Customer Reviews

Enola Gay

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This well-written book covers different points of view. It tells the personal stories of selected Japanese such as the mayor of Hiroshima, who was finding it increasingly difficult to keep his forbidden anti-war sentiments quiet. It shares the daily lives of the men who became the 509th Composite Group, and how they were the target of harassment on Tinian Island by other American soldiers jealous of how the secretive 509th got the best of everything. Insights from the Manhattan Project and the Trinity test on July 16, 1945 are included. Paul Tibbets is (correctly) portrayed as a determined glory-grabber who stopped at nothing to elbow his way into the history books.

There are many (now declassified) details I never heard anywhere else: the other planes that went along on the mission, the preliminary missions, Mao Tse-Tung's role, the inadvertent release of a 9000-pound practice bomb that narrowly missed a California desert town, the decision makers who selected Japanese cities as candidates for bombing, and much more.

In 1944 Air Force pilot Colonel Paul Tibbetts was approached by General Leslie Groves about assembling a unit for a super secret mission with possibilities of ending the war. He was given no guarantees for his personal safety or that it would even happen, only that if it worked he would be a hero, and if not he was on his own. He assembled his unit, which eventually became known as the 509th Composite, with men he knew and trusted and set up training in Wendover, a forsaken desert spot on the Utah/Nevada border, a place he deemed perfect because his men would hate it. While he knew some particulars about the Manhattan Project and the atomic bomb, none of his men were given any information. This book follows the progress of the project mostly from the point of view of those involved with Col. Tibbetts as well as a number of Japanese individuals in Hiroshima through the dropping of the bomb from the B-29 Enola Gay, with some brief details of the men's lives after the war. Also included is some information on FDR and Truman and their early involvement.

This book tries very hard to keep an objective view of the events which ended the war with Japan and avoids vilifying anyone. It presents the facts and recollections of those involved giving a good idea of what it was like at the time and some insights into the various personalities. It's an engrossing and easy read and the build up to the bomb is exciting and tense. Unfortunately, it falters at that point and the mission and aftermath are treated only in the lightest manner and details are few, making it feel somewhat anti-climatic. Nonetheless, an excellent book I highly recommend for those interested. There are a number of photos, but mostly just of the various individuals involved. The maps included, however, are very useful. About as good as the more recent and limited "Shockwave: Countdown to Hiroshima," which gives a good overall picture of most of those involved (particularly the scientists), but is more focused on the time from the first test to the use of the bomb and it's effects.

I READ "ENOLA GAY" SHORTLY AFTER AFTER IT'S PUBLICATION IN 1977,AND THE YEARS HAVEN'T LESSENED THE IMPACT OF IT'S MESSAGE,ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF CURRENT EVENTS.....BRAVE,RESOLUTE PEOPLE,STRIVING TO DO MIGHTY THINGS,CAN ACCOMPLISH THEM(IN THIS CASE,FINALLY ENDING A LONG,BLOODY WAR)THE BOOK PORTRAYS THE HUMANITY OF THE PEOPLE ON BOTH THE AMERICAN AND JAPANESE SIDES,WHILE ALSO SHOWING THE DEVOTION TO DUTY AND HONOR THAT BOTH POSESSED IN LARGE QUANTITIES IN WW2.MANY PEOPLE HAVE CRITICIZED HARRY TRUMAN,COL.TIBBETS AND HIS CREW FOR DROPPING THE BOMB,BUT THIS BOOK SHOWS THEIR ACTION TO BE JUSTIFIED.THOMAS AND WITT'S BOOK IS A FINE TRIBUTE TO BOTH NATIONS,AS THEY FINALLY ENDED THEIR LONG STRUGGLE AND BECAME ALLIES.

I am a 72-year-old former Marine and just read this book this week. August, 2010. I had known about the bomb all my life and always approved of its use. However, I had an urge to learn more about it.

This book is very compelling and very well written. You can't put it down. I read it in about three sittings. Had to quit each time only because it was late at night. I would like to find more books that are so good and entertaining.

The guys on the 509th squadron were truly outstanding. Col. Tibbets was one of the best soldiers in the war.

I remember the Nagasaki bomb from when I was 7 years old. There was a radio broadcast in which we heard the blast.

If you want to enjoy a good read, this is it. Whether you are a gung ho Marine like me or a pacifist. It will educate you.

An old book on an old subject. Definitely worth reading if you are curious about WWII and the atomic bomb, or a fan of aviation in general.

Great Book, very detailed. I love it. I will read it again sometime soon.

I read this book in a matter of days, the story was compelling and I had a hard time putting the book down.

That said, I felt that it only scratched the surface in covering the men involved. It seemed that there was much more to pilot Lewis and Tibbits animosity towards each other...and yet it was only lightly covered. With as much in depth interviews as were performed, it seemed a bit more on the people could have only enhanced an otherwise excellent book.