{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-509th-composite-group-b-29-silverplate-bombardier-s-window-panel-signed-by-70-atomic-mission-veterans-including-paul-tibbets-charles-sweeney-fred-olivi","title":"Original U.S. WWII 509th Composite Group B-29 Silverplate Bombardier’s Window Panel Signed by 70+ Atomic Mission Veterans Including Paul Tibbets, Charles Sweeney \u0026 Fred Olivi","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item. One-of-a-Kind. Few artifacts from the Second World War can claim a direct connection to the dawn of the Atomic Age. This remarkable B-29 \"Silverplate\" bombardier’s window panel is not merely a relic of the legendary 509th Composite Group, it is a reunion of the men who changed history. Covered with more than 70 signatures of pilots, navigators, bombardiers, flight engineers, crew chiefs, and support personnel, the panel includes veterans associated with the famed \u003cstrong\u003eB-29s Enola Gay, Bockscar\u003c\/strong\u003e, The Great Artiste, Big Stink, Necessary Evil, and other aircraft that participated in the historic Hiroshima and Nagasaki missions. Among the signatures are some of the most celebrated figures of the atomic bomb operations, including \u003cstrong\u003ePaul W. Tibbets\u003c\/strong\u003e, commander and pilot of Enola Gay; \u003cstrong\u003eCharles W. Sweeney\u003c\/strong\u003e, commander of the Nagasaki mission; and \u003cstrong\u003eFrederick J. Olivi\u003c\/strong\u003e, co-pilot of Bockscar. The concentration of historically significant names represented on a single surviving artifact is extraordinary, making this one of the most desirable and important 509th Composite Group collectibles we have encountered. Combining unquestionable historical significance, exceptional visual display appeal, and direct associations with one of the most consequential events in human history, this panel represents a museum-worthy centerpiece for even the most advanced collection of World War II aviation or atomic-era artifacts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is not a random collection of B-29 signatures. It containd personnel associated with several of the most historically significant aircraft and missions of the 509th Composite Group, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFred J. Olivi – Co-pilot of the Nagasaki aircraft Frederick J. Olivi\u003cbr\u003eCharles W. Sweeney – Commander, Nagasaki mission\u003cbr\u003ePaul W. Tibbets  – Pilot of Enola Gay\u003cbr\u003eDonald L. Reed – Pilot, \"Lloyd Raider\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePersonnel identifying themselves as crew from:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Bockscar\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Enola Gay\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Top Secret\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Big Stink\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Next Objective\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Straight Flush\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the portions we can read with fairly high confidence:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUPPER SECTION\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLt. Fred J. Olivi\u003cbr\u003eCo-pilot, Bockscar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSgt. Ray Gallagher\u003cbr\u003eAsst. Flight Engineer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCharles J. Baker\u003cbr\u003eCrew Chief\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn S. Chudy\u003cbr\u003eStraight Flush\u003cbr\u003eMechanic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBill Barney\u003cbr\u003eRadar #77\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRay Denny\u003cbr\u003eRadio #77\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eR. J. Stark\u003cbr\u003eTail Gunner #77\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFred Breniger (spelling uncertain)\u003cbr\u003ePilot 320th\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJack Wydrowski (spelling uncertain)\u003cbr\u003eNavigator\u003cbr\u003e\"Top Secret\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJ. Carter\u003cbr\u003e#84 Bombardier\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUPPER RIGHT\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRichard Emelio (uncertain)\u003cbr\u003eFuel House Scanner\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeorge Braden\u003cbr\u003eFlight Engineer\u003cbr\u003e#91\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWilliam F. Oren\u003cbr\u003e\"Top Secret\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFred Bock\u003cbr\u003eAirplane Commander\u003cbr\u003e#77 Bockscar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStan J. Krenich (uncertain)\u003cbr\u003e#83 Full House\u003cbr\u003eA\u0026amp;E Mechanic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCullen Ryan\u003cbr\u003eSquadron Navigator\u003cbr\u003e320th\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCenter\u003cbr\u003eGeorge H. Cohen\u003cbr\u003eFlight Engineer #72\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJack Weatherly\u003cbr\u003ePilot 85\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCecil N. King\u003cbr\u003eMaintenance Officer\u003cbr\u003e393rd\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRobert O. Denham\u003cbr\u003e393rd Pilot #90\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHerman S. Janes Jr.