B-29 Superfortress: Bockscar

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 01:18 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The B-29 *Bockscar* is famously known for dropping the "Fat Man" atomic bomb on Nagasaki, a pivotal event in ending World War II.
The crew aboard *Bockscar* for this historic mission was actually the regular crew of another B-29, *The Great Artiste*.
The iconic aircraft is now preserved and displayed at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

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A closer look at the famous B-29 known as Bockscar and the story behind the aircraft.

B-29 Bockscar — **Back row (left to right): Capt. Kermit R. Beahan, Bombardier; Capt. James F. Van Pelt, Navigator; Capt. Charles D. Albury, Pilot; 2nd Lt. Fred J. Olivi, Co-pilot; Maj. Charles W. Sweeney, Aircraft Commander. Front row (left to right): SSgt. Edward K. Buckley, Radar Operator; MSgt. John D. Kuharek, Flight Engineer; SSgt. Raymond G. Gallagher, Assistant Flight Engineer; SSgt. Albert T. Dehart, Tail Gunner; Sgt. Abe M. Spitzer, Radio Operator.****** For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“

B-29 Bockscar — B-29 Bockscar **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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B-29 Bockscar — B-29 Bockscar **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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B-29 Bockscar — B-29 Bockscar headed to Japan with the atomic bomb Fat Man on board. **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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B-29 Bockscar — B-29 Bockscar Cockpit **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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B-29 Bockscar Cockpit — B-29 Bockscar Cockpit **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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B-29 Bockscar Cockpit — B-29 Bockscar Cockpit **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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B-29 Bockscar — B-29 Bockscar at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in 1959. **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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B-29 Bockscar — B-29 Bockscar at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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Nagasaki — Aerial reconnaissance photo of Nagasaki a few days before the bombing. **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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B-29 Bockscar — B-29 Bockscar in 1961 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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B-29 Bockscar — The nose paint on B-29 Bockscar was added quite some time after the bombing of Nagasaki. **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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B-29 Bockscar — B-29 Bockscar at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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B-29 Bockscar — B-29 Bockscar at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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B-29 Bockscar — Items carried by one of the pilots aboard B-29 Bockscar during the atomic bombing mission. **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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The Great Artiste — The crew that flew Bockscar during the Nagasaki bombing mission was actually the usual crew of The Great Artiste. **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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The Great Artiste — The Great Artiste **For more, read “The Airplane that Ended a War“
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