Description
Signed first edition of The Tibbets Story by Paul W. Tibbets, with a personal inscription encouraging a new flight student.
Octavo, viii, 316pp. Blue hardcover, title in gilt on maroon cloth spine. “First published in 1978” on copyright page. Solid text block, a near fine example. In the publisher’s dust jacket, price-clipped, with light wear to corners and a few chips to spine. Inscribed on the front free endpaper: “Columbus, Ohio / 21 Dec, 1983 / For John — / student pilot; working on his private certificate – and I hope you keep it up and get an ATP – it’s work, but enjoyable all the way. Good luck and best personal regards. Paul W. Tibbets.”
Brigadier General Paul Tibbets (1915-2007) was the pilot of the B-29 Superfortress, known as the Enola Gay, which dropped the atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. He was accompanied by Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk (1921-2014), the navigator of the Enola Gay and last surviving member of the crew.
