Cockpit of the Enola Gay
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Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
I wonder if the Pilot carried his own cushion with him??
One of the true pieces of war machinery that really won the war. Tom.
I wonder if the Pilot carried his own cushion with him??
One of the true pieces of war machinery that really won the war. Tom.
Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kmussack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Finding Japan wasn't done from the cockpit/flight-deck.......
The navigator was elsewhere. </div></div>
You think the navigator station was "better" than that????
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kmussack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Finding Japan wasn't done from the cockpit/flight-deck.......
The navigator was elsewhere. </div></div>
You think the navigator station was "better" than that????
Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: maxpower220</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kmussack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Finding Japan wasn't done from the cockpit/flight-deck.......
The navigator was elsewhere. </div></div>
You think the navigator station was "better" than that???? </div></div>He's the last one still around, so I guess you can ask him.
http://www.enolagay509th.com/vankirk.htm
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: maxpower220</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kmussack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Finding Japan wasn't done from the cockpit/flight-deck.......
The navigator was elsewhere. </div></div>
You think the navigator station was "better" than that???? </div></div>He's the last one still around, so I guess you can ask him.
http://www.enolagay509th.com/vankirk.htm
Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGGHEAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wonder if the Pilot carried his own cushion with him??</div></div>
They sat on their parachutes...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGGHEAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wonder if the Pilot carried his own cushion with him??</div></div>
They sat on their parachutes...
Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
Not sure whether they were sitting on them but the backrests on those seats do appear to be "hollowed out" for a back parachute.
In any case, the pilot's seat did once have a cushion on it. It was put there by Gen. Paul Tibbets (USAF, ret.), who sometimes would drop by and was allowed to sit at his old station. That cushion reportedly was the only item on the airplane that wasn't exactly as it was on 6 Aug., 1945. I guess they removed it on the occasion of his death.
Not sure whether they were sitting on them but the backrests on those seats do appear to be "hollowed out" for a back parachute.
In any case, the pilot's seat did once have a cushion on it. It was put there by Gen. Paul Tibbets (USAF, ret.), who sometimes would drop by and was allowed to sit at his old station. That cushion reportedly was the only item on the airplane that wasn't exactly as it was on 6 Aug., 1945. I guess they removed it on the occasion of his death.
Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
Not sure about the B-29, but think the crews wore a parachute harness and only clipped on a reserve type parachute similar to a T-10 reserve when needed.
I got to stick my head inside and look around from the aft pressure bulkhead on this aircraft when the nose wass still unattached at the Garber Restoration facility. Probably just me, but it raised the hair on the back of my neck touching it. Very cool.
Not sure about the B-29, but think the crews wore a parachute harness and only clipped on a reserve type parachute similar to a T-10 reserve when needed.
I got to stick my head inside and look around from the aft pressure bulkhead on this aircraft when the nose wass still unattached at the Garber Restoration facility. Probably just me, but it raised the hair on the back of my neck touching it. Very cool.
G
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Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
I love these sorts of things.
I've been viewing 360s here for years.
http://www.panoramas.dk/
I love these sorts of things.
I've been viewing 360s here for years.
http://www.panoramas.dk/
Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
He's got a few more on their homepage.
Here's the bombardier's seat on the Enola Gay, and the gemini 7 space capsule .
He's got a few more on their homepage.
Here's the bombardier's seat on the Enola Gay, and the gemini 7 space capsule .
Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
I was lucky enough to visit/train on Tinian Island during a '93 deployment. Even saw the pit (now filled in) where the loaded the weapon on the plane and the remains of the fortified buildings/bunkers. Awesome experince.
I was lucky enough to visit/train on Tinian Island during a '93 deployment. Even saw the pit (now filled in) where the loaded the weapon on the plane and the remains of the fortified buildings/bunkers. Awesome experince.
Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kmussack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Finding Japan wasn't done from the cockpit/flight-deck.......
The navigator was elsewhere. </div></div>
My Grandfather knew the navigator of the Enola Gay.
+1, VERY cool to see, good find.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kmussack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Finding Japan wasn't done from the cockpit/flight-deck.......
The navigator was elsewhere. </div></div>
My Grandfather knew the navigator of the Enola Gay.
+1, VERY cool to see, good find.
Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
Someone please correct me on this. However I thought the Enola Gay had the improved version of the Norden bomb sight?? And I thought the improved version had a chin rest to assure the Bombardier's head was in a certain position to assure more accurate dropping of the bombs?? The one in the photo above does not appear to have that chin rest?? So I wonder if it is original or not?? Or did the Enola Gay not have the more modern version of the original Norden sight?? Maybe they didn't feel the need for the more advanced sight??
My uncle was a pilot in WWII on a Flying Fortress in Europe. He told me about advancements in the Norden bomb sight. So I was just wondering?? He said the first ones did not have a chin rest so they were not as accurate as more advanced models?? However please keep in mind this is a disussion I had with him over 30 yerars ago. He was a great man!! Tom.
