fourfive8
AH legend
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- Apr 27, 2017
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I was pretty young but clearly remember several after dinner discussions when friends/family were visiting. In addition to family who flew in WWII, a nuclear weapons “weaponeer” would also occasionally be visiting and join the discussion. He was one of three assigned to babysit the two nukes that departed Tinian- one for each drop and one for ground support and back-up. The AAF had to add an extra crewman to those B29 nuke drops, a nuclear weapons tech, the “weaponeer”, to monitor the bombs to make sure the triggers and fuzes were operating and the weapons were armed correctly.
What impressed me most about all those involved, was their matter of fact nature, each knowing the huge responsibility of their task and the all too common and well known risk, whether it be mechanical failure or of being shot down. Maybe it is a type of fatalistic safety valve humans carry with them in those type circumstances.
What impressed me most about all those involved, was their matter of fact nature, each knowing the huge responsibility of their task and the all too common and well known risk, whether it be mechanical failure or of being shot down. Maybe it is a type of fatalistic safety valve humans carry with them in those type circumstances.