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Last survivor of Enola Gay aircrew that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima dies aged 93 Last survivor of Enola Gay aircrew that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima dies aged 93
(35 minutes later)
The last surviving member of the crew that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima has died in aged 93.The last surviving member of the crew that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima has died in aged 93.
Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk died on Monday at the retirement home where he lived in Stone Mountain, Georgia, his son Tom Van Kirk said.Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk died on Monday at the retirement home where he lived in Stone Mountain, Georgia, his son Tom Van Kirk said.
He flew as navigator on the Enola Gay, the B-29 Superfortress that dropped the first atomic bomb deployed in wartime over the Japanese city of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. The blast and its after-effects killed 140,000.He flew as navigator on the Enola Gay, the B-29 Superfortress that dropped the first atomic bomb deployed in wartime over the Japanese city of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. The blast and its after-effects killed 140,000.
Three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. That blast and its aftermath claimed 80,000 lives. Six days after the Nagasaki bombing, Japan surrendered. “I honestly believe the use of the bomb saved lives in the long run,” Mr Van Kirk said in a 2005. “There were a lot of lives saved. Most of the lives saved were Japanese.”Three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. That blast and its aftermath claimed 80,000 lives. Six days after the Nagasaki bombing, Japan surrendered. “I honestly believe the use of the bomb saved lives in the long run,” Mr Van Kirk said in a 2005. “There were a lot of lives saved. Most of the lives saved were Japanese.”
But he added: “Atomic weapons don’t settle anything. I personally think there shouldn’t be any atomic bombs in the world – I’d like to see them all abolished.”But he added: “Atomic weapons don’t settle anything. I personally think there shouldn’t be any atomic bombs in the world – I’d like to see them all abolished.”
Recalling his fateful mission, Mr Van Kirk said that as the 9,000lb (4,000kg) bomb fell towards the sleeping city, he and his crewmates did not know whether it would actually work and, if it did, whether its shockwaves would destroy their aircraft. The B-29 bomber 'Enola Gay' in Japan, after bombing Hiroshima (Getty) Recalling his fateful mission, Mr Van Kirk said that as the 9,000lb (4,000kg) bomb fell towards the sleeping city, he and his crewmates did not know whether it would actually work and, if it did, whether its shockwaves would destroy their aircraft.
They counted the 43 seconds they’d been told it would take to detonate, and heard nothing. “I think everybody in the plane concluded it was a dud. It seemed a lot longer than 43 seconds,” he said.They counted the 43 seconds they’d been told it would take to detonate, and heard nothing. “I think everybody in the plane concluded it was a dud. It seemed a lot longer than 43 seconds,” he said.
A funeral service will take place next week in his home town of Northumberland, Pennsylvania. He will be buried there next to his wife, who died in 1975.A funeral service will take place next week in his home town of Northumberland, Pennsylvania. He will be buried there next to his wife, who died in 1975.
APAP