Someone please correct me on this. However I thought the Enola Gay had the improved version of the Norden bomb sight?? And I thought the improved version had a chin rest to assure the Bombardier's head was in a certain position to assure more accurate dropping of the bombs?? The one in the photo above does not appear to have that chin rest?? So I wonder if it is original or not?? Or did the Enola Gay not have the more modern version of the original Norden sight?? Maybe they didn't feel the need for the more advanced sight??
My uncle was a pilot in WWII on a Flying Fortress in Europe. He told me about advancements in the Norden bomb sight. So I was just wondering?? He said the first ones did not have a chin rest so they were not as accurate as more advanced models?? However please keep in mind this is a disussion I had with him over 30 yerars ago. He was a great man!! Tom.
Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGGHEAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Someone please correct me on this. However I thought the Enola Gay had the improved version of the Norden bomb sight?? And I thought the improved version had a chin rest to assure the Bombardier's head was in a certain position to assure more accurate dropping of the bombs?? The one in the photo above does not appear to have that chin rest?? So I wonder if it is original or not?? Or did the Enola Gay not have the more modern version of the original Norden sight?? Maybe they didn't feel the need for the more advanced sight??
my uncle was a pilot in WWII on a Flying Fortress in Europe. He told me about advancements in the Norden bomb sight. So I was just wondering?? He said the first ones did not have a chin rest so they were not as accurate as more advanced models?? However please keep in mind this is a disussion I had with him over 30 yerars ago. He was a great man!! Tom.
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If I am not mistaken, I remember hearing that they replaced the nordens in the enola gay, with a sight one of the crew made (costed like $.36 or something)due to the logistics of dropping the nuke, the norden wasnt going to work. IIRC
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGGHEAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Someone please correct me on this. However I thought the Enola Gay had the improved version of the Norden bomb sight?? And I thought the improved version had a chin rest to assure the Bombardier's head was in a certain position to assure more accurate dropping of the bombs?? The one in the photo above does not appear to have that chin rest?? So I wonder if it is original or not?? Or did the Enola Gay not have the more modern version of the original Norden sight?? Maybe they didn't feel the need for the more advanced sight??
my uncle was a pilot in WWII on a Flying Fortress in Europe. He told me about advancements in the Norden bomb sight. So I was just wondering?? He said the first ones did not have a chin rest so they were not as accurate as more advanced models?? However please keep in mind this is a disussion I had with him over 30 yerars ago. He was a great man!! Tom.
</div></div>
If I am not mistaken, I remember hearing that they replaced the nordens in the enola gay, with a sight one of the crew made (costed like $.36 or something)due to the logistics of dropping the nuke, the norden wasnt going to work. IIRC
Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
If you look in the picture above you can clearly see the Norden bomb sight in the Bombardier's compartment. However it is not the model with the chin rest. That is what I was trying to figure out?? Maybe the chin rest was modifoed by the men, or by the Air Force, and not the manufacturer??
No big deal. I was just wondering if someone knew?? Tom.
If you look in the picture above you can clearly see the Norden bomb sight in the Bombardier's compartment. However it is not the model with the chin rest. That is what I was trying to figure out?? Maybe the chin rest was modifoed by the men, or by the Air Force, and not the manufacturer??
No big deal. I was just wondering if someone knew?? Tom.
Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fred_C_Dobbs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not sure whether they were sitting on them but the backrests on those seats do appear to be "hollowed out" for a back parachute.</div></div>
You are right...and I wasn't accurate. By the B-29 crew had back chutes... the dish in the seats was for the individual life raft that attached to the bottom of the back pack chute. It folded into that compartment and that is what they sat on. B-17, B-24 etc. used the clip on chest chutes. Figbhter pilots sat on their chute pack which sorta dangled under their ass from their back "pad".
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fred_C_Dobbs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not sure whether they were sitting on them but the backrests on those seats do appear to be "hollowed out" for a back parachute.</div></div>
You are right...and I wasn't accurate. By the B-29 crew had back chutes... the dish in the seats was for the individual life raft that attached to the bottom of the back pack chute. It folded into that compartment and that is what they sat on. B-17, B-24 etc. used the clip on chest chutes. Figbhter pilots sat on their chute pack which sorta dangled under their ass from their back "pad".
Re: Cockpit of the Enola Gay
The Norden on the Enola Gay was a model M9B, S/N V4120 (gawd, I hope I get one Jeopardy some day). A couple of weeks ago, you could have picked up the same model on eBay for $2500. By all accounts, what's currently on display is what was in it when they nuked Hiroshima.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Parallax</div><div class="ubbcode-body">... the dish in the seats was for the individual life raft that attached to the bottom of the back pack chute....</div></div>
Ah! The infamous "<span style="font-style: italic">butt boat</span>."
The Norden on the Enola Gay was a model M9B, S/N V4120 (gawd, I hope I get one Jeopardy some day). A couple of weeks ago, you could have picked up the same model on eBay for $2500. By all accounts, what's currently on display is what was in it when they nuked Hiroshima.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Parallax</div><div class="ubbcode-body">... the dish in the seats was for the individual life raft that attached to the bottom of the back pack chute....</div></div>
Ah! The infamous "<span style="font-style: italic">butt boat</span>."
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