Dutch Van Kirk and Russell E. Gackenbach Signed Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Cloud Photograph.

VAN KIRK, Dutch and Russell E. Gackenbach.

Item Number: 133038

Black and white photograph of the the mushroom cloud that rose over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 after the Enola Gay launched the first atomic bomb attack in world history. Satin finish, inscribed by Dutch Van Kirk, “Dutch Van Kirk, Navigator – Enola Gay, Hiroshima – 6 Aug 1945” and by Russell E. Gackenbach, “Photo taken by Russell E. Gackenbach, Navigator – Photographic, Plane V-91 Hiroshima, 6 August 1945, Russell Gackenbach.” In fine condition. The photograph measures 10 inches by 8 inches. A unique photograph of the historic event, rare and desirable signed by the photographer and navigator of the Enola Gay.

On August 6, 1945, piloted by Paul Tibbets and Robert A. Lewis during the final stages of World War II, the Enola Gay became the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb in warfare. The bomb, code-named "Little Boy", was targeted at the city of Hiroshima, Japan, and caused the destruction of about three quarters of the city. Enola Gay took off from North Field, in the Northern Mariana Islands, about six hours' flight time from Japan, accompanied by two other B-29s, The Great Artiste, carrying instrumentation, and a then-nameless aircraft later called Necessary Evil, commanded by Captain George Marquardt, to take photographs. The director of the Manhattan Project, Major General Leslie R. Groves Jr., wanted the event recorded for posterity, so the takeoff was illuminated by floodlights. The release at 08:15 (Hiroshima time) went as planned, and the Little Boy took 53 seconds to fall from the aircraft flying at 31,060 feet to the predetermined detonation height about 1,968 feet above the city. Enola Gay traveled 11.5 miles before it felt the shock waves from the blast. Enola Gay returned safely to its base on Tinian to great fanfare, touching down at 2:58 pm, after 12 hours 13 minutes. The Great Artiste and Necessary Evil followed at short intervals. Several hundred people, including journalists and photographers, had gathered to watch the planes return. Tibbets was the first to disembark, and was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross on the spot.