Lot 303
Van Kirk, Dutch. Photograph of Hiroshima showing the devastation after the atomic bomb, 11 x 14 in., with a long inscription and signature by Dutch Van Kirk, navigator of the Enola Gay. He wrote, in large part: "…We dropped 'Little Boy' on August 6 at 9:15 AM Tinian time. The five ton bomb exploded 43 seconds later at an altitude of 1800 feet with a bright flash and two shock waves that later hit the plane. Although I feel sorry for the citizens of Hiroshima there will be civilian casualties as long as military and civilian targets are mixed and despite our dropping thousands of warning leaflets. The mission was necessary to end the war with minimum casualties, both American and Japanese, since there was no end to the war in sight. People still thank me for doing this mission because it spared their grandparents' lives. Nevertheless War is Hell."
Estimated Value $500 - 1,000.
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