific in August 1945. I was very fortunate to met General Tibbets at a gun show in Louisville KY. I had my sons with me and it is a day we will all remember.

Thunderhawk88 · November 1, 2007, 11:57 PM

Godspeed General, we need more like you!

TheLastBoyScout · November 2, 2007, 11:14 AM

My grandfather's division was only in the invasion plans for the first 3 days.

They figured that by D+4 they'd be 90% attrited. The Bomb saved my family.

Kreyzhorse · November 2, 2007, 10:37 PM

Mr. Tibbets is an American hero equal to Franklin, Adams, Washington and Lincoln.

I was deeply saddened when I read that he did not wish to have a marker out of fear that anti-war protestors would use it as a rally point.

Wildalaska · November 3, 2007, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Mr. Tibbets is an American hero equal to Franklin, Adams, Washington and Lincoln.

Lets not go overboard here.

WildcomeonnowAlaska TM

Toolman · November 3, 2007, 07:12 AM

There is another good book about Gen Paul Tibbets called 'Duty'.

November 1, 2007, 12:22 PM	#1
PSP Senior Member Join Date: June 2, 2006 Location: Bowling Green Virginia Posts: 4,496	Paul Tibbets is dead A great man, a great leader and soldier, RIP. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...d=ajB9hKvdU3YI

November 1, 2007, 02:11 PM	#8
Mannlicher Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2001 Location: North Central Florida & Miami Posts: 3,239	what a great American. Sad that the thread will be locked though. __________________ Nemo Me Impune Lacesset "The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.".........Ronald Reagan

November 1, 2007, 02:59 PM	#9
OJ Senior Member Join Date: December 25, 1998 Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, USA Posts: 1,570	CrazyIvan007 wrote: "Heard this on the radio this morning. Good for him leading such an enduring life and making such an impact on our world. His legend will live on, no doubt. He wasn't a soldier though, he was a pilot." HEY - we pilots were soldiers too - even the dictionary agrees. MILITARY: somebody serving in army: somebody who serves in an army or other military service Encarta® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. Last edited by OJ; November 2, 2007 at 12:39 AM.

November 1, 2007, 09:08 PM	#16
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 22,304	RIP General Tibbets Because of him and his crew (and the flight crew of Bock's Car, the B-29 that nuked Nagasaki), my Uncle Julius didn't have to fly over Japan. He was a radio operator on a B-17 and didn't figure he'd have much of a chance at all. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

November 2, 2007, 10:37 PM	#23
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,464	Mr. Tibbets is an American hero equal to Franklin, Adams, Washington and Lincoln. I was deeply saddened when I read that he did not wish to have a marker out of fear that anti-war protestors would use it as a rally point. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

November 1, 2007, 12:25 PM	#2
CrazyIvan007 Senior Member Join Date: September 14, 2007 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 618	Heard this on the radio this morning. Good for him leading such an enduring life and making such an impact on our world. His legend will live on, no doubt. He wasn't a soldier though, he was a pilot.

November 1, 2007, 12:55 PM	#3
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,171	Trust me I heard all about it.... WildillbebegginformercylaterAlaska TM

November 1, 2007, 01:08 PM	#4
TwoXForr Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2007 Location: PA Posts: 464	It is a shame he requested no funeral due to the fear of protestors.

November 1, 2007, 01:13 PM	#5
JWT Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2007 Location: Southern Arizona Posts: 3,888	He was quite a character in many respects. The book "Enola Gay" gives a very good insight into the way he formed the unit that ended up dropping the two bombs. It shows how strong he was in his convictions and how regimented he was in the way he did things. A good read for anyone interested in the history of the dropping of the bombs. He remained true to his convictions to the end. Very unfortunate that the political climate in this country is such that he wanted no funeral or marking of his grave out of concerns for demonstrations.

