USAAF
20th AF
1945
Justin Taylan 2000
Pilot Major Charles W. Sweeney
Co-Pilot Fred Olivi (Chicago, IL)
Aircraft History
Tail Number 89.
Mission History
On August 9, 1945 this B-29 took off from North
Field Airstrip on Tinian Island at 0230 hours. It is followed
by 2 observation B-29s: The GREAT ARTISTE piloted by Captain Frederick C Bock
(who has exchanged planes with Sweeney for the mission) and another B-29 piloted
by Major James I Hopkins (who loses contact with the other 2 B-29s); the primary
target, Kokura, is obscured by bad weather; the attack is made against the
secondary target, Nagasaki. The bomb, dropped from 28,900 feet (8,809 meters)
at 1158 hours (1058 hours Nagasaki time), explodes about a minute after release.
Japanese reports claim nearly 24,000 killed; US figures estimate about 35,000.
The attacking B-29s refuel on Okinawa, and return to Tinian by 2339 hours.
Post War
Converted to Silverplate Victor number 77. Attached to 509th Compsoite Gp, Roswell, NM: Davis-Monthan to CL-32 (Museum) September 11, 1946.
Display
The aircraft was donated to the USAF Museum in September
1961. It is currently on static display in the WWII aviation hanger, with
a replica atomic bomb.
B-29
