Borrowing a phrase from the realm of collectible cardboard, the "Horrors of War" were never felt so deeply as when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were obliterated. Japanese fighting forces typically battled to the end, opting for suicide over surrender. It was believed by the Allies that the lives of many troops would be spared by dropping atomic bombs on the Japanese homeland. When "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" were dropped on 8/6/45 and 8/9/45, respectively, Japan saw no choice but to surrender, which it did on 8/15/45. Crew members from the bomber planes that dropped the only two nuclear bombs ever used in warfare, are collected here, with these (4) signed flats. Signature strength ranges ("8" to "10"), and the materials are crisp, with:



Enola Gay crew multi-signed 8" x 10" photo of the full crew in front of the plane, with (3) signatures: Paul Tibbets (crew captain), Tom Ferebee with "Bombardier" inscription, and "Dutch" Van Kirk with "Navigator."



George R. Caron single-signed 8" x 10" photo with "Hiroshima 8/6/45" inscription. Caron was the Enola Gay's tail gunner, and he took this photo of the mushroom cloud over Hiroshima, from his position at the rear of the plane.



9/2/45 VJ Day first day cover multi-signed by (7) with: (4) Enola Gay crew members: Paul W. Tibbets, Richard Nelson with "Radio Enola Gay", Morris R. Johnson with "Weapon Test Officer Enola Gay Mission 6 Aug. 1945", "Dutch" Van Kirk with "Navigator Enola Gay 6 Aug. 1945"; and (3) Bockscar crew members: Frederick Ashworth with "Commander US Navy Weaponeer Bockscar", Fred J. Olivi with "Co-Pilot "Bockscar" Nagasaki Mission" and Chas W. Sweeney with "Pilot Nagasaki."



Paul Tibbets single-signed 8/3/57 US Air Force 50th Anniversary first day cover.



Auction LOA from James Spence/JSA. Opening Bid $100.