\u003cbr\u003e393rd Aircraft Commander #90\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDutch Van Kirk\u003cbr\u003eNavigator, Enola Gay #82\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoo Wagg (or Waggs)\u003cbr\u003eBombardier, 320th\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCharles W. Sweeney\u003cbr\u003eCommander\u003cbr\u003eNagasaki\u003cbr\u003e9 August 1945\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLOWER RIGHT\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Tibbets\u003cbr\u003ePilot, Enola Gay\u003cbr\u003eHiroshima\u003cbr\u003e6 Aug 1945\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDonald L. Reed\u003cbr\u003ePilot #123\u003cbr\u003eLloyd Raider\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRichard C. Serrano\u003cbr\u003e393rd\u003cbr\u003eBig Stink\u003cbr\u003eEngineering Mechanic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWard Ferguson\u003cbr\u003ePilot #77\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJames N. Dinsmore\u003cbr\u003eAircraft Commander\u003cbr\u003eSome Punkins\u003cbr\u003eNavigation Officer\u003cbr\u003eNext Objective\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQuin Barrett\u003cbr\u003e393rd Operations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJoe Roe\u003cbr\u003e393rd Radar Countermeasures\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLt. Earl J. Sanders\u003cbr\u003e1027th Ordnance\u003cbr\u003eCrew Chief #95\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLEFT SIDE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDick Cannon\u003cbr\u003eRadar Operator\u003cbr\u003eNecessary Evil #91\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Dulin\u003cbr\u003eNavigator\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChristopher Terrell\u003cbr\u003eBombardier\u003cbr\u003eCrew 123\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCarl Garner\u003cbr\u003eEngineer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFred J. Kohn\u003cbr\u003e1027th AAF\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMorris R. Jeppson\u003cbr\u003eWeapons Test Officer\u003cbr\u003eEnola Gay\u003cbr\u003eEngineering Project A\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis last signature is particularly significant because Morris R. Jeppson was one of the ordnance officers directly involved in preparation of the Hiroshima mission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis panel is an extraordinary concentration of 509th Composite Group veterans and atomic mission personnel. Having Olivi, Sweeney, Tibbets, Van Kirk, Jeppson, and numerous Bockscar \/ Enola Gay crewmen together on one display makde it far more important than a typical reunion autograph piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 6 and 9 August 1945, the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively. Japan surrendered to the Allies on 15 August, six days after the bombing of Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan and invasion of Japanese-occupied Manchuria. The Japanese government signed the instrument of surrender on 2 September, effectively ending the war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a truly unique centerpiece that will claim the envy of any who gaze upon it in your collection! This Bombardier’s left side window panel was removed from a\u003cstrong\u003e B-29 Superfortress “Silverplate” which served with the 393rd Bombardment Squadron (VH) a\u003c\/strong\u003end 320th Troop Carrier Squadron\u003cstrong\u003e. \u003c\/strong\u003eThe window has been \u003cstrong\u003esigned by \u003cstrong data-start=\"30\" data-end=\"45\"\u003eover 70 men\u003c\/strong\u003e, all members of the \u003cstrong data-start=\"66\" data-end=\"115\"\u003eflying personnel of the 509th Composite Group\u003c\/strong\u003e, who carried out the missions that delivered the atomic bombs on Japan on \u003cstrong data-start=\"190\" data-end=\"214\"\u003eAugust 6 and 9, 1945\u003c\/strong\u003e, bringing \u003cstrong data-start=\"225\" data-end=\"251\"\u003eWorld War II to an end\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSilverplate \u003c\/strong\u003ewas the code reference for the United States Army Air Forces' participation in the Manhattan Project during World War II. Originally the name for the aircraft modification project which enabled a B-29 Superfortress bomber to drop an atomic weapon, \"Silverplate\" eventually came to identify the training and operational aspects of the program as well. The original directive for the project had as its subject line \"Silver Plated Project,\" but continued usage of the term shortened it to \"Silverplate\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeventeen production Silverplate aircraft were ordered in August 1944 to allow the 509th Composite Group to train with the type of aircraft they would fly in combat, and for the 216th Army Air Forces Base Unit to test bomb configurations. These were followed by 28 more aircraft that were ordered in February 1945 for operational use by the 509th Composite Group. This batch included the aircraft which were used in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Including the Pullman B-29, 46 Silverplate B-29s were produced during and after World War II. An additional 19 Silverplate B-29s were ordered in July 1945, which were delivered between the end of the war and the end of 1947. Thus, 65 Silverplate B-29s were made. The use of the Silverplate codename was discontinued after the war, but modifications continued under a new codename, Saddletree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe panel is professionally housed within an acrylic and wood display case which measures 26 ½ x 32 ½ x 5”. \u003cstrong\u003eThere are roughly 70+ names on the panel\u003c\/strong\u003e, but due to their organization we cannot accurately count them. On the right side of the frame is a photo signed by \u003cstrong\u003ePaul W. Gruning, Bombardier of the B-29 Jabit III on the Hiroshima mission\u003c\/strong\u003e, and below that is a photo signed by \u003cstrong\u003eJohn L. Downey, Bombardier aboard the B-29 Laggin’ Dragon. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is an exorbitant amount of research to be done on each individual signature, and the display is already set up professionally. This will easily become the centerpiece of any World War II or aviation collection. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReady for further research and display!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44718494941253,"sku":"ONSV26FWI170","price":8495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26FWI170__01.jpg?v=1772819997","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-509th-composite-group-b-29-silverplate-bombardier-s-window-panel-signed-by-70-atomic-mission-veterans-including-paul-tibbets-charles-sweeney-fred-olivi","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}