One can only hope for the best, but how good is the best?Ġ650. No one knows what the Little Boy is going to do. A year ago, I would’ve believed we’d all be used to have partial knowledge by now, but our minds cannot process such little material they run on their own to fill in the gaps with only our imagination, always having the irremediable sentiment of doubt.
#Enola gay take off point full
We have been informed a fraction of the truth, but the only full and detailed information we ever receive are instructions. It has been over these two eternal yet instant hours that I have come to the full realization of just how lost and powerless every crew member is. I wish I could say that sleep came at least for a while, but the doubt in me is more dominant than my body’s instinct. I doubt any of the crew is feeling particularly laid-back today. I keep wondering if becoming a Captain of the air forces was ever a good idea to begin with. Hell, even my mind is bombarded with a billion thoughts. He’s the pilot, he shouldn’t look for any more distractions than those his own mind can torment him with already.
I understand, I too am finding it hard to focus on the mission.
I really do wonder if that name is related to the magnitude of what we are carrying with us right now. That treasured moment of bliss is long gone now, replaced by the conscious, hammering thought of having the Little Boy aboard. That wasn’t the truth though, or at least the entire truth. For one moment, and just that one moment, I was nothing more than Robert Lewis, a co-pilot flying among the clouds almost 45,000 feet above the ground.Ġ425. It felt strangely good to, only for a second, be detached from the mission.
I have managed to find some sort of distraction for a few minutes, while we had troubles with the interphone system. I’ve been a co-pilot every day for over a year, so why did I just feel my heart drop into my stomach? In this moment I begin to try and unsuccessfully reason my way out of the disturbance in my head. We’re the experts, yet I feel as though we are all oblivious to something.Ġ245. Still, there is a notion that something is missing. The procedure is being followed perfectly as it should. We’ve now checked off everything that we are instructed to check. We have just started engines, ready to take off at approximately 0235 aboard the B-29 bomber, or as we call her, Enola Gay.