Enola Gay.

THOMAS, Gordon and Max Morgan Witts. [Theodore Jerome "Dutch" Van Kirk].

Item Number: 139454

New York: Stein and Day, 1977.

First edition of the authors’ gripping account of the bombing of Hiroshima, revealed from firsthand sources. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with 22 pages of photos and four maps. Signed and inscribed by the navigator of the Enola Gay, Theodore Jerome “Dutch” Van Kirk on the front free endpaper, “Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk Navigator – Enola Gay Hiroshima 6 Aug 1954″ Van Kirk has added an original drawing and diagram of the atomic bomb exploding over Hiroshima and the Enola Gay which he has annotated, “First Atomic Bomb Explodes 1900 ft over Hiroshima 6 Aug 1945.” Additionally inscribed by Van Kirk opposite the half-title page, “After 65 years most people do not remember why we dropped the atomic weapon. We dropped the bomb in order to destroy numerous facilities in Hiroshima and Nagasaki & to destroy the Japanese “will to fight” to end the war and stop the killing… Major Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk Navigator Enola Gay Hiroshima – 6 Aug 1945.” America aviator Theodore Van Kirk is best known as the navigator of the Enola Gay. Upon the death of fellow crewman Morris Jeppson on March 30, 2010, Van Kirk became the last surviving member of the Enola Gay crew. Near fine in a fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Bob Anthony.

Although it was quite possibly the most important event of World War II, the story of the bombing of Hiroshima, the momentous flight into the future of the B-29 Enola Gay, has never before been revealed from firsthand sources. Here, then, is a reading experience that separates the myth from reality as the award-winning writers retrace the steps that led the world into the atomic age. "This will be the most authentic Hiroshima book ever. It is objective, calm, restrained and yet deeply humane. This is the kind of book we have all been hoping for on this subject" (Sen Matsuda).