The military is a hereditary profession for some families (including one you know quite well, Gentle Reader) but this family is somewhat unique (from the Usual USAF Source):
If you embiggen that picture you'll see Colonel Tibbets' call sign is "Nuke." Let's hope he never has to fly the same sort of mission as his grandfather did over Japan.Tibbets Earns B-52 Certification, Grandfather Honored
Col. Paul Tibbets IV, grandson of the late retired Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets and Air Force Global Strike Command's deputy director of operations, qualified to fly the B-52H, making him one of a select few pilots trained to fly all three of the Air Force's bomber types. He flew the B-1B and B-2A during previous assignments, according to a service release. "This is not an accomplishment many achieve," said Lt. Col. James Morriss, commander of Air Force Reserve Command's 93rd Bomb Squadron. Tibbets earned the certification on Nov. 21 at Barksdale AFB, La., in a B-52 painted with Red Gremlin II nose art as a tribute to his grandfather. The latter Tibbets, best known for piloting the B-29 Enola Gay that dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan in August 1945, also flew the B-17 Red Gremlin against Nazi-occupied Europe. "My grandfather had a passion for aviation and most specifically, bombers," said Colonel Tibbets. "I am honored to play a small part in keeping his legacy alive," he said. (Barksdale report by MSgt. Greg Steele)
God do those bomber guys look nekkid! No G-suits, survival vests, etc. And dowdy/slovenly too...we ALWAYS pushed the sleeves of our flt suits up to the elbows--the Joe Cool effect ya know.. :)
ReplyDeleteAlas, TAC took over SAC and renamed itself ACC. God forbid you got caught on the flight-line with your cuffs rolled up or sleeves pushed up (or a spoon in your pen holder). The 120 degree concrete not being a valid excuse :-) Isn't "Nazi-occupied Europe" PC?? As Slim Pickens in 1941 said "Well let me tell you something, Mr. Heinie Kraut, I fought your kind in the great war, and we kicked the living shit out of you!" :-)
DeleteThe 120 degree concrete not being a valid excuse :-)
DeleteI do believe that's one of the reasons my ol' man told me to "stay the Hell away from airplanes," which were his last words to me as I was boarding the plane for Lackland.
@Virgil: Yeah, you guys were the EPITOME o' Joe Cool. ;-)
over Japan? Nah, most likely Iran will be in the cross hairs....or Chicago....I have mixed feelings.
ReplyDeleteHe might could REFUEL or otherwise RON in Japan, on his way to points east.
DeleteThat is very cool. I have his late grandfather's autograph in the book "Return of the Enola Gay." Saw General Tibbets speak at UNM ca. 1998. Sharp as a tack and proud of the fine job he did in WWII.
ReplyDeleteI never saw Gen. Tibbets in person, Bob, so I envy you. A lot.
DeleteI'm lucky to occasionally brush with greatness. Which reminds me, we're passin' through your neck of the grassland Thursday noonish. Need anything from The Even Bigger City? Hankerin' for El Pinto? Let me know at rpreese at-sign hughes dot net .
DeleteCheck yer mail.
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