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Post by hacker54 on Jul 29, 2014 20:04:20 GMT -5
![]()  This was taken in Sept. 2012. I am shaking hands with Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk the navigator of the Enola Gay that dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan during WWII. I just learned today that Mr. Van Kirk passed away either today, yesterday or maybe Sunday. He was the last surviving member of the B-29 grew that flew that mission. He was 93 at his passing. It was quite an honor to meet him and to also meet the bombardier Thomas Ferebee that would be Ferebee's widow seated next to "Dutch" OK just did some info search and found that he passed away yesterday July 28, 2014. |
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Post by erjdriver on Aug 2, 2014 15:42:20 GMT -5
Thanks for that picture and story, Hacker. The men of that generation are ALL heroes, though they will deny it, like the TRUE gentlemen they are. It's sad the "kids" of today have lost the moral compass to even understand the sacrifices these men made to keep THEIR liberty and freedom intact.
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Post by hacker54 on Aug 2, 2014 19:21:12 GMT -5
His viewing will beheld on Mon. Aug. 4th in Northumberland, Pa. which is across the river from my home of Sunbury, Pa. Mr. Van Kirk was born and raised in Northumberland. The funeral will private on Tue. Aug. 5th. There will be a fly over of a B-17 in his honor.
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hal8337
Member
Posts: 89 
Location: Livonia, Louisiana
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Post by hal8337 on Aug 2, 2014 19:35:02 GMT -5
Thanks Hacker for sharing this with us.
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Post by hacker54 on Aug 5, 2014 23:21:02 GMT -5
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gws
Member
Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Aug 6, 2014 0:45:59 GMT -5
Hacker, my Dad's younger brother piloted a B-29 off of Guam for the last year of the war. He was sure grateful for the Tinian missions to end the war. If not for them he most likely would not have returned home. He was killed 25 years ago in a Corporate King Air that wasn't maintained well enough.....deicing system failed and he and 4 executives crashed soon after take off...he was a good pilot & father of 5 kids....he taught me how to fly. Think of the reunion "Dutch" is having with his comrades in arms this week....  |
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Post by hacker54 on Aug 6, 2014 9:06:39 GMT -5
GWS,
To bad they didn't drop it sooner. My mom's brother was killed at Guadalcanal.
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My daughter came from Missouri, my son and grand son, my wife and I had a nice dinner of grilled "porter house" pork chops, corn on the cobb, my son, G'son and I share 10/5. G'son is 4 minutes early though @ 10/4.
Pooh I hope you find to right house . 
