Enola Gay Crew

Good Sunday Morning to you all. Atomic Week is being extended for another week. It is a topic I am really interested in, and one with a lot of good pictures. 

Last week we looked at pictures from the Manhattan project, and pictures through the explosion of the "Gadget" at the trinity site. With the successful test of the first atomic bomb, they were ready to use one for real, in an attempt to end the war in the pacific, and avoid an invasion of the Japanese Mainland.

A crew was chosen to drop the first bomb on Hiroshima. The crew is pictured above in front of the mission plane . . . the Enola Gay, which was named after the pilot's mom.

In the late 90's, I had a chance to meet Paul Tibbets and the other living members of the crew. It was a great experience. They appeared to have all come to grips with their unique role in history. In talking to them, none appeared to doubt the importance or necessity of the job they had done. They did not appear to be haunted by the lives lost in that expedition. At the same time, they did appear to be tired. I got the impression that they were tired of being known for that one event in their lives.

DOMESTIC UPDATE:

OK, I know I have been delinquent in posting Domestic Updates, and don't even know if Roger still reads the blog, out of frustration over lack of updates. The truth is that I have been really busy over the last three months. This will be the last full week of school, then finals, and then I will be out for the summer. I promise to do a better job keeping you informed on events in Chickie Town with school letting out.

For today, I have an update on the Lovely EAM.

I am pleased to announce that EAM has just completed her Nursing degree, and has been pinned as an RN. She was at the top of her class, and will make an excellent nurse. While most of her classmates are out landing lucrative jobs, EAM wants to work for a year or so on the Mission Field. Her primary interest right now is either Nepal or East Africa. 

I am learning that when you are a missionary you do not get paid, and at best get your nominal living expenses covered. I had sort of hoped that she would go out and get a high paying job, and perhaps purchase a fine Breitling Limited Edition SR71 Blackbird Chronograph Watch for her father as a token of her appreciation for the countless tuition checks, books, gas, food, insurance, and various other fees paid during her education.  I am watching my dreams of the Blackbird crumble, as she apparently places a higher priority on caring for dying orphans in Africa. So, my dreams of the Breitling Blackbird must be put on hold for now.