Post-Hiroshima Color Photo of the Enola Gay at Tinian Island

A color photograph, 10.75" x 8", no place, dated circa August 6, 1945. A spectacular photograph of the "Enola Gay" plane sitting on the runway on Tinian Island. Signed by two crew members, "Col. Paul W. Tibbets/PILOT-ENOLA GAY/8-6-45" and "George R. Caron/TAIL GUNNER" in blue and black ink. Stamped on verso JFF Company Inc., Madeira Beach, Florida. Accompanied with a handwritten caption on verso, in green ink, reading: "Close-up photo of the Enola Gay at Tinian-private property of George Caron-taken by Caron after Hiroshima (9/45)." The photograph has an uneven left edge. Boldly signed by both men.

Paul Tibbets (1915-2007) piloted the “Enola Gay,” the B29 Superfortress he named after his mother, that dropped the first atomic bomb used in war on Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945. Technical Sergeant George Caron (1919-1995) was the plane's tail gunner, and as his position faced the rear of the plane, Caron was the first to witness the mushroom cloud over Hiroshima. A second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki three days later. On the afternoon of August 15th (August 14th in the USA), Japan finally surrendered.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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