{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-509th-composite-group-atomic-warfare-is-born-limited-edition-print-signed-by-roughly-200-veterans-including-enola-gay-pilot-paul-tibbets-ferebee-van-kirk-framed","title":"Original U.S. WWII 509th Composite Group “Atomic Warfare is Born” Limited Edition Print Signed by Roughly 200 Veterans Including Enola Gay Pilot Paul Tibbets, Ferebee \u0026 Van Kirk - Framed","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an extraordinary signed limited edition print of \u003cstrong\u003e“Atomic Warfare is Born” by aviation artist Harley Copic\u003c\/strong\u003e, covered with approximately \u003cstrong\u003e200 signatures from members of the 509th Composite Group\u003c\/strong\u003e, the highly specialized U.S. Army Air Forces organization created to carry out the operational deployment of the atomic bomb. The print was originally issued with the signatures of \u003cstrong\u003ePaul Tibbets, Thomas Ferebee, and Theodore Van Kirk\u003c\/strong\u003e, three members of the \u003cem\u003eEnola Gay\u003c\/em\u003e crew, and was then apparently carried to reunions, military shows, and other gatherings where roughly 200 additional veterans associated with the 509th added their names. The result is far more than an ordinary signed aviation print. It is effectively a collective autograph memorial to the men who planned, supported, maintained, guarded, loaded, flew, and administered one of the most consequential military operations in history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe framed display measures approximately:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e30 ¼ x 32 ¼”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are roughly \u003cstrong\u003e75 signatures around the outer border\u003c\/strong\u003e of the print and approximately \u003cstrong\u003e125 signatures across the illustration itself\u003c\/strong\u003e. Because of the density and placement of the autographs, these numbers should be regarded as our best estimate rather than an exact count.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe artwork commemorates the birth of atomic warfare and the mission of the \u003cstrong\u003e509th Composite Group\u003c\/strong\u003e, the unique unit assembled to prepare for and execute the first operational use of nuclear weapons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 509th Composite Group was unlike an ordinary bombardment group. It was created as a self-contained organization combining specially modified B-29 bombers with the technical, maintenance, transport, security, ordnance, and support personnel necessary for a mission of unprecedented secrecy and complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group trained extensively in the United States before deploying to \u003cstrong\u003eTinian in the Mariana Islands\u003c\/strong\u003e, where it operated from North Field during the final months of WWII.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts best known aircraft was:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eB-29-45-MO 44-86292 “Enola Gay”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ecommanded by Colonel \u003cstrong\u003ePaul W. Tibbets Jr.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn \u003cstrong\u003eAugust 6, 1945\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cem\u003eEnola Gay\u003c\/em\u003e departed Tinian carrying the uranium gun-type atomic bomb known as \u003cstrong\u003e“Little Boy.”\u003c\/strong\u003e The weapon was released over Hiroshima by bombardier \u003cstrong\u003eThomas Ferebee\u003c\/strong\u003e, while navigator \u003cstrong\u003eTheodore “Dutch” Van Kirk\u003c\/strong\u003e helped guide the aircraft to its target.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe detonation over Hiroshima marked the first use of an atomic weapon in warfare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThree days later, on \u003cstrong\u003eAugust 9, 1945\u003c\/strong\u003e, another 509th Composite Group B-29, \u003cstrong\u003eBockscar\u003c\/strong\u003e, carried the plutonium implosion bomb \u003cstrong\u003e“Fat Man”\u003c\/strong\u003e on the mission that resulted in the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJapan announced its acceptance of surrender terms shortly afterward, bringing the Pacific War to its conclusion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe signatures on this print are especially compelling because they extend far beyond the three famous \u003cem\u003eEnola Gay\u003c\/em\u003e crewmen whose names originally accompanied the edition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe additional signers include veterans associated with the:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e393rd Bomb Squadron\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e320th Troop Carrier Squadron\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e390th Air Service Group\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1027th Air Materiel Squadron\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e603rd Air Engineering Squadron\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1395th Military Police Company\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1st Ordnance Squadron, Special (Aviation)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese organizations illustrate how broad the 509th mission actually was.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e393rd Bomb Squadron\u003c\/strong\u003e provided the B-29 combat crews and aircraft at the center of the atomic missions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e320th Troop Carrier Squadron\u003c\/strong\u003e supported the group’s specialized transport requirements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e390th Air Service Group\u003c\/strong\u003e, together with its engineering and materiel components, helped maintain the modified B-29s and keep the group operational under demanding Pacific conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e1st Ordnance Squadron, Special (Aviation)\u003c\/strong\u003e was directly involved with the highly specialized weapons work surrounding the atomic bombs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e1395th Military Police Company\u003c\/strong\u003e provided security for a program whose secrecy was among the highest maintained by the U.S. military during WWII.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause the 509th was deliberately structured as a composite organization, a print signed by veterans from so many of these subordinate units captures the history of the entire atomic mission in a way that a single aircrew signed photograph cannot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBelow the main print are \u003cstrong\u003eeight additional signed cards\u003c\/strong\u003e, each accompanied by a short biography identifying the signer and his role.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLieutenant Colonel Thomas J. Classen\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDeputy Commanding Officer, 509th Composite Group on Tinian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAllen Moore\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGround Crew, Plane V-89, Engine Specialist, “The Great Artiste.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNorman F. Ramsey\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eManhattan Project \/ Project Alberta Scientific and Technical Deputy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn J. Lesniewski\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGround Crew, Plane V-82, A\u0026amp;E Mechanic M.O.S. 747, 393rd BS, 509th Composite Group.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLouis Schaffer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCommanding Officer, 1395th Military Police.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoseph S. Stiborik\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRadar Operator, Crew B-9, assigned to V-82 \u003cem\u003eEnola Gay\u003c\/em\u003e. Stiborik was aboard \u003cem\u003eEnola Gay\u003c\/em\u003e on August 6, 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCaptain Thomas L. Karnes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHeadquarters, 509th Composite Group, Group Adjutant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGeorge R. Caron\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTail Gunner, Crew B-9, assigned to V-82 \u003cem\u003eEnola Gay\u003c\/em\u003e. Caron was aboard \u003cem\u003eEnola Gay\u003c\/em\u003e on August 6, 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe inclusion of \u003cstrong\u003eNorman F. Ramsey\u003c\/strong\u003e is particularly notable. Ramsey was one of the important scientific figures associated with the Manhattan Project and \u003cstrong\u003eProject Alberta\u003c\/strong\u003e, the group responsible for preparing the atomic weapons for combat use and integrating them with the specially modified B-29 aircraft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe signatures of \u003cstrong\u003eJoseph Stiborik and George Caron\u003c\/strong\u003e add another direct connection to the Hiroshima mission itself. Both were aboard \u003cem\u003eEnola Gay\u003c\/em\u003e on August 6, 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCaron, positioned in the tail of the aircraft, became one of the crewmen who witnessed the development of the mushroom cloud following the explosion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStiborik served as radar operator with Crew B-9 and likewise participated directly in the historic mission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original three signatures are equally important.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaul Tibbets\u003c\/strong\u003e commanded \u003cem\u003eEnola Gay\u003c\/em\u003e and had been given responsibility for organizing and training the 509th Composite Group.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThomas Ferebee\u003c\/strong\u003e, the bombardier, released \u003cem\u003eLittle Boy\u003c\/em\u003e over Hiroshima.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTheodore Van Kirk\u003c\/strong\u003e, the navigator, was responsible for guiding the aircraft during its long flight from Tinian to Japan and was one of the last surviving members of the crew.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaken together, these signatures connect the print not merely with one aircraft, but with virtually every level of the operation, from senior command and scientific planning to aircraft maintenance, security, ground support, ordnance, and the combat crew itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat breadth is what makes this piece so historically impressive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 509th Composite Group represented the intersection of two enormous wartime undertakings: the development of the B-29 Superfortress and the Manhattan Project.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe B-29 was itself one of the most technologically advanced aircraft of WWII, incorporating pressurized crew compartments, remotely controlled defensive gun turrets, long range performance, and an enormous bomb carrying capability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the atomic mission, selected B-29s underwent further modification under the \u003cstrong\u003eSilverplate\u003c\/strong\u003e program. Equipment was removed or altered to reduce weight and accommodate the unusual dimensions and requirements of the atomic weapons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the same time, scientists, engineers, ordnance specialists, and military personnel were solving problems that had never previously existed: how to assemble, transport, arm, load, and deliver a nuclear weapon from an operational combat aircraft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 509th was created specifically to bring those separate pieces together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe secrecy surrounding the group was extraordinary. Many of the men supporting the mission knew little or nothing about the weapon itself until very late in the war. Even among senior personnel, information was compartmentalized so that individuals generally knew only what they needed to perform their particular tasks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat makes the range of signatures represented on this print especially meaningful. Each man had a different relationship with the same highly compartmentalized operation, and together their names reconstruct the human organization behind the atomic missions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe print appears to have become a long term collecting project for its previous owner. Beginning with the original signed limited edition, the owner apparently sought out 509th veterans over a period of time and accumulated signatures at reunions, military shows, veterans’ gatherings, or similar events.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe approximately 200 signatures are therefore not simply reproduced as part of the artwork. They represent numerous individual encounters with surviving members of the unit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat would have become increasingly difficult as the decades passed and the wartime generation diminished.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe eight additional signed biography cards mounted beneath the image further reinforce the memorial character of the display and allow several important individuals to be immediately identified without needing to locate their signatures among the dense field of names on the print itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe frame remains an impressive size at approximately \u003cstrong\u003e30 ¼ x 32 ¼”\u003c\/strong\u003e, making the display large enough for the signatures and artwork to be appreciated individually while still functioning as a single cohesive presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFew WWII aviation subjects carry the historical weight of the 509th Composite Group. Its crews and support personnel were responsible for introducing an entirely new class of weapon into warfare, and the consequences of their missions transformed both the closing days of WWII and the geopolitical history that followed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis signed Harley Copic print brings an extraordinary number of those individuals together in one display. With roughly \u003cstrong\u003e200 509th Composite Group signatures\u003c\/strong\u003e, the original autographs of \u003cstrong\u003ePaul Tibbets, Thomas Ferebee, and Theodore Van Kirk\u003c\/strong\u003e, eight additional signed biography cards, signatures from \u003cem\u003eEnola Gay\u003c\/em\u003e crew members \u003cstrong\u003eJoseph Stiborik and George Caron\u003c\/strong\u003e, and representation from numerous supporting units of the 509th, this is an exceptional piece of WWII atomic aviation history. It would be extraordinarily difficult to recreate a collection of signatures of this scope today and would make a true centerpiece for an advanced \u003cstrong\u003e509th Composite Group, Enola Gay, Manhattan Project, B-29, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, U.S. Army Air Forces, or atomic history collection\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44815036776517,"sku":"ONSV26FWI171","price":2495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26FWI171__01.jpg?v=1774451113","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-509th-composite-group-atomic-warfare-is-born-limited-edition-print-signed-by-roughly-200-veterans-including-enola-gay-pilot-paul-tibbets-ferebee-van-kirk-framed","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}