Tibbets executed a diving turn to avoid the blast effects, but the Enola Gay was buffeted by a pair of shock waves. His navigating skills had brought the Enola Gay to its target only a few seconds behind schedule at the conclusion of a 6½-hour flight.įerebee released the bomb, known as Little Boy, and 43 seconds later, at 1890 feet above ground zero, it exploded in a nuclear inferno, leaving tens of thousands dead or dying and turning Hiroshima into scorched devastation. Van Kirk, who had also familiarised himself with Hiroshima's landmarks, leaned over Ferebee's shoulder and confirmed he was correct. The bombardier, Major Thomas Ferebee, said, 'I got it,' announcing that the Enola Gay was over his aiming point, the T-shaped Aioi Bridge. At 8.15 am Japan time, it reached Hiroshima, a city of 250,000 and the site of an important army headquarters. When the Enola Gay reached Iwo Jima as the sun rose, it began an ascent to 31,000 feet. Theodore Van Kirk, navigator of the Enola Gay, pictured here in 2010.