November 1, 2007, 02:11 PM	#7
Manedwolf Junior member Join Date: May 28, 2007 Posts: 3,266	If this country were still as it should be, he'd get an Arlington funeral with the last few remaining B-29's doing a fly-over, and a missing-man formation of other bombers. The Enola Gay, at least, is beautifully restored and in the National Air and Space Museum, supposedly looking just as it did then with all the internal equipment in place, every panel of aluminum bright as a mirror.

November 1, 2007, 04:00 PM	#11
Manedwolf Junior member Join Date: May 28, 2007 Posts: 3,266	In WWII, there was no rescue and retrieval if a plane went down. The pilots and crew, as soon as they bailed out over enemy territory, became soldiers until they managed to fight or sneak their way back over borders into friendly territory. Hence blood chits, carried foreign currency, and a 1911 that wasn't just for looks. Bailing out over Japan was a LOT more dangerous than over Germany or occupied Europe. Put on civilian clothes and many white Americans could pass for Germans or citizens of occupied European nations and did...even getting tickets on trains out of hostile areas. In Japan, it was quite obvious who was a foreigner!

November 1, 2007, 04:56 PM	#12
Tom2 Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,676	He was at a gun show in Columbus almost a year ago signing books. Got to see him and get a personalized book as a gift for someone, from him. Stood in line like 2+ hours for the honor to see him. But I could tell that he was not in the best health at that time and figured it might be his last book signing. He sold alot of books and is not forgotten. And the other atomic bomber is in Dayton, not far away, for anyone to see. No PC in that display as it is too far from the coasts.

November 1, 2007, 07:39 PM	#14
Harry Callahan Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2006 Location: Chicago suburbs Posts: 832	Amen. Paul, thanks for having the stones to do what you know you needed to do. You helped save untold numbers of our men and on behalf of a grateful nation I take my hat off to you. See you on the other side, my friend.

November 1, 2007, 10:04 PM	#17
ELEMENT94 Member Join Date: October 12, 2007 Posts: 15	Paul Tibbets saved far more Americans than the 80k (or what ever number is popular now) Japanese that the Bomb killed. In every war civilians are killed. That is the nature of War. As Sherman said "War is hell, and the worse it is, the sooner it will be over". A week later it was over. Paul Tibbets is one of the heroes of the 20th century. Period.

November 1, 2007, 11:07 PM	#19
Rembrandt Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2002 Posts: 2,108	For years our family only knew that my uncle was a B-29 navigator in the Pacific....a few years before his death he revealed at a family reunion what his role was during the war. He was on one of the two photographic planes that flew the Hiroshima bomb run with the Enola Gay. Colonel Tibbets scared the hell out of every man in the group....they were all threatened with jail and courtmartials for any leaking of the mission not only during the war but for years after they returned to private life. Years after the mission the details remained highly classified. My uncle stated none of them figured they would return from the mission, it was considered a suicide mission since no one knew what effect the blast would have on the planes. All wrote final letters and made their peace before taking off. He had the highest regard for Tibbets leadership ability and toughness.

November 1, 2007, 11:19 PM	#20
schutzen Member Join Date: January 5, 2006 Location: Far Western Kentucky Posts: 78	General Tibbets was a soldier. He was a Colonel in the United States Army Air Force (USAAF). Prior to 1947 all flyers were soldiers. My father and my father-in-law were two of those flyer soldiers that Col. Tibbets saved; they were both enroute to the South Pacific in August 1945. I was very fortunate to met General Tibbets at a gun show in Louisville KY. I had my sons with me and it is a day we will all remember.

November 1, 2007, 11:57 PM	#21
Thunderhawk88 Junior member Join Date: January 15, 2007 Location: So. California, Desert style. Posts: 745	Godspeed General, we need more like you!

November 2, 2007, 11:14 AM	#22
TheLastBoyScout Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2002 Location: SE Pennsylvaina.. too damn close to philly Posts: 139	My grandfather's division was only in the invasion plans for the first 3 days. They figured that by D+4 they'd be 90% attrited. The Bomb saved my family.

November 3, 2007, 07:12 AM	#25
Toolman Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 514	There is another good book about Gen Paul Tibbets called 'Duty